Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-21
Cuban IndustriaIists
Scared Into Flight
By Extorfion Wave
By n. Stuort Morrison
Foreign Correspondent Of Tho ssor ond
The Chieooo D,ilv A.....


CAMAGUEY. Cuba, Aug. Ala
wave of extortionism with all the
viciousness of American gansterisn
of the roaring '20s is frightening
Cuba's wealthy industrialists. Many
are taking implanted vacations in
the United States and some de-
parted so hurriedly they had nc
time to obtain passports.
Havana now is the center of the
crime wave but over here in the
eastern end of Cuba people with
money in the bank are wondering
If their time isn't near.
Forty murders have been COM
mitted in the Cuban capital since
January, it is reported. Business
men say most of these are attribute
BILE to Cuban form of the old
American protection" racket, but
here one pays without getting any
protection.
Operation Described.
The operation is simple. Gang
sters send letters instructing their
victims to pay off. The usual
amount is $4,000. The sucker list
is an exclusive one and so far as
the unwritten record goes there is
little chance to escape
At first small businessmen were
chosen, those who profess knowledge
of the racket say. Gradually, how
ever, the thugs became more am
bilious and moved into bigger
money. Now the business" has
been extended to include not only
importers and exporters, but manu-
facturers and even some govern
nlent officials
One Havana government official
Is reported to have defied the ex-
tortionists and shown his letter. de-
handing $4,000. to the police.
Cornered on Street.
The next day he was cornered on
. business street.
"A man shot at me and missed"
he told his friends. Il ran. Across
the street another thug shot at me
He missed, too. Up the block two
more fired. The last man hit me
In the leg, but it only made me run
faster
He took the next plane to the
United States.
Another victim took his ransom
note out of his mail box and before
night fell was aboard ship bound
for New York He didn't even wait
for passport.
Among those reported to have re-
eeived extortion demands and to
have escaped to the United States
are Francisco Blanco, prominent in
dustrialist, and Julio Blanco Har-
rerra. brewery owner. No confrma-
ton of these cases is possible. as po-
lice records are not available and
persons familiar with the extortion-
lists operations are voluble about
people they don't know-and pro-
tectively silent about their friends.
Communists Blamed.
Some businessmen blame the
Communists for the extortion rae
is getting a cut in the take They
declare this theory is tenable, be-
cause of the strong hold Commu-
nism has on Cuba, and charge police
are protecting the gangsters. Vary
few persons put any stock in this
story, however.
So far, there have been no def
mite political implications in the
operation. Friends of the govern
ment, as well as its enemies, have
been included among the victims.
However, political observers blame
the extortions on the caste of thugs
which grew up during the last two
administrations, and reached the
apex of their careers about the time
President Ramon Grau San Martin
was elected. They point out that
with Grau San Martins election.
thuggery was put down. Now. they
suggest, the thugs are emboldened
by growing dissatisfaction with his
administration.
The thugs expect either revolution
or some other incident to end Grau
San Martins presidency within a
year-and they're out to get what
they can while the getting is good.
according to these versions.
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