Bomb Wrecks Newspaper and a Church In Havana; Four Killed, 27 Injured

Damage is Widespread

Doors Wrenched Off and Windows Shattered in Six-Block Radius

Blast is Heard 12 Miles

Second Explosion Averted as Police Find 1,500 Sticks of Dynamite at Another Paper

Link to Spanish War Seen

100 Seized in a Round-Up of Radicals, Many Spaniards—Some Blame Foes of Gomez

By J. D. Phillips

Wireless to The New York Times

HAVANA, Sept. 20 – Four persons were killed and twenty-seven injured this morning when a dynamite bomb concealed in a small delivery truck exploded at the building of the newspaper Pais. The bomb was estimated by the police to have weighed 1,500 pounds.

The explosion, which was heard for twelve miles, wrecked the two-story building and destroyed the interior of the Monserrate Catholic Church on the opposite side of the street.

Doors and shutters of adjoining buildings were wrenched off, plate-glass windows in mercantile establishments were smashed in a radius of six blocks and merchandise on display was hurled into the streets. In the church images were toppled to the floor and broken, walls were cracked and the altar was partly destroyed.

The damage is unofficially estimated at $150,000 to $200,000.

The dead included Carlos Argellas, a policeman who was on duty outside the newspaper building, and Pablo Morales and Manuel Antero, who were passing by. Among the injured, a policeman, a Pais pressroom employee and several newsboys are reported in a grave condition.

The police reported that many persons who did not ask for treatment were slightly injured by falling masonry and flying glass.

Motor Hurled Half a Block

The truck was parked outside the Pais building when the explosion occurred at 6:10 o’clock. The authorities believe the dynamite was set off by a time mechanism. Part of the truck’s motor was hurled half a block.

The police immediately threw a cordon around the district to keep back the thousands who rushed into the streets and to prevent the possible looting of stores whose fronts were blown out.

Hundreds of newsboys who had gathered at the newspaper building to receive their supplies of papers had dispersed before the explosion and worshipers had not yet begun to arrive at the church for the 7 o’clock mass.

Fifteen hundred sticks of dynamite hidden in a small 1924 model touring car parked outside the building of the morning newspaper Diario de la Marina were found by the police shortly after the Pais explosion. A time mechanism had been set to explode the dynamite at 10 A.M. The sticks, which had been concealed under the seats, in the top and under the hood were carefully removed by explosive experts. The newspaper is near apartment and boarding houses occupied by hundreds of persons.

Link to War in Spain is Seen

A report that the bombing was the work of radical Spaniards angered over the alleged extreme favoritism of these newspapers toward the Rebels in the Spanish civil war was circulated here all day. The police refused to advance a theory, but they acknowledged that they had begun an extensive round-up of radicals. By tonight more than 100 persons had been arrested, most of them Spaniards.

Late in the afternoon the police raided the Spanish Socialist Republican Club and detained twenty-five members. The records and furniture of the club were removed and taken to police headquarters. It was learned tonight that the documents found at the club had led the police to believe that Spanish anarchists were responsible for the bombing.

A theory held by many persons is that the bombing was the work of Cuban anti-administration elements disgruntled over the recent amnesty, which released only a few prisoners. The two newspapers have been supporting the government.

All Newspapers Under Guard

HAVANA, Sept. 20. – After the explosion at the newspaper Pais some police officials expressed a belief that a “terrorist” campaign was being waged against Havana newspapers, but they said they were unable to fix the blame for today’s incident.

Lieut. Col. José Pedraza the National Police Chief, stationed guards at all other newspapers in the city and permitted no traffic within a block of any of the establishments.

The Pais is owned by Señor Alfredo Hornedo. It circulates widely among Spanish residents here. The Diario de la Marina is directed by the well known writer, José I. Rivero, and is owned by a corporation. Professing conservatism, it gives editorial support to Colonel Fulgencio Batista, Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Army.

Colonel Batista said tonight:

“Today’s dynamiting is truly lamentable because it shows the impossibility of reconciliation between various elements despite the most earnest efforts to reconcile and harmonize them.”

He declined to elaborate.

Amnesty Held Too Narrow

The administration of President Miguel Mariano Gómez has alienated many Cubans as a result of the amnesty law enacted last month. The feel the law is not wide enough.

This and other objections were voiced in the Cuban Congress, particularly by members of the National Democratic party, during debate on the bill, but it was passed virtually in the form desired by President Gómez.

The law apparently was designed to benefit persons who had become political offenders after the downfall of President Gerardo Machado’s régime, but thus far comparatively few have been released from prison and few political exiles have returned to Cuba. Excluded from the amnesty are members of the Machado régime and persons convicted for gang activities or terrorism.