GRIM MASSACRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20917, 17 October 1942, Page 3

GRIM MASSACRE

BISHOP AND PRIESTS DUTCH CATHOLIC VICTIMS SLAIN BY JAPANESE (11 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 17. The murder by the Japanese of the Dutch Roman Catholic Bishop of Kej Islands and seven priests, is reported bv the Netherlands East Indies Govment Information Service. The murders were committed at Langgoer on July 13 and been reported by eye-witnesses, whose statement says: “Bishop Aerts and seven members of his missionary staff were herded together on a jetty at Langgoer and massacred. Other missionaries and sisters were taken away by soldiers and their fate is unknown.

“Bishop Aerts, who was about 70 years of age, had spent most of his life on these and in surrounding islands,” says the statement. “Medical and educational assistance, besides his activities as a missionary, made him one of the most beloved figures of the whole area and the entire population, Frotestant, Catholic and Mahommedan alike, revered him.” It is not certain what caused this bestial behaviour by the Japanese, but eye-witnesses indicate that it was possible it was caused by the fact that the bishop issued orders to' burn the mission launch before the Japanese could take it The entire population of Kei, Aru, and Tenimber Islands have been enraged by this bloody massacre.