CIVIL, WAR IN CUBA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17345, 18 July 1924, Page 12

CIVIL, WAR IN CUBA.

REBELS CLASH WITH REGULARS, AMERICA AIDS GOVERNMENT WITH ARMS AND MUNITIONS, WASHINGTON, June 1. Once again Cuba is in the throes of a revolution. The vvhite sands of its sea-shores are stained with blood, and from its dense, green, tropical jungles shots ring out intermittently. This time, however, the rebels appear to have some cause for revolt.

They claim that President Zayas has placed all his family iu responsible positions in the Civil Serve©, whether they were capable or no; that bribery and corruption are rife; and demand the abolition of the abuses of electoral laws and rhe system of national lottery. Old guns, swords, pistols and machetes have been taken from their accustomed hooks over the mantelpieces and have been burnished for the fray. President Zayas’s troops have already encountered resistance in several parts of the island and there have been some casualties. Through tho gaps in the reefs off shore in remote parts of the islands, ships’ boats have com© with their cargoes" of “machinery” from the lowlying, rakish-looking, gun-runners in tho offing, and parties of rebels have carried the cases up from the edge of the surf into the fringe of jungle, whence the contents of the cases hare been distributed to the insurgents. At the head of the rebels is General Carlos Garcia Velez, who was Cuban Ambassador to the Court of St James London, at the beginning of this year. He is the son of General Calixto Garcia, a noted Cuban soldier, and received bis education in America, where lie lived for nvuy years. Upon his arrival in New York, from London, last March, he removed his beard and disappeared and has not since been seen, except

i when he. boldly called at the Ritz to 1 tell the Cuban Ambassador, Senor Teri riente, what he thought about the j whole thing. j He has been shadowed everywhere, \ since lie arrived, by detectives. After ; his visit to the Ritz detectives followed j him, but the trail ended at tho Pennj sylvania Railway Station. : Cuba s revolutionary chief got i c .l oan awa y j but where lie i.s there is the directorate of the revolution. Tli© Zayas Government has suppressed ’• Heraldo de Cuba,” which announced that 5000 men had taken the field against the Government, and is maintaining a strict watch along the coasts to prevent gun-running. The United States War Department has rushed arms and munitions to Cuba, in compliance with the request of the Zayas Government, to aid in quelling the revolt, and all southern ports arc being watched to prevent the shipment of arms to the rebels. All violators of the embargo are liable to a fine of 10.000 dollars and imprisonment for two years. The American cruiser Cleveland, which has been in Havanah harbour, has been withdrawn So- far the revolt has been confined to Santa Clara province, according to the Cuban Government’s official statements, and Dr Alfredo Zayas, Presi- [ dent, has gone to t-lie scene of hostilities.