Evening star., 1944-07-16
Cubans Ordered
10 Register Or
Quit Country
Gomez Going to Stoy,
Asserts He's Ready
To Serve If Called
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

ny JOnN ID. AELLEh.
Fermin Guerra, catcher, and Ro-
berto Ortiz, outfielder, are quitting
the Mats after today's doubleheader
with Philadelphia's Athletics and
Gilberto Torres, third baseman, will
decide before this evening whether
to give up his job as a result of a
National Selective Service ruling
that they must register for the draft
or leave the country.
Only one of the four Cubans af-
fected by the order has elected to
remain with the Mats. and take his
chance on induction to the armed
forces. Pedro Gomez, reserve in
fielder, youngest of the quartet and
the only unmarried member an
nounced last night he would regis
ter and remain in the United States
Selective service notified the four
players last Thursday that they had
been placed in the category Of resi-
dent aliens and as such their tenure
of stay in the United States was
limited to three months, a term
that had expired. They were in
structed to register for the draft
within 10 days or prepare to quit
the country. According to Col
Eugenio Feliz. military attache on
special mission at the Cuban En-.
bassy. however. the Cubans may re.
main here until August 10.
Wife Wants Torres to Go.
Ortiz's wife left yesterday fol
Cuba. Guerra and his family will
leave with Ortiz today as will the
wife and son of Torres.
Both Ortiz and Guerra didnr
hesitate about deciding to avoid
registration and go home to Cuba
Torres. though, yearns to remain in
baseball here. even if he must put
himself In line to enter military
service.
I've worked eight years to get
up to the majors and I certainly
don't want to get out of the game
hAo"s A"iIS Sdiu ldSb I1lRHL.
feel that I'm making good and
that there is future for me in
baseball. And I realize that if ]
quit and go home rather than regis
ter for the draft I'll never be able
to come back here to play ball
The public would want nothing OF
me under such circumstances"
But my wife is terribly upset
about the matter and wants m,
to return to Cuba. It's no cas-,
decision for me to make. but I'll lie
Mr.. Griffith president of the Wash.
1ngton ball club know after the
game Sunday what I intend to do.
New Ruling Is Jolt.
The Cuban players originally
came to the United States in March
under a three month visa sane
toned. according to President Clark
Griffith of the Washington club. by
the State Department. Later this
permission to remain in this coun-
try was extended to six months
Griffith said at a press conference
yesterday, and the four Cubans
were given special cards indicating
their exemption from registration
for the draft.
The new selective service ruling
came as Jolt to the officials of the
Mats. Ortiz's departure win leave
the club with only four outfelders
and with Guerra gone the catching
staff will be reduced to two-the
veteran Rick Ferrell and the little
experienced Al Evans, the latter
recently discharged from the Navy
because of sinus affection.
Torres departure would hurt
considerably for he has done an
able job at third base and has been
effective at bat In him, the Mats
probably would lose the most YER
satile player in the majors for he
is a better than average pitcher
can play anywhere in the infield
and is good in the outfield.
Guerra Can't See Registering.
Guerra intimated last night he
didn't want any part of the draft,
although he is more than 80 years
old and 1t is doubtful he would be
called after registration. IF I reg
lster and go back to Cuba I'd have
to go in the army there" he ex-
planned. land then I'd get only sll
a month, not the $50 they pay in
this country. I feel it would be
better for me not to register at all
and leave now"
Torres is %. and Ortiz in his mid
twenties. With men under 80 more
than likely to be called to the
colors, neither Of these would miss
it appears.
Gomez is not yet 20 and looks a
sure one for service, but he's ready
to go if summoned, he says. And