July 1, 1957.p. 1,7
5 Die in Fight Outside City as Political Drive
Opens
By R. Hart Phillips
Special to
The New York Times
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 30 – A mass-meeting of the governing coalition parties was held in Cespedes Park here this afternoon.
Despite optimistic predictions by Government officials, not more than 4,000 persons gathered in the small park for the rally in favor of President Fulgencio Batista.
[Outside Santiago two soldiers and three civilians of a group who attacked the soldiers were killed in a brief fight, said a late United Press dispatch.]
It was apparent that most of the 200,000 inhabitants of Santiago had carried out a threat to boycott the meeting.A hundred persons arrived from outlying towns of Oriente Province and other provinces by bus and train.
Soldiers and policemen armed with rifles and members of the military intelligence service were on hand to keep order.
Special security measures had been in effect for several days.Policemen searched all buildings surrounding the park early this morning.Five intelligence agents invaded the room of this correspondent in a hotel beside the park at 7 A.M.
Last night Santiago policemen rounded up youthful opponents of the Government in an effort to insure public order today.The exact number arrested was not given out, but Col José Salas Cañizares, supervisor of the police, permitted photographers and newsmen here from Havana to cover the meeting to see twelve of the prisoners. All appeared to be under 20 years old.
The meeting got off to a noisy start at 5 A.M. in Cespedes Park. A bugler with four drummers at that hour awoke residents for many blocks around with reveille broadcast over loudspeakers set up for the speakers’ platform.Not long afterward the firing of skyrockets was begun and this went on throughout the day.
The meeting of the four coalition parties—the Progressive Action party headed by President Batista, the Union Radical party, the Democratic and Liberal parties—launched their campaign for general elections scheduled for June 1, 1958.
No candidates have been chosen, but the Government in line with its recently adopted policy is trying to overshadow the rebellious activity of its enemies by political campaigns.
Holding the meeting in Santiago, which is the center of armed revolt against the Government, is termed provocative by the opponents of the Batista regime.Since last December, when youths of the Twenty-sixth of July Movement (led by Fidel Castro) fought the armed forces in a short-lived revolt, Santiago has been in the hands of the armed forces.
Oriente Province traditionally has been opposed to the Government since the beginning of the Republic in 1902.At times this opposition has flared into open revolt.
The basis of this attitude is the neglect of every Administration to allot to Oriente sufficient funds for public works.This province, which is the island’s largest and richest, with tremendous resources in minerals, timber, agriculture, cattle ranches and excellent harbors, always has been the stepchild of Cuban Governments, according to residents.
Santiago, though rich in historic lore, as the scene of the Battle of San Juan Hill in which the United States Navy defeated the Spanish fleet, attracts no tourists.
Two soldiers patrolling in a jeep were killed and a third was wounded by a group of unidentified civilians in a stolen car.A police car intercepted the fleeing assailants and three of them were killed in the ensuing gun battle.Two bystanders, including a 7-year-old boy, were wounded.
The General Staff announcement made no mention of casualties or prisoners.
The engagement took place on a ranch at Palmarito, twenty-three miles northwest of Santiago de Cuba.The communiqué was the first official report in a month of a clash between troops and Castro guerillas.
HAVANA, June 30 – The threatened violent demonstration in Havana in opposition to the concentration of the Batista parties in Santiago de Cuba today did not materialize.
Except for the explosion of a bomb in neighboring suburb Guanabacoa, no incidents were reported near the capital.The bomb was exploded shortly after daybreak, injuring two young Cubans on their way to work and causing about $3,000 damage to a store.
In Camaguey armed youths seized a radio station owned by Senator Ricardo Miranda Cortes and for five minutes exhorted the youths of the country to rise in support of Fidel Castro, the revolutionary leader
Two bombs exploded in the heart of Havana shortly after sunset and three other bombs that had been set in public places failed to detonate.
The demonstrators left a signed album in tribute to Herbert L. Matthews, New York Times correspondent, acclaiming his reporting from Cuba.The ceremony was organized by representatives of the Ortodoxo Party and the Twenty-sixth of July Movement in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Arnaldo G. Barron, president of the […] Ortodoxo, said it was brought together on three days’ notice to contrast with what he called a “forced demonstration” in Santiago de Cuba in favor of President Batista.