"Russians Offer Services To Cuba"

Press, Volume C, Issue 29508, 9 May 1961, Page 15

"Russians Offer Services To Cuba"

(N Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright}

MIAMI, May 7

Cuban newspapers said today that thousands of Russians had volunteered their services to Cuba to build what Dr. Fidel Castro called a “Stalingrad defence” against possible invasion by United States Marines and soldiers, according to United Press International.

Dr. Castro warned of a possible American invasion in a speech to officer candidates. in which he disclosed that he was going to put political instructors with the Army—similar to the political commissars used by Josef Stalin to give the Soviet Government iron control over the Army. U.P.I. said “Even if the aggressors use atomic bombs, it makes no difference, because we know that at the same moment they are making us perish we will be making them perish.

“We shall do what the Russian soldiers did in not permitting the Germans of Hitler to take Stalingrad. We must defend all the island, but above all the capital. “We call on everyone to prepare so that our fortifications shall be impregnable. Under no circumstances shall we permit the capital to be occupied by invasion forces,” Dr. Castro said. The Government radio claimed the capture of eight more members of the invasion force which landed last month. U.P.I. said. A Spanish Roman Catholic priest named Salgado was arrested on charges of trying to abscond with church funds in a new indication that the Castro-ordered purge of priests continues. Seventy-nine Russian cars were unloaded in Havana yesterday and are to be shown soon in dealers’ showrooms.

These were two of the developments reported in Cuba by Havana radio broadcasts

Executions Continue Dr. Castro was continuing executions in a drive to liquidate his opposition. Refugees from Cuba.

arriving in Miami, said they believed that the executions were widespread in the country districts. Strict restrictions on news gathering facilities in Cuba made it impossible to confirm the reports, said U.P.I. Associated Press reported from Havana that “fear and repression ruled the island."

All public buildings were still protected with sandbags. and armed soldiers and militiamen stood guard around the clock.

Mass arrests following the abortive anti-Castro invasion three weeks ago appeared to have smashed the antiCastro underground, the report said.

Only one bomb explosion had been heard in the capital since the invasion attempt. Before the invasion bomb explosions were heard every night. The victory over the invaders has given the Castro Government a fresh impetus —an enthusiasm it has been lacking for months. One factory owner employing 50 workers, said six of them were militiamen before the invasion. Now 25 of them were, said the report.