Evening star., 1939-03-29
Gerardo Machado,
Deposed Dictator
Of Cuba, Is Dead
Succumbs While Under
Anesthetic;; Revealed
As Cancer Victim
BY the Associated Press.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla, March 29.-
Gen. Gerardo Machado, whose
dictatorial presidency of Cuba was
overthrown in 1888. died on an
operating table today as five physi-
clans tried in vain to stave of his
death from cancer.
The 67-year-old fighter, an exile
from his native land, succumbed
when his heart failed to Withstand
the effects of an anesthetic.
DR.. Jose Navarro said he and
four physicians who came from
Havana had sought to remove "a
big tumor in the abdomen
I'VE had been keeping quiet about
it," he said, but Gen. Machado was
suffering from cancer. He had been
in serious condition for some
time"
Machado's demise followed by lit
tie more than a day the death in
Havana of Carlos Manuel de Ces-
pedes, also ST. who succeeded him
as provisional President of the is
land republic.
Dies of Heart Attack.
DR.. Jose Navarro, Machado's
physician, said the white-haired
former soldier died of heart attack
under the anaesthetic His wife ana
relatives were at the hospital
Machado established a home in
Miami Beach in the spring of 1888
to write an autobiography and be
near his Cuban friends.
Here he was less than 300 miles
from Havana, capital from which
he once ruled the island republic
with an iron hand He recently de-
scribed his political philosophy in an
interview.
THE Cuban people need a firm
hand he said. "A majority of the
citizens do not know what is best for
them and must be told, and when
they will not listen, must be shown" I"
That was his creed as President
of Cuba. reiterated in exile. But
he added he was taken "out of
politics"
He lived the normal life of a
father and grandfather here. He
had the appearance of a retired
business man, only his erect bear
ing and precise manner reminding
that as soldier he led in the war
for Cuba's independence from Spain.
Avoided Political Discussions.
Friends called frequently at his
home. They reported that the old
warrior discussed any subject but
Cuban politics and had never been
heard to criticize his political en-
emies. He was frequently seen on
the beach with his family.
His survivors are the widow, Ell
Vira Machado; a brother, Carlos;
three daughters, Mrs. Baldomero
Grau Y Triana, Mrs. Jose Emilio
Obregon and Mrs. Rafael Sanchez,
and five grand-daughters.
Machado fed by plane from
Havana August II, 1893, to Nassau
in the face of a revolt by the army.
He had depended on the soldiers
and his secret police force for the
stern discipline he maintained over
Cuba.
There followed some three years in
which Machado, his health failing,
fled half across the world and spent
much time in hospitals. He left
Nassau for Montreal, then went to
New York and Philadelphia. In
1884 he sailed to Santo Domingo,
where he remained in guarded Sc
clusion several months, then went
to Europe.
Murder Charges Dropped.
While he was in Germany efforts
were made to extradite him to Cuba
to face murder charges which later
were dropped. -Machado returned
to the United States in 1886 and
remained in New York while friends
worked for amnesty. A year later
these efforts were partly successful
and Machado came to Miami Beach.
Machado was born in Santa Clara
September %, 1871. the son of a
colonel. He soon entered the Cuban
independence movement At the age
of % he started his military career;
won two citations for valor.
When Cuba won her freedom from
Spain, Machado had the rank of
brigadier general.
Czech Army to Disbund