The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-12

"a NhNiV DaNAoAo WHAT hANAdApl ldl
is re 20 gnized,
but it's conceded that maybe a GER
tain amount of peremptoriness is
necessary, in view Of Cuban condi-
tons.
The opinions expressed too, that
he was rather moderate in merely
exiting most of the leaders Of the
latest plot against him, considering
that, from all accounts, they
planned to kill him,
Washington doesn't like revolu-
tons in republics so close to the
United States as Cuba Is, anyway.
1t hopes. unoficially, that Colonel
Batista (hes oftener referred to as
a colonel than as president) has
the Cuban situation permanently
in hand. There's a bit Of apprehen-
sion that he hasn't, though, for the
islands in bad shape economically.
Economies, however, had nothing
to do with the recent anti-presiden-
tial conspiracy. he thing was
cooked up by the army chiefs and
the chiefs of Cubs's little pewee of
a navy.
A peculiar feature OF the affair is
that Batista was an army plotter
himself originally, and a successful
one.
Overthrow Machado
A sergeant was all he amounted
to when he began his combinations
TO overthrow President Machado,
who mad developed his presidency
into an out-and-out dictatorship. II
generally is agreed that it was
very bad one and Washington
didn't blame Sergeant Batista in
the least for wanting to upset it.
To be sure, nobody imagined that
just an ordinary non-com could do
it, but Batista did, to the surprise
of all hands.
That elevated him to his colonel
cy. II isn't clear whv hA d''r't coll
himself a general, but 1t didn't
matter; he made himself chief Of
staff, as colonel only. and he and
the army took complete charge Of
the government-the civil as well
as the military end Of II.
This suited the army alright. In
reality. Batista himself was run
ming the whole show, but the army
leaders reckoned him simply as one
of themselves and didn't resent his
chieftainship. Besides, he more or
less consulted 'em.
But some while ago he took a
fancy to the idea of becoming pres
ident, got himself chosen, moved
into the presidential palace at Ha-
vana, and transformed himself into
the role Of boss of civil administra-
ton. II seems to have altered his
viewpoint entirely.
The army, for instance, had been
exercising supervision over the is
lands schools. The navy had been
policing its ports, supervising its
lighthouses and In charge Of its
fisheries.
President Batista quickly as
sumed civilian presidential direc-
ton or all these functions.
He took the position that armies
and navies are governmental serv-
ants-that they're not actually the
government. On this basis he's
been recognizing the Cuban sys-
TEN as fast as possible.
Generals Infatuated
The generals and admirsls first
were alarmed then Infatuated. In
the first place, they realized that
they were being debated. In all
probability they likewise found
that some Of their extra-emolu-
ments were being cut off.
Hence, as seen from Washing
ton, the conspiracy TO chuck the
colonel out Of office, doubtless by
killing him, as the most convenient
method.
He beat 'em to it. He's a 1--we
wire.
According to what Washington
hears, the Cubans generally are for
him. The political party that sup
ported him presidentially is. And
Senator Jorge Manche, congression-
al leader Of the party which opposed
him during the last election cam
paign, also has Endorsed his pro
civilian policy.
Signs are that, at least temper