Imperial Valley press., 1933-11-09
TRUCE HALTS
NEW REVOLT
At HAVANA
Government Hopes To Evacuate
700 Rebels Barricaded In
Fortress Near City.
SURRENDER Is DEMANDED
Loyal Forces Concentrate Heavy
Firing Throughout Morning On
Insurgent Stronghold.
SURRENDER Is DEMANDED
By LAWRENCE HAAS

United Press Staff Correspondent
HAVANA, Nov. 8. Wp)--The
government opened lombard
ment of Fort Atares, where
700 rebels are concentrated, at
conclusion OF an hour truce this
afternoon.
A mission attempting a colm-
promise with the rebels to pre-
vent loss of life apparently
failed, and the government
heavy artillery began pounding
away at the thick walls Of the
fortress.
HAVANA, Nov. 9. U.P)-Presi-
dent Grau San Martin agreed at
noon to an hours truce with TOO
rebels barricaded behind the stout
walls of the Atares fortress. The
government hoped to arrive at an
agreement for their evacuation.
The Uruguayan minister, Fern
andez Medina, was sent to the fort
ress, bearing message from the
president, and to act as mediator,
in last minute effort to effect a
compromise ana end the revolt.
1t was announced that heavy
government bombardment OF the
rebels would be opened at p. m.
unless they surrendered before that
hour.
Meanwhile, foreigners n the vi
cinity were evacuated.
HAVANA, Nov. 9. UP)-Govern-
ment forces began a brisk bonn
bardment Of 700 rebels in the At
ares fortress at II a. m. from heavy
field pieces which rumbled into
place during comparatively quiet
morning.
The bombardment was preceded
by considerable machine gun fire
and sporadic long-distance attacks
by members of the ABC, support
ing the government, but the small
arms were ineffective against the
neavy walls CT the fortress
Attempts by United Press staff
correspondent to reach Atares were
blocked by heavy Gordon of gcv-
ernment forces ringing the land
side of the fortress.
Scores of trucks loaded with SOL
diers dashed through the streets.
Rooftops were scanned for snipers.
Soldiers securing the neighbor-
hood Of the Dragones barracks, abb
andoned by the rebels, forced loot
ers to carry back the furniture,
beds and cooking utensils they had
stolen from the deserted strong
hold earlier today.
HAVANA, Nov. 9.-Five hundred
rebels, concentrated within the old
colonial fortress of Atares castle,
prepared for bombardment today
by President Grau San Martins
troops. Attack on their strong po-
sition, which might be the decisive
clash in the uprising started yes
terday, was imminent.
The rebels were believed to be
well supplied with light and heavy
arms and plenty of ammunition.
Their strategic position was super
| ior
The fortress is at the top of a
wide hill, which slopes on one side
to the port and on the other to-
wards the city proper. All ap-
breaches from the land side were
blocked by heavy entanglements Of
barbed wire. The rebels rifles COM
manded the hill.
The government leaders believed
it would be difficult to overwhelm
the position with infantry, and
that its capture could be accom-
plished only through heavy ar
tillery bombardment, penetrating
the old-fashioned, thick walls.
The government was considering
bcmbarding the position from Ca
banas fortress, across the port. This
would mean firing directly over the
city, dangerous procedure threat
ening wide residential areas. Ger
tain leaders counselled long
siege to starve out the defenders.
Meanwhile, Havana lacked COM
munication with the provinces OF
Matanzas Camaguey, and Pinar
Del Rio, where troops were reported
Only occasional flashes of snip
ing broke the morning quiet in
Havana. A majority of the business
houses remained closed, but nec-
essities such as ice and milk were !.
delivered, Banks and postoffices
were closed