British Island Repels Invasion By Cubans

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28105, 22 October 1956, Page 11

British Island Repels Invasion By Cubans

(Rec. 9 p.m.) SAL CAY (Bahamas), October 20. A quixotic Cuban invasion of the one-square-mile British outpost of Sal Cay ended ingloriously last night.

The band of 10 self-styled “nationalist revolutionaries” which planted Cuba’s’flag on Sal Cay on Thursday, was deported by a force of 15 British colonial troops air-lifted 200 miles from Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. A statement issued at Government House, Nassau, said the troops seized the intruders’ flag, one revolver, and a store of ammunition, and wade them be gone from British territorial waters “This,” said the statement, “they did.” The Bahamas Government statement said the Cubans offered no resistance, and were deported as ’llegal immigrants. being required to leave on board the same craft that brought them to Sal Cay. “The party, which was led by Dr Raoul Campos and Mr Cesar Vego, landed on the island from the vessel Misstake, of Cuban registration, which they had commandeered at sea after chartering it for a fishing trip.” the Bahamas account said. “The captain of the vessel. Pedro Rodriguez, was an unwilling party to the subsequent events.” Sal Cay, a one-square-mile bit of sand that was unoccupied until recently. lies five miles north-east of Veradero, Cuba, and 200 miles from Nassau.

The invading party, after sanding on Thursday, went to the office of Mr Harcourt Thompson. British Commissioner for the island, and the only Englishman there, and said: "We are going to lower that flag (pointing to the Union Jack flying atop an 80-foot pole) and eplace it with the Cuban flag.” Some of the Cubans began to untie the flag ropes, but Mr •'’hompson said he told them to stop, and they did. The British reinforcements brought along two more Union T acks, just in case. An American contractor, Mr Clarence Moody, has leased he island for 99 years, and is building a fishing lodge there. Sixteen Americans are working for him. The contractor said the invaders were "a bunch of hotheads with nothing better to do ” The Bahamas Government regarded the incident as “just a oolish prank” and said the Cuban Government was not involved. “The whole thing was so badly arranged that the small fishing booat in which the trip was made ran out of fuel and was stranded.' the Government statement added As a precaution, a police boat was detailed to patrol the island last night