Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-21
PREPARE FOR SHOWDOWN.
One Man Killed as Fighting Begins In
Cuban Capital.

CuDan CapitaA
HAVANA, August II IR).-An out
break OF fighting in Havana in which
one man was killed caused the govern
ment today to tighten. its grip for .
showdown with the rebels.
Insurgent leaders said the revolution
was hanging in the balance and. that
the issue would be settled in q few days,
while oficial sources clung to their con-
tentiou that the movement had been
thwarted except for isolated uprising.
Spasmodic firing between bands OF
rebel sympathizers and loyal soldiers
occurred yesterday in the capital. An
attempt also was made to burn the
house Of Senator WiJ7redo Hernandez
close friend Of President Machado.
Success Hangs BY Thread.
The gunfire -as variously credited 70
members OF VIE "Porra." q group Of
pardoned prisoners who have been at
tempting 70 cid the government. and
20 police who were forestalling q pur--
ported plot by students 10 seize the
Havana police station.
Col. Roberto Mendez Penate, rebel
chieftain, was reported TO have nottf1eu
Miguel Mariana Gomez. former mayor,
from Santa Clara to carry the battle to
the capital, holding that the TeYoltS
success hung by thread.
American consular ofnclais at Nue.
vitas and the head Of the garrison dis
credited over the telephone published
reports that q rebel expeditionary force
had made successful raid on that
city. They said there was no hint OF
rebel activity in that vicinity.
w-~t.a cGsw nn,..t.aA
A con1munique from army headquar-
tiers said federal troops had defeated q
force OF 200 rebels near Bibara, scene
Of bitter and prolonged fighting the
first Of the week. More than 30 insur-
gents were said TO have been killed, 20
others wounded. many prisoners taken
and the remainder dispersed.
Fernandez Quevedo, chief Of staff Of
the navy. said that the Danish boat
Fredereksborg, which was reported 70
have been bombed by an airplane near
Antilla, had refused 10 stop when or
deTed. She was bombed and machine
gInned, he said, but was not badly
damaged. She Is now OF Cape Mambi.
Reports that insurgents advanced 70
the westward from Santa Clara Prov
inee, former revolutionary hot bed and
now the temporary headquarters Of
President Machado. opened new line
Of conjecture as 10 their power 1t
was also reported that railroad bridge
was destroyed In Matanzas Province,
which ad5otns Havana Province.
Havana Houses Searched.
Careful watch for rebel activities In
the city and Province Of Havana con-
tinued with police searching houses for
arms or ammunition stored IN event
OF an uprising here.
Tho 1a~.N4x.o ~ az<xaaAsksn.. f,F Gse
puted strength in Gibara was followed
by oppositioniSt reports that other ex-
petitions Of rebels made their way 10
land. One report, discredited by the
government was that an expedition
similar 70 that which took Gibara Sat-
urday was expected TO put into the
port Of Santiago shortly.
The correspondent Of FL Pals, a
Havana newspaper, informed his ONCE
that the rebels at Gibara, many Of
whom were reported 10 be Americans
abandoned the tunnel they held there
Of their own accord, but left six ma
chine guns behind them. He added
that the group was believed 10 be hid-
ing in cave IN nearby mountains.
Col. Rosales, in command Of forces
there, was quoted as saying only eight
Of the rebel expeditiopary force we're
killed during the tf1ree-day battle at
CSibara and Is wounded, and that gov
eminent troops seized $500 rifles, so
machine guns. anti-aircraft guns and
small field piece when they entgre1
Gibafa.
Censorship Continued.
THE newspapers report also said a
woman resident Of fsibara and her four
Sons were killed yesterday by a bomb
dropped from an atrplaye assisting In
the attack.
Fighting also was reported unof1cially
near CienfuegnS, with groups Of rebels
said to be at Manzanillo and Eayamo.
Under order from the general star
Of the army yesterday, no person viii
be allowed 10 leave Cuba, regardless
Of nationality. without pass issued By
the general stan.