Evening star., 1933-09-13
Officers and Batista Stand /
Equally Firm, II, Cuban Reuolt
Former Chiefs of Military Wait Time:
Ferrer Says in Observation-Disclosures
Ready, Says Sergeant Commander.

park"
It was for the same reason the United
States embassy here decided on the
Hotel Nacional as q refuge for Amer
leans in case Of disorder. Many Amer
leans went to the Nacional at once
Immediately the officers began pouring
IN, the embassy chose new point OF
refuge without publicly identifying it.
thereby avoiding needless alarm.
Alarm System Ready.
This was practicable because as q
measure Of reinsurance to the Amer
leans as well as precaution, the en-
bassy has the telephone number Of every
American In Havana and is also pre-
pared to inform those promptly who
have no telephones.
At the boulevard entrance to the
notels main drive a squad of former
Sergt. Batista's soldiers continue to
search under the hoods and seats, and
even under the chassis Of all automobiles
Tor arms, and also to make a personal
search OF the men and women ar
irving.
Cityward, toward the harbor entrance,
past MORO Castle. the revolving blue
jackets uncover three-inch naval gun
when there Is an alarm, and sentrieS,
instead of sitting or standing, parade at
leisure, take up rifles and do sentry
cuty. Batista, new head of the army,
has few guards around the presiden-
tial palace and sentries and machine
guns on the roof with both the SEN
tries and gunners easy targets for
snipers from adjoining buildings
At army headquarters, three blocks
beyond. Batista has a small garrison.
The officers group outnumbers Batista' s
Immediately around the palace, as the
officers are fully aware. They say Ba-
tlsta's dispositions show him as an off,
ce sergeant and stenographer rather
than a field soldier. and q swift attack
IS temptation to many, which their
superiors will not permit. 1t Is thought
such an event would be the signal for
street fighting by the different armed
civil factions and bring United States
Marines ashore and Intervention.
To Avoid Intervention.
I'VE mean to avoid any step that
might bring Intervention" said DR.. Fer
rer, but if attacked we shall resist. We
have here 800 out of 300 officers in the
army, and throughout the island we
have officer groups with whom we are
III tOuCll. we IcCclFc lTcQuclL IlcS-
sages from groups Of privates saying
they are loyal and are only waiting for
the chance Of their restoration to for
mer authority. Above all they insist
they will never fire on their former
chiefs"
When left the hotel a new radio
apparatus for broadcasting the officers
appeals to their former soldiers was not
yet working. but a propaganda bureau
had been established, with typewriters
for the press Armed A. B. C.'s still
throng the lobby and a sharp watch is
kept for spies from the opposing camp.
Thus the siege, If that is the word,
continues, with both sides trying to
wear each other out.
Order Rests on Batista.
Col. Batista for the moment holds
the most powerful position Of any man
in Cuba Order depends upon his
holding the soldiers together. He is
32 He was born in Oriente, the prov
ince which is called the mother Of
revolutions. Of poor parents. His
father is small dealer in cattle and
fruits.
Batista entered the infantry at %,
became a corporal. studied stenog-
raphy and became a sergeant, doing