MISSIONS IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 23

MISSIONS IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA

ATTACKS BY NATIVES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LAE (New Guinea), Dec. 17. The president of the American Lutheran Mission in New Guinea the Rev. Dr. John Kuder, said yesterday that native missionaries reported killed by cannibals in the Wissel Lakes area of Dutch New Guinea were not Lutherans. He said that they probably were members of the Christian Mission Alliance, conducted by Americans and Swedes. Dr. Kuder said that this mission had been operating in the area, which was uncontrolled, for about 20 years. The natives were very primitive, and most jealous. They were the first to have missionaries visit them, and they objected to the missions expanding away from their area. Dr. Kuder said that recently a pilot who returned to Wewak from Wissel Lakes had reported that natives had attacked his aircraft after landing. The pilot and passengers had left their aircraft, and proceeded to the mission house, when the natives attacked the empty plane. There were no further attacks, and it was believed this was the natives’ method of showing hostility towards the mission making contact with their neighbours, who were traditional enemies.