STATE OF WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 129, 13 March 1935, Page 5

STATE OF WAR.

THE DISORDERS IN CUBA. GROWING MENACE OF FAMINE. (United Press Association—Copyright! HAVANA, March 11. The revolutionary general strike against the Mendieta administration became virtually complete to-day the electrical workers stopped work late in the afternoon. So far ten violent deaths have been recorded, most apparently caused by the Government's drastic enforcement of the state of war, which provides for a death penalty without trial. Among the bodies found to-day was that of Enrique Fernandos, a high official of the former administration of Grau Martin. While the military kept the vital services, such as electric power, partially operative, all business was paralysed Shops were kept open under a Government order, but there were no clerks or customers. Food, milk, and ice deliveries are at a standstill. With the growing menace of famine, all public transportation is halted, and! there is scarcely anyone in the streets excepting soldiers and police, Mendieta s only defence against overthrow. Another message states that Cuba is caught between the lines in a fight to a finish between the Government and the Radicals. Havana and the entire island are suffering almost total paralysis under the state of war declared by President Mendieta, Disorders occurred throughout most of the island, but there was little actual disorder in Havana on Monday.

ALLECATION OF MASSACRE. VIGOROUS DENIAL MADE. NEW YORK, March 11. \ message from Miami (Florida) says that Carlos Heyia, who held the Presidency of Cuba for three days m 1934, has fled by aeroplane. He alleged that about 200 persons have been massacred since Saturday morning, and that the wildest confusion prevails over the island. "They are finding bodies everywhere," he said. "Men are being taken from their homes, presumably for prison, and their bodies are later found." . A message from Havana says tnat Senor Mendieta vigorously denied the statement that 200 were killed, declaring that there had not been three deaths from the fire of the public forces.