Cuban Exiles Shell Soviet Ship & Camp

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 13

Cuban Exiles Shell Soviet Ship & Camp

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) MIAMI, March 19. Anti-Castro exiles shelled a Russian cargo ship and a Russian military camp in northern Cuba early today, Cuban exile officials claimed in Miami, British United Press reported. The officials said the raiders caused considerable damage and apparently left a number of Russians dead and wounded. There was no official confirmation of the attack, the news agency said.

However, a garbled Havana Radio broadcast heard in Miami referred to a Russian boat and said “several wounded men were taken to Havana.”

Reports said the raiders, in boats, attacked the cargo ship in the port of Sagua la Grande, on the northern coast of Las ViHas Province. The attack was staged by two exile organisations, the Second Escambray Front and Alpha 66.

The report said the crew of one of the commando boats attacked a nearby Russian camp. I* was not clear whether the raiders went ashore or remained aboard the boat while shelling the camp.

The Russian ship was loading when attacked with 20 mm cannon and machine guns, the reports said. The raiders concentrated fire on a hammer and sickle painted on the smokestack.

The reports said there was a lot of damage and many

were wounded on the Russian boat.

In Washington, a State Department spokesman said he had heard of the reported attack, but had no comment, the British United Press said. In New York, Mr Antonio Vacania, the head of Alpha 66, said later that the raiders had returned to their base in the Caribbean, Reuter reported.

The group was awaiting a full report which would be sent by radio to Its base in Miami today. Full details

would be given at a press conference in Washington today. Sagau La Grande is located on the northern coast of Las Villas Province, about 28 miles from Santa Clara, a favourite target area for a handful of previous sea raids against the Cuban Government.

Cuban authorities carried out “immediate reprisals” in the area, the informants said. Scores of persons were reported to have been gaoled for investigation.