CONGO MASSACRE FEARED

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 13

CONGO MASSACRE FEARED

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright) LEOPOLDVILLE, June 3. Congolese Government troops are combing an area of the northern Congo in search of European survivors of massacres by rebel troops. One young Portuguese survivor, who arrived from the small northern town of Buta last night, said he saw Congolese insurgents execute 31 male missionaries on Sunday night. He said their hands and feet were tied behind them and they were shot before being thrown into the Rubi river Congolese Army sources said they feared about 55 Europeans were killed by insurgents in Buta. No official figures have been issued. A commando force under Colonel M. Hoare captured Buta from insurgents two days ago. As the troops continued

to the insurgent stronghold of Banalia, Colonel Hoare flew to Leopoldville last night to confer with the Army’s General, Joesph Mobutu. Another of the nine survivors

reaching Leopoldville from the north last night said she saw a 41-year-old English protestant missionary, Miss Margaret Hayes, of London, alive on Sunday morning.

“I really don’t know what happened to her when the rebels started killing everyone,” she added. Miss Hayes is believed to have been the sole survivor of executions at Banalia last December when 15 Europeans were killed. She escaped by running into the surrounding bush, but was later recaptured by insurgents and sent to Buta. Another woman survivor told rescuers that retreating Congolese rebels had killed 75 white hostages at Buta.