. ™~ Srandg had been asking to see Plinio. Plinio also had been asiilur to “sare knew about one of Erand's safshouse3. She cane ora say and told Plinio neaded to see him. Next Gay, Srand want to sea Plinio. At Plini. Srand also met a man named Juan Mendez, also known as Seorze the Pilot Jasanovae Mendez was the head of o group named MAR (Moviziento Anticon cionario). Plinio told Srand of his efforts and how pleased he was wit things were going on. Plinio also talked about.his plans for the inmsdiate fut and the meetings he was exne@tinzg to have in the days to cone. In return, Eran Said that ne wa So pleasedwith the way thinzs vere developing. wu p b In his next meeting with Brand, Robayna brought a map pointing out a DZ. 7 was the first D.Z. that Brand sot. Brand gave Robayra a lensatic compass 30 Ro could give the exact location of the next D.Zs. he was trying to zet.Robayna w full of enthusiasm with the outcome of his efforts. All his men were anxious + into battle. Robayna cave Brand an estimate of the weanons he needed for his 1 That list of weanons was given to the Company in Havana. Robayna also informed that in the Province of Pinar del Rio, a majority of the population was in fav: an uprising against Castro. . ~~~ It should be said by now that all the meetingsheld by Brand were reported + the Company in Havana, almost inwediately after they took place. Brand had bes: c u instructed in Hashington to give report each week. Actually, revorts were in a Rodricuez was contacting and organizing action groups to be used in Havana, in Sity as well as in the Province. A man by the name of Rutilio Ramos had been ac by him. This man was to lead the men we were planning to use in an attempt acai Fidel's life. fren Rodrizsuez had el3o0 met peoole who gave him detailed informa Ey this time, Brand had met with "fren Rodrisuez in several occastons.. fray a  * : : . * : on the vovernment forces in Isle of Pines. Rutilio Ramos also made some ravorts HW 53294 Docld:32356641 Page 4--~ this. Contacts were mads by Efren Rodriguez with action Sroups in San Jose de L Lajag, a - a Joe sent drand some instructions that enabled Brand to make contact with a m named Alberto Jorze Losada Fernandez, who worked at the Compania de EZlectrisida This Losada was one of the leaders of an organization called "Resistencia Agran -Though they had: men all around the island, their man force seemed to be in the Province of Pinar del Rios And what ssemed most important of all, they h of fifty men already in the mountains in Pinar del Rio, ina place namad In the first mseting with Losada, Srand gave him 500 »e30s to be used in purchase of supplies for the men already in the mountains. Srand also ins Losada to try to organize zrouns at the vompania de HElactricidad. These < to be used in sabotage 2 reed to send word + a eg tthe Electric Company. “Losada azre leader of the group at the mountains to come to Havana to hay Losada also agreed to try to find some D.Zs. or L.Z3.-From that day on, tae meetings with Brand would take place in two houses he indicated, and wh Brand oromptly aporoved. Jos sent Brand soms instructions that enabled Brand to make contact with a wi named Vidal Morales, who was to provide the goons that were promised to Brand > Jin Bowdin. Brand instructed Vidal to organize his men and have them ready for action to used when required. Brand also instructed Vidal to start chacking el Rodriguez, a well known communist, and also to give all the infor: ther about the ton communists:in Cuba. Vidal agreed as o1ln with Losada, he informed Brand that the leader oy the names of Lazaro Santos Abreu, had been k d. Brand then told Losada to make arranzements A Ltuted Lazaro Santos. % esar Lancis and Lozada, so voth man vould sat ina te the froun at 2d in his way 9 grand sould fom de
“+ it iH i t t HW 53294 Ryu oO ‘Priest named Las Heras. Brand went to that meeting and asked this o aS aS : Docld:32356641. Page 5 oY J A “ ~ +h instructed Losada not to talk with Lancis about the d20nle in th to talk with Lancis only about the laborers at the Blectrie © Wanted Lancis to organise the labor gection of Cuba Libre. In his next meating with Srand, Lancis refused to have ah He gave Srand a written resort about Losada and Losada's bro 7 2 aac Zlectric Company. The renort said that Losada had deen a wel that he had been suspected of being an informer for Bat ' revort also said that Losada was Susnected of being a fairye | that Losada's brother waa a drug addict and a "nusher”. Zran there were any doubts about Losada's attitude against the pr Lancis said. that Losada. and his brother were considered Fidel's enemies, witne question. Lancis informed Brand that a former major ot the army, named Manuel Jesus Hernandez, had been comnisioned by Lancis to establish a net of informer Lancis also said that he had received several thousand pesos from Rescate and he was willing to returns the thousand pesos that Brand had given hin, Yo this Brand answered nothing. er, Brand thought he had noticed certain un re Brand's safehouse was located. One day, Around the Tiftasntis of Sentemb things around Potin's building, wh when Brand was entering the buildinz, he heard a man asking about the deonls uv living at the nenthouse of the buildinz,. This confirmed Brand's sussicions tha: something wrong was zoing on. Brand left the oullding and never came back. It - until thresa weeks later that Brand found out, through Aususto Vasamayor,, the: who had provided the safe house, that a tennant of the penthouse;who lived in : of Brand's avartment, had. been the victin of enextortion, Tois had been ths um atmosphere that Brand had noticed around the building, becauss that tennant ha: under surveillance by the people who submitted him-to extortion. Me Brand went t for some days at Juan Mendez's 2 et a man named Jorgs Espino, who worked with Mende at MAR, Brand out Ssvino i ontact with Nardo, so Sspino!'s people in Pinar del Rio woWldwork under the gui ¢ Robaynas =spino's military chief in Pinar del Rio was a young man by the nay arrios. Brand met Barrios and introduced him to Robaynas. From then on, Barrios n contact with Robayna, and working under his command, lade, At this safehouse, a 4 L 3 B F a oO Around these days, Brand heard that Mendez ~as going to have an interview wi r Artenisa, in the Province of Pinar dsl Rio, and contact Nardo, so he wo x Nardo with all the helo that the priesthood could afford to give in the 2 Pinar del Rio. Brand saws Nardo and arrangements were made in such a way that Wy dy ve Father Las Heras. From then OM, it was their business to k3e0 in touch. At the mseting with Father Las Heras, Brand met 4 ohysician named Dr. Leon L ied himself as a delegate from Crganizacion Occidental Anticomunista care A few days later, Brand introduced Nardo to Dr. Leon Lenus, so Leon would nels in the Province of Pinar del Rio. Later on, Brand introduced Leon Lemus to oda COATs military chief in the Province of Pinar del Rio was a younz man named Cru: This Cruz Blanco was introduced to Robayna dy Leon Lemus. From-then an, Cruz :81: Was to work under the orders of Robarma. It is on account of all theses contacts were Ziven to Robayna, that ia tne last message that Robayna sent to Srand thro Nardo, he claimed to have six hundred men under his command. w23 a conservative ficure. Nardo commented that in order to conservative, he would say that Robayna had five hundred me figure is accepted by Brand a3 sood, , an) he a d ) ° . 1 uncer ris command.
AW 53294 DocId:32356641 Mario Massip's group. By with Zenito Pernandez, Brand met a man ha BR } st ol: & be used £ wo OF € RY treasurer, “henever Brand received money from the Company, he in order to avoid a heavy loss of money if Brand was captured. + a named Jose Caba?@3, who had at the Cooverativa de Omnibus Aliados. This Cabafas had hunir drivers and conductors of busses i storehouses. Hs also promised to Havana. He also said that he was 620 DeS03, praia on Sales Zrougs goings to A. few days later Brand met Luis Alvarez, a “former: ‘bus dyj became Brand's driver. This Luis Alvarez in Havana. Caocafas vromised to get LSOngs I yz -had been recommende be.a courageous, dedicated and faithful companions In a new meeting with Jose Fernandez Planas, Brand met a young physician Ansslmo. In this meeting they said they had found a DZ. and that they were give Brand a map pointing out tne dri give Brand a driver. veen a staci eds of friends az Set safenouses vers and conduct Srand gave Gabai ‘ uy ieuhg Si 939 ¢ of stp heus andes kenc gol the exact location of the place. They asked whicl eapons could Brand provide. Brand mentioned all the weapons he heshad been pvr and commited himself to deliver certain amount the map had reached his hands. The boys promised These boys also wanted to establish contact with Some days later Srand received a very detailed map of a to give Bran i's “of those weapons fifteen days af the map in short novtic people in Pinar del 2 L.Z. in the southerr coast of the Province of Pinar del Rio. It was sent to the Company right away. By this time Robaynas had sent Brand the location.of another D.Z. By then , kept asking about the weapons, and | the equipment and start fishting. ne kept saying that his me ’ i were anxious to Through Zmilio Rodriguez Brand met an American known as William Webster. Thi was to put Brand in contact with a group of a friend of Brand who had Zone to ¥ named Mario Massip. Through Webster, Srand met a man already known to him for ma years. This man's name is Simon Yabre. Simon Yabre was to put Brand in contact lack of news from Jim Eowdin, and keot asking Emi this time srand had become a little bit uneasy about lio Rodriguez about the deliv: of weapons. Smilio Rodrizuez always answered that he knew nothing about it, tha always delivered my reports but could not tell me what the policies of the Como were in that respect, Throuzsh Webster, Brand made contact wit Silvio de Cardenas. Silvio de Cardenas sa headed by Jose Ignacio Rivero and Antonio to be the exact truth, that they had conn ‘known and respec they wanted wa th a vea id that Rubio P ctions a weapons and guidance. Srand nromi “days later, Silvie de Cardenas prone two D.Zs, Tive times more. Cardenas zave a list of the wean himsel? to deliver the wearons in due course. One day Brand zot word that there was zoing to Psople from the Front ‘were supposed to 50 to that. Brand sent word saying he saw no reason why he ha insisted on Brand's attendance. Brand want ! Efren Rocr i set to Tt was oh ~ wOUn? 3 ~ Thro ss wR D GILG 2 organi igapon3 Ss 2 ya. get Page 6 lthy adilla. along He said, 2 the whole island ted people. That they could provide fincas and transvortation. and very well known cuban he was one of the leaders of 2 and Brand bel with wa sed toth. Throuzh the Company, Brand met Silvio de Cardaris ons his friends needed. Brand be a meeting at nio's safe meeting. srand w invited to d to Yo that cut Plin
HW 53294. -Docld: 32356641 Page 7 Ms er By this tiue, crand had met a man known as Ronerto Alvarez, who nad a red 3 and who said ha had -been trained in intelligence work, and that he nad osen in for several years. This man was introduced to Brand by Emilio Rodrizuez. Rober was to help Brand in anything Brand would require of him. Erand found that Rob was available only after 5 pem.e and on Saturdays and Sundays. Brand found this Alvarez to be a sensible, educated and calmed individual. Brand told this man he would fini something for him to do. Cabanas. had given by now four safshouses. These safehouses. were already inh out the fazilies living there wera to receive anyone in needcof a safehouse, I of those houses Brand lived for two weeks. Another of those houses: was used as safehouse for meetings. Through Cabanas and Benito Fernandez, Brand met a man named Oscar Rodri zie oa eee This man claimed to be one of the leaders: of an organizations in the Province Oriente. They were willing to work provided they were supplied with weavons. 5 found the man to be honest, but dumb and unsxperienced. Nevertheless, Brand in -- this man to keep in touch with Cabanas. - By. this time, Brand had become a little bit uneasy about his dissuise. Duriz: perambulations around town, Prand had met by chance with many old friends. Nen: them recognized Brand. One day, however, a boy named Nodal, member of Trisls a saw Srand in a drugstore and recognized him.. ihen Branu went out, Brand notice that two men in a car were watching him. The car went around the block and stai to follow Brand. when the car aporoached Brand saw Nodal and Silvin Martinez, : member of Triple A. Silvio called Brand and insisted on having &@ méeting wlth | Brand was mad to gee how irresponsibl e and indiscrset these Pellows were. Bran them an appointment, but Brand didn't attend to 1%. Brand had become uneasy abd the disguise because, although Bewas using a second hairpices, it looked awful bad, and many friends had warned Srand trat the hairpiece looked. a fale froma: afar. They also said that the moustache looked too dark. Brand's conclusion ab this is what followaslfhe disguise was very good, but hairpieces don't last lo: in Cuba's climate, If one wears them daily, as Brand did, *sney are net good fo. more than twelve or fifteen days. 2) The disguise was good as long as it made a different man, but it was bad because it had too distinctive featurss, that - that if the volice radioed a description of a man with very dark hair, very da. moustachs, and a pair of somehow unusual glasses, it. is.jurs eneuga that Erand going to be caught, It is Brand's opinion that if a man is to wear a disguiss a long period of time, this diszuise snould not have distinctive ?satures. I4 Ficult to describe the man in disguise, ints is wny from thse very Pirst peember Brand kent asking Jim to send Karl to Cuba. Brand wanted to be di: j 2 . fferent way. Another thing about ‘iagaioes: the verson in disguise srou. have enough materials at hand.In many occasionasthe replacement3 for mo k too long to arrive to Cuba. The last ten moustaches were received in very pe and were so bad that Brand thought they had not deen made by Karl, or th: Karl had made them in a hurry. , By this time Brand had already met f Brand. Escoto was Aursliano's rere f Triovle A. Srand offered weapons to ° he had to consult this wit: iiano o send Brand a-mao wit a o any money he oisht need, had deen provided with a time, © rand had noti: "Cuba Libre! > and th doz, Joss Cabanas, | u Peazvuinr: and 3rand. Mario Escoto a known consnirator and old 2 in Cuba, and: the wnan.in provided Zscoto save D2b3 2 “3° ae . a MS. fo js O on @ tO3 3 og 00 BY te ch fe fo 2 ua cf ta ry Ee) o ch Oy fe) tre ty I 3 uy p BS as we ET oe