The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-17
Indications Point to a Wide-
 spread Conspiracy on Island
GOMEZ WILL ACT QUICKLY
Orders Have Been Issued to Troops to Capture or Kill the Rebels, Who Are Banded Together
 Under Arms.

Havana, March 16-The first armed up- rising against the new Cuban republic occurred last night within a little more than six weeks after the inauguration of General Gomez as President. How serious the movement is, it is impossible to de- termine at present all that is known be- ing that sergeant of the rural guard stationed at the town of Vueltas, in Santa '. Clara province, with a party of seven men, some other members of the rural guards. and a number of peasants, took 10 the woods. and that the troops are in ac- tive pursuit.
 While the movement apparently is un- important, numerically all indications point to the fact that it is part of a wide spread conspiracy, the nature of which is indicated by dispatch received here today, which stated that a special train carrying detachment of the rural guards under command of Major General Monteagudo was hurryng to Vueltas
 News of the rising reached the palace at late hour last night. but was sup pressed until this afternoon. Later an official statement was given out to the effect that Sergeant Cortes and seven men had started an insurrectionary move ment the motive for which 1t was of- ficially declared was the refusal of the government to give Cortes a commission as captain in the regular army
 President Gomez declared his intention of instantly suppressing the rising and making an example of all concerned. He ordered the rapid concentration of troops In the vicinity of Vueltas for the purpose of surrounding the fugitives. Orders were issued to the troops not to cease the pur- suit until all had been killed or captured.
 Later it was learned that a conspiracy had been unearthed in which the rural guard was implicated. At Placetas for mer captain of the rural guard. Layas- teida by name. and at Vueltas, Corporal Richardo and two civilians. were arrest ed on the charge of complicity in the in- surrectionary movement. The district where the trouble had occurred is strong ly liberal, Santa Clara being the home province of President Gomez, of which he formerly was governor. All the par ticipants in the rising are reported to be liberals of the Miguelista faction, who were dissatisfied over the distribution of offices. Senor Castellanos, the Presidents secretary, said this evening that this doubtless was the cause of the disturb ance, to which the government attached little importance. being satisfied that the movement was weakly and sporadic.
 However, the O1Spatcn or troops rom Havana under command of Major General Monteagudo to a point F hours distant from the capital Is taken an indication that the situation possibly is more serious than the government Is willing to admit. There Is no direct news from the district, as the government controls the wires. Secretary of Government Alberdi and Presidential Secretary Castellanos prom ised to make a statement outlining the situation tonight. but at a late hour they declined to do, stating that they had no more news.
 They protested, however that all was quiet and there was no danger of fur ther trouble.
 Rumors are current that Colonel Vallo, who was recently dismissed from the rural guard has risen in Oriente, at the head of 200 men, but the rumor Is not credited. Stocks on the Havana ex- change fell several points this afternoon on receipt of the news of the trouble at Vueltas.