The Sentinel=record., 1912-06-09
RACE RIOTS
 IN HAVANA
THOUSANDS OF WHITES TERROR tZE NEGRO POPULATION IN
 CENTRAL PUBLIC PARK
GOMEZ SAYS, "GO TO FRONT
President Says He Will Punish All Rioters and Invites Those In clined to Be Warllke to Enlist
 in the Cuban Army

Havana. June S.-The aspect of ra- cial war in the city of Havana to- night transcended ill importance any news received from the field of opera tions. Rumors current during the day of the intention of the mob to make an onslaught upon the negroes in the capital induced President Gomez to issue proclamation tonight, urging mutual moderation anG threatening all disturbers of the peace with sum- mary punishment
 At half past 9 o'clock, the moment the proclamation was issued from the presidential palace, a mob composed of many thousand young men of the better class, and including many stu dents, had gathered in Central Park and were shouting Down with the negroes,"
 Within two minutes after the out break all the negro bootblacks and newsboys had disappeared from view.
 The crowd rapidly increased in pro- portion as the evening wore on. Prac- tically all of the demonstrants were armed and many were openly bran dishing revolvers or knives. At one time a panic ensued as the result of shot fired by police captain as a signal to his men.
 The mob during the evening, shout ing lynch the niggersl" gave chase to every negro who happened to pass in the vicinity of Central Park. A strong force of foot and mounted po- 1 lice was hastened to the scene of the disorders and order eventually was restored, the mob gradually dispers- ing in various directions, apparently in search of negroes, who had taken refuge in their homes.
 Later the captain of the police guard, with company of infantry, proceeded to the scene of the dis turbance and a cordon of police was thrown around the park, but the demonstrations by that time had been discontinued Grave fears are enter tained in Havana tonight that anti negro rioting will be renewed on an extensive scale. The government Is making every preparation to cope with any emergency.
 The principal hotels and cafes on the square have locked their doors and the storm shutters have been put on the windows.
 Beginning tonight all the police of Havana are armed with long new machetes, discarding their clubs Race rioting among the longshoremen, which began last night, was resumed this afternoon. One negro was killed The police finally restored order.
 Juan c. Gomez, the liberal leader, and Congressman Generoso c. Mar quetti visited President Gomez this afternoon and demanded protection for the negroes. The president as- sured him he would spare no efforts to protect all law-abiding citizens. ,, A,; liri nj syssis arrests 6. GS:c suspects continue, 30 being taken into custody at Marianao alone, including several women, charged with contributing money to the insurgents
 Small armed parties seem to be springing up in Havana province. A | band of 30 was seen today near lGuanajay including several negroes. who recently escaped from jail there. Rural guards and citizens are pur
 
 suing the band.
 The opinion is becoming very gen. eral that it is hopeless to expect the government to crush the insurgent l forces in Griente, despite General Monteagudo's assurance that he eX- l poets to end the rebellion in tlfree weeks General Nunez has offered corps of 1,500 veterans to reinforce him, but they must await the arrival of arms from the United States. i Preliminary steps are being taken to effect the organization of veterans. The question most frequently heard, everywhere is: "Who will be the American governor genera.? The impression is that, in the event of such an appointment becoming necessary, it would probably fall to General Wood
 | An indication of the bitter feeling of the whites against the negroes. the editors of several of the most prominent papers have agreed not to l publish any news of negro clubs or social gatherings.
 President Gomez tonight issued a proclamation, evidently inspiresl by the peril of a popular disturbance in Havana. arising from race animos-
 tiles. He refers to his recent appeal to good citizens to preserve mutual 1 respect and says:
 But there are some-fortupately few--who would provoke by offensive words and other means those wlto live tranquilly If such persons wlsh to fight the enemies of the republic. let them enlist and go to the front;
 but if they have other designs. ]
 shall resist them and shall severely chastise those who resort to force or