Ernesto Che Guevara:

Bolivian Army Says Guevara Was
Killed In a Guerrilla Clash

The New York Times / AP 10oct1967

[More on Che Guevara]

This photo, issued recently by Bolivia, Is said to show Ernesto Che Guevara in the field.

LA PAZ, Bolivia, Oct. 9 — Official army dispatches reported today that Ernesto Che Guevara, reputed master-mind of Latin-American Communist guerrillas, was killed in a clash in southeastern Bolivia yesterday. The army high command declined to confirm the report immediately.

Mr. Guevara, 39 years old, has been reported killed or captured before. Once Premier Fidel Castro's right-hand man, he has been reported active in a number of countries since he vanished from Cuba in April, 1965.

A hunt was intensified for him in Bolivia recently and the army reported at one time that it believed he and a small band had been trapped.

Col. Joaquin Zenteno Anaya, commander of the Eighth Army, said today that Mr. Guevara was one of a few guerrillas killed in the clash, at Higueras, about 300 miles southeast of La Paz.

The army chief of staff, Col. Marcos Vasquez Sempertegui, said that "official reports from Valle Grande affirm Guevara was killed and that his body is now with the Bolivian Army."

He emphasized, however, that the high command did not want to confirm the reports yet.

The army invited newsmen to fly tomorrow to Valle Grande, near Higueras. The invitation led to speculation that the high command wanted to display the body reported to be that of Mr. Guevara and that it was with. holding an announcement until then.

It was also believed that the high command was proceeding cautiously because of problems in identifying the body positively.

Five Casualties Reported

At a meeting of the Organization of American States in Washington last month, Bolivian diplomats displayed photographs that, they contended proved that Mr. Guevara had been leading the guerrillas in Bolivia. The photographs showed a man resembling him in the company of Bolivian and Cuban guerrillas.

Reports earlier today said that he was dead, wounded or captured.

An army communiqué issued in in La Paz reported a fight between soldiers and guerrillas in the mountains and added: "The rebels put up desperate resistance and suffered five casualties, among them being presumably Ernesto Che Guevara."

Some military sources said Mr. Guevara had been mortally wounded and that he had talked with his captors before he died.

In 1965 after vanishing from Cuba, Mr. Guevara was said to have been killed in a leftist revolt in the Dominican Republic.

Later he was reported captured in Peru. Another report said he was hiding out in Argentina. After the Bolivian Army got what it said was convincing evidence that he was leading a guerrilla movement in Bolivia, it denied a report Sept. 26 that he had been killed.

The army communiqué issued today said the army had suffered four killed and four wounded in the clash four miles northwest of the town of Higueras.

It added that "operations continue in the Higueras zone."

Five-Hour Fight

Press reports from Valle 'Grande said the fighting began at about 1 PM and lasted about five or six hours. These accounts said that two of the guerrillas had been wounded and that if Mr. Guevara was not killed, he might be one of the wounded.

Mr. Guevara was believed sighted in the Valle Grande area 10 days ago. Two Bolivian guerrillas captured last week said he had been sick and had been traveling on a mule.

Army sources said he suffered from arthritis and asthma. They said Mr. Guevara and his fellow rebels were feeling dispirited after having suffered heavy casualties in a clash two weeks ago.

An Argentine who turned' revolutionary after having received a medical degree, Mr. Guevara fought with Premier Castro in his revolution in the Sierra Maestra of Cuba. Afterward he played an active role in the Cuban Communist Government before he dropped out of sight.

He has been variously reported in Communist China, North Vietnam and the Congo as well as in several Latin-American, countries.