New York Times
March 14, 1935. p. 3.
Renewed
Shooting Breaks Out in Cuba
Strikers Jailed
Returning to Work as Government Tries to Smash Unions
--
Labor Leaders In
Hiding
--
Army’s Stern
Measures Hinder Efforts to Restore Normal Business in Havana
By J. D. Phillips
Wireless to The New York
Times
HAVANA, March 13 – Commerce and industry strove today to reestablish normal activities in Cuba, following the failure of the general revolutionary strike, but the action of the government in making wholesale appeals among employees returning to work greatly hindered these efforts.
Shortly after the curfew hour of 9 o’clock, firing broke out in all sections of the capital. A police lieutenant was wounded by a sniper, and during the intense firing that followed, a bullet struck a transformer, plunging thirty blocks into darkness. The inhabitants of this section were panic-stricken and the firing continued.
Four bombs exploded in various parts of Havana and sporadic outbursts of firing were heard.
Police and marines raided the apartment of Richard Armstrong, and American, correspondent of the International News Service. His wife is an employee of the American Consulate General.
Mr. Armstrong was fired on while standing at a window, the bullets striking the ceiling just over his head. The police and marines then rushed into the apartment and searched it for arms. After being shown the credentials of the couple, the raiders departed.
Public employees and labor returned work this morning throughout the island, with the exception of a number of some small unions. Transportation facilities again were operating and the administrative machinery is functioning, although it will take several days before normality can possibly be reached.
Determined to break up all labor organizations that participated in the strike and have already been declared dissolved, the authorities detained more than 1,000 in Havana alone. No estimate is obtainable on the arrests in the interior.
Soldiers searched for members of the United Front of Public Employees, who headed the strike in government departments, but the Treasury employees, both men and women, when they returned to work in that department, were lodged in the Principe Fortress jail. Many were detained in other government departments.
More than 100 department store workers, 200 platform workers o f the Havana Electric Railway Company and all leaders and delegates of labor unions who could be located were arrested.
With the Principe jail already overcrowded, the government sent fifty of the most prominent prisoners to La Cabaña fortress. So far the official list of prisoners has not been released.
Explosion of a bomb in a street car gravely wounded two and caused a panic among the passengers, many of whom received bruises and scratches while fighting to gain the exits.
The body of José Diaz Villa of the army secret service, was found outside Havana riddled with bullets. He was said to be attempting to penetrate the secrets of factions opposed to the government.
Havana is being closely guarded tonight by thousands of police, marines and soldiers, and the strictest vigilance is maintained. Searchlights on La Cabaña Fortress across the bay continue to play along the building skyline to pick out snipers on rooftops.
While the greatest secrecy was maintained concerning appointment of members to military courts for trying civilians accused of terroristic activities, it is reported these are being set up rapidly and it is expected they will begin to function by tomorrow morning.
In Cienfuegos, 210 teachers returned to their posts today, the first indication of a break in the teachers’ strike, which began early in February.
An attempt was made to dynamite Minas Bridge near Santiago today, but only a small part of the bridge was destroyed. The strike in that city is considered practically ended. It is announced newspapers will be on the streets there tomorrow morning. Mail and telegraph services are still not functioning in the grater part of Oriente Province owing to the detention of all telegraphers and postal employees when they returned to work.
Military authorities arrested Charles C. Abbets of Miami and José Garcia, both Associated Press photographers, and José Villalta, a reporter for the same news service, when they attempted to take pictures of Treasure employees being detained and transported to Principe Fortress. They remained under arrest for two hours until their films were developed. They were advised of an order to shoot any one caught taking pictures.
It is learned tonight that approximately 500 of those arrested today have been released because of complaints lodged by employers concerning the arrest of their workers. Also there were no charges on which they could be held.
Impartial Observer
Attributes Dissolution of Mendieta Coalition
Special to The New York
Times
MIAMI, March 13 – Professor Rafael del Vizo, former member of the Cuban Congress, who has severed political ties with his native country and for years has sought to prepare impartial news broadcasts in Spanish for American stations, believes the present struggle in Cuba has developed chiefly from a desire for political power.
President Carlos Mendieta first headed a coalition government, he explains, that was to represent all political factors but the Liberal party, which could not rid itself of the stigma of the Machado regime, and the extreme radicals.
The Democratic National party, headed by General Mario G. Menocal, twice President; the ABC and the Republican party of Dr. Miguel M. Gomez each had at least two members in the Cabinet.
The Menocalists were first to leave this coalition. Appointments in the various cities and districts went, for the most part, to the Mendieta Nationalists, and the Menocalistas termed this a violation of the administration’s agreement.
Next the ABC group withdrew from the Cabinet, asserting it had not received its promised share of authority. This relatively small party of Dr. Gomez then joined in the exodus, leaving only Nationalists in what had once been a coalition of the conservative elements.
Even some of the most influential of President Mendieta’s Cabinet members have left the administration, including Dr. Cosme de la Torriente, former Secretary of State, and Dr. Raul de Cardenas, former Secretary of Justice. The National party’s hold was weakened drastically, Professor del Vizo believes, by the scandal involving Dr. Gabriel Landa, its Minister of Finance, who was accused of embezzling $200,000.