Evening star., 1949-05-31
State Of Siege Ordered
In Bolivia as Strikers
Seize More Hostages
Dr. me Assosiotsd Press

by me Asseeistsd Press
LA PAz. Bolivia. May 31-The
government declared o state of
siege throughout Bolivia last
night as striking mine workers
seized more hostages and the
walkout spread through the tin.
producing area.
Two more mines and q railroad
were reported closed in the strife
torn Cstavi area, high in the
Andes, where at least ~ persons,
including two American engineers.
were killed In bloody weekend
riottns.
Acting President Mamerto Ur-
riolagoitia, who had said earlier
the strike was aimed at over
throw Of the government, an
nounced the imposition Of state
of siege.
He said the step was decided
on with cabinet approval as . re-
suit OF the revolutionary acts" by
miners ut Catavi.
Outbreaks Followed Election.
The country had been in q state
Of siege from May to May 20 as
4 result Of political disturbances
after the May / congressional
elections In which the government
party lost some ground to right
ist groups.
The topsy-turvy Bolivian situa-
ton apparently pits the left-of-
center government against unions
which 1t charges are afiliated with
riehtist nationalist groups at
tempting to start revolt.
The acting President. who re-
placed ailins President Enrique
Hertzog three weeks ago. called on
citizens to support the govern
ment and keep Bolivia from fall
Ing into the arms Of anarchy"
The strike originally broke out
ut q mine owned by the Patino
group, Boliva's largest tin COM
bine. Fifteen management Of
ficiais, including seven Americans
: were seized as hostages and beaten
sever1y, the company general
manager said.
An interior ministry communi-
cue said American Engineers T.
]. H. o'Connor Of Pasadena. Calf,
and Albert Kreftine OF Seattle.
WASH, were dead when Bolivian
troops reached the hostages Sun
day. At least two Bolivian mine
officials also were killed.
Dynamite Bombs Hurled.
The riotins strikers at first
fought of the troops by hurting
dynamite bombs at them. Three
soldiers were listed as dead In the
communique. Unofficial reports
said about 20 strikers were killed
and 10 persons were severely
wounded.
The newspaper La Razon quoted
Mr.. O'Connor's Mexican born
wife today As saying her husband
was killed while trying to defend
her from attack.
Treated for Injuries.
The newspapers correspondent
said Mrs. Helen Casanova O'Con-
nor gave this version Of her hus-
bands death after being brought
TO Cochamba for treatment Of IN
juries resulting from severe beat
ing. She said Mr.. O'Connor was
attached by angry miners while
conferring with the mine super
1ntendent on pay raises for them.
Mrs. O'Connor. mother Of three
young children. told the reporter
for La Razon that she told their
attackers: IF you kill my hus-
band. I prefer to die with him"
He quoted her as saying Mr..
O'Connor shielded her from gun
FIRE and one Of the first shots
wounded another person in the
room.
Then, this account said. Mr..
O'Connor, Pat Green Of Wenat-
chez, Wash, and Wilbur J. Cook
Of Reno, New. were violently at
tackled and beaten.
Mrs. O'Connor tried to beat oil
the attackers.
MI. o'connor died shortly after
being shot twice In the neck.
Mrs. o'Connor told the reporter
that Mr.. Green and Mr.. Cook
were beaten and kicked and that
Green may be near death.
There have been no further re-
ports Of disorders at that mine,
the sislo viente (Twentieth Gen.
tury), which has been closed. The
Is hostages were taken from their
homes by the strikers.
Evacuation Offered.
The new strikes were reported
1T the Patino's Huanini mine: the
Colquiri mine, owned by Mauricio
Hochschild, and the Machamarca
Uncis railroad.
The manager Of the Colquiri
mine reported by radio that he and
other mine officials were held as
hostages at the union hall but
were being treated well.
The Interior Ministry commun-
ique said the government offered
to evacuate all persons, foreigners
and Bolivians, who wished to leave
the area. An estimated 100 per-
sons had been evacuated by last
night.
With the strikes affecting the
Patina and Hochschild mines, the
two biggest tin operators In Boliv-
IL are involved. The industry Is
the key to Bolivias economy.
The government charges the
outbreaks were planned by the
rightist National Revolutionary
Movement tMNR) which has Bit