Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-09-15
Army Officers Arrested.

Army Officers Arrested.
Reports from Santiago said five army
lieutenants had been arrested there on
charges Of anti-revolutionary activity
against the Grau San Martin govern
ment.
Workers took over the Malay sugar
mill in that vicinity. Proprietors of the
manganese mines at Cristo. where IL
American officials virtually have been
made prisoners by striking miners, an
nounce6 the works would be closed in
definitely.
Later light artillery pieces were
brought up and trained on the hotel
The President denied report that
Col. Horacio Ferrer. VINO has been act
ing as spokesman for the officers would
be arrested. Ferrer was the secretary
of war in the cabinet of President Carlos
Manuel de Cespedes.
Meanwhile, a local newspaper
day frankly called upon the new g
eminent of President Ramon Gre
San Martin to recognize the lack
popular warmth for it as the regim
faced an armed outbreak in a neigh
boring province and rumors of a.
impending movement were circulated
Ell Mundo declared all commerciei
activity Of the country is paralyzed
national credit has suffered extraordi-
narily, and unless we rectify this sit
uation totally. the government will fall
through a process Of asphyxiation.
AS the country operated under .
Constitution Of independence, which
placed common welfare above indi-
vidual rights, strikes grew throughout
the island
Troops Called Out.
A former army captain. Fernando
Aran. led group of armed civilians
which persuaded an army post at Con-
solacion Del Sur, in Pinar Del Rio
province, to join with them in a revolt
against the government. Troops were
dispatched from the capital to queu
the uprising after the rebels fled to
the hills
Despite the newspapers warning,
government officials were optimistic re-
gardlng the financial situation, saying
decrease in tax collections was to be
expected. due to the disturbed condi-
ton. and that they expected to pay en-
ployes' salaries fully october 10.
The government based its hopes Of
ending the widespread strikes on the
promise of an eight-hour day and q
minimum wage scale throughout the
country.
The capital itself was threatened with
another food shortage as the admin
lStration heard rumors of other armed
resistance and frightened the lines about
500 former army officers still besieged
In the National Hotel.
General Election Called.
Fighting and bloodshed, mutiny and
rebellion were abroad as President
Grau San Martin announced a plan
calling for absolute independence and
national sovereignty" perfect ad-
Justment of political and economic in
terests" and general elections for con-
Stltutlonal convention.
Warehousemen were on strike in Ha-
vana. Already prices have scared be-
cause Of this and field workers walk
out IN adjacent provinces. and authori-
ties foresaw growing scarcity of food.
Employees of the Havana Electric
Railway were at odds over the allotment
OF work, and officials said the situa-
ton was not encouraging. The power
full o. c. r. r. secret society instituted
consumers strike against the electric
and telephone rates. The government
was asked to intervene. Drug store
messengers were on strike.
An inspector for the stevedores' syn
didate was killed by unidentified persons
in a passing automobile. Street fight
denas and Cienfuegos (where all stores
were closedD racial enmity ran high.
General Strike Discussed.
Talk of another general strike, such
as the one that paralyZed almost every
sphere Of activity and forced the evic-
ton of Gerard Machado's administra-
ton. went the rounds.
In Cristo, IL American officials Of
manganese mines were held virtual pris-
oners by striking employees. The Amer
lean consul from nearby Santiago sur.
veyed the situation today. Other resi-
dents of Oriente Province gathered for
safety at American colonies near Santi-
ago. At several sugar mills through the
island officials were said to be besieged
in their homes by strikers.
The situation at the National Hotel
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