The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-09-04


s ident Machado started
off the week with the
Gen. MenocaI. announcement that
the revolt was over, that the rebels
were surrendering everywhere and
that there would be peace throughout
Cuba within few days. The most
important of the remaining leaders
were said to be in Santa Clara prov
ince with rather small bands OF fol-
lowers. .Aviators were sent out to fly
over rebel territory dropping leaflets
announcing that Machado would grant
amnesty to all who surrendered i'm
mediately.
But the revolutionists had not yet
reached the end of their resources. A
filibustering expedition landed men
from half dozen countries and guam
titles of arms and ammunition at
Gibara, near. the eastern end of the
island, and that port was captured
and fortified. The government imme-
diately moved against this force. and
there followed one of the bloodiest
battles ever fought in Cuba. The gun
boat Patria destroyed the Gibara
fortress and land army inflicted a
crushing defeat on the rebel troops
and the filibusters. Meanwhile planes
dropped bombs on the town, which
was badly shattered. It was reported
that about 500 revolutionists were
killed and that the federal casualties
were heavy.
Lifting OF the censorship revealed
that the rebels also had suffered
severely in fierce engagements In
Santa Clara province =
Despite these defeats, the revolu-
tionary leaders still at large were in
sistent that their cause was not lost.
General Menocal managed to smuggle
out of his cell a proclamation urging
his followers to continue the struggle,
and there were indications that Macha-
dos troubles were not over by any
means. In Washington, though the State
department would make no comment on
the situation, 1t was the general opin-
ion Of officials that the only way
Machado can prevent renewed upris-
ings is to enact speedily the reforms
along democratic lines that his admin
istration promised. Certainly the
American government hopes he will
adopt this course. for it has no desire
to intervene in the affairs Of the
island republic and will not do so I'M
less developments bring on q state Of
virtual anarchy there.
TEXAS has taken its stand beside
i Oklahoma in the fight against
ruinously low prices for crude oil, and
it was expected that Kansas also
would adopt measures for curtailment
Of production. The net result, it was
believed, would be higher prices for
midcontinent crude oil and possibly
the sterilization of the American oil
industry.
Following action by the legislature,
Gov. Ross S., Sterling ordered the
complete shutdown of the 1000 pro-
ducing oil and gas wells Of the great
east Texas area, and then sent about
a thousand National Guardsmen into
four counties to enforce the order.
martial law being proclaimed. No re-
sistance was met, the larger COM
panies closing their wells before the
soldiers arrived.
Governor Sterling, himself an oil
man, predicted higher crude prices and
estimated the Texas and Oklahoma
shutdowns would take about one mill
lion barrels day off the market. He
said martial law in east Texas will not
be lifted until the state railroad COM
mission has issued proration orders.
Governor Murray Of Oklahoma. who
originated the idea of dealing with
overproduction by declaring martial
law, sent message of congratulation
to the Texas executive.
Most of the operators in the oil re-
gions planned to care for employees
during the shut down period. Drilling
was continued as usual for there was
no ban on bringing in new wells pro-
vided they were shut down immedi-
ately