The Protracted Conflict

In NR’s last issue I summarized the story of an alleged

“Portuguese massacre” at the village of Wiriyamu in Mozambique, published in the Times (London) under the byline of Father Adrian Hastings. According to this story, all or nearly all four hundred inhabitants of Wiriyamu had been killed in frightful ways, and the village burned to the ground. Recognizing that this account was conceivably true, I explained why I could not accept it at face value: because of the multiple layers separating it from direct testimony, its internal inconsistencies and implausibilities, and the propagandist timing of its release. (I find that the figure of 40 per cent that I gave for the native black component of the Portuguese army in Mozambique is outdated. It is now about 70 per cent native.)

JB

About the Author

James Burnham

Featured Tags

In NR’s last issue I summarized the story of an alleged

“Portuguese massacre” at the village of Wiriyamu in Mozambique, published in the Times (London) under the byline of Father Adrian Hastings. According to this story, all or nearly all four hundred inhabitants of Wiriyamu had been killed in frightful ways, and the village burned to the ground. Recognizing that this account was conceivably true, I explained why I could not accept it at face value: because of the multiple layers separating it from direct testimony, its internal inconsistencies and implausibilities, and the propagandist timing of its release. (I find that the figure of 40 per cent that I gave for the native black component of the Portuguese army in Mozambique is outdated. It is now about 70 per cent native.)