New Britain herald., 1929-03-01
ARRESTED CUbANS
DENY revolt Plan
Call Charges Pure Fantasy
Machdo Called Imperiilk&

Havana, March ! @-Whlle Gu
ban government leaders today de-
clared q plot against the life Of
President Machado had been frus-
trated by drastic police action those
accused insisted the charges against
them were purest fantasy.
In a statement to the press, Pres
ident Machado said:
There is now no cause for alarm.
and there will be no cause for
alarm. because public reaction.
which is thoroughly in accord with
my government, guarantees the
peace of the country.
II entertain the utmost conf
dence in the rectitude of the tri-
bunals rhich have this case in hand
and can assure the public that the
law will be applied to 1t without
passion or prejudice Of any kind"
Dr.. Alexandra Vergear Y Leonard,
one of 10 men arrested Wednesday
night at the headquarters of Union
Nacionalista," the only political Or
ganization opposed to President
Machado, denied emphatically the
charge of fomenting revolt.
Denies Plot Against Machaflo
There is no truth that a plot ex-
listed against the life OF President
Machado. Nor is there any more
truth to the charge that a revolt was
planned for the purpose of bringing
American Intervention in Cuba. he
said. II knew I was to be arrested
on serious charges and SO two days
ago / informed the United States
embassy here OF the movement OF
the government. Ny sworn statement
is at the embassy at this time" he
added. The embassy later confirmed
this.
The 10 men arrested are still con-
fined in the Principe Fortress. The
remainder of the warrants issued
have not been served. most Of the
persons named being exiles in the
United States or elsewhere.
There was general tendency here
to view the situation as one Of poll
tics rather than threatening physi-
cal harm. Police action, it was
thought. represented a drive to
stamp out distribution Of inflamma-
tory pamphlets and propaganda
aimed at the Machado regime.
Charges Fraud
In New York, Octavio Seigle.
named in one Of the Havana war
rants and himself an exile in the
United States since last October. an
swered the accusations against him
with charges of fraud and imperial
Ism against the Machado regime.
Seigle, who was the founder of the
"Union Nacionalista" said In part:
"Shortly before the Pan-American
conference a labor leader named
Claudio Bruzon disappeared. In
Havana 1t is a standing comment
that whenever 4 person disappears
he has been taken across Havana
and fed to the sharks from Cabanas
fortress.
shortly after his disappearance a
shark was caught in the bay with
the arm OF a man In its stomch. This
produced enough Of sensation but
this was heightened when the widow
OF the labor leader identified the
arm as that OF her husband by .
cuff link on a scrap Of shirt sleeve
attached. Testimony Of several others
supported the Identification. Nothing
was ever done except that 4 week
later Machado in an official decree
forbade further fishing for sharks In
Havana bay.
'Sometme later after that the
body Of another labor leader, Yacob.
who disappeared. was found In the
bay. weighted 20 it would sink. and
partially eaten by sharks"
He said Secretary Kellogg knew Of
the state OF affairs but had taken no
action.