Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-13
Havana Fizz|e
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BY LARRY ALLEN
Associated Press Staff Writer

HAVANA, Cuba, April H.
The flame of Fidel Castro's
rebellion seemed today to be
suffering. Government troops
smashed another rebel move
and diSsension shattered the
rebel organization in Havana.
In what could be a serious
blow to the rebels total war
against President Fulgencio
Batista, the rebel high COM
mand in Havana branded
caStro's personally appointed
top lieutenant here a traitor.
The rebel high command
charged he bungled last We'd
nesday's call to arms in the
capital and threatened to kill
him If he doesn't resign.
The dozen officers who make
up the high command told
newsmen In their secret head
quarters here they no longer
will take orders from 35-year-
old Faustino Perez. Perez. who
Is In hiding somewhere in the
capital. could not be located for
comment.
Order Never Given
The high command said 5000
fighters were ready to stream
out into Havana streets last
wednesday but Perez never
gave the word. The uprising
f1zxled when Gen. Batista
poured heavily armed troops
into the city's trouble spots.
The charges against Perez
left the whole Havana rebel or
ganisation in doubt. II Castro
fails to remove Perez quickly,
It could fall apart.
The attack on Perez came on
the heels of an outburst by
Castro against the junta of
liberation led by ex-PreSident
Carlos Prio Socarras and Gu
ban millionaire Jose Aleman.
Both are in exile in Miami.
Castro, in a statement last
"Wednesday, charged that while
.they were living in Florida's
luxury his men were without
arms. He blamed them for the
recent United States seizures Of
arms destined for Castro's men
In Oriente Province. Castro has
admitted he is fast running out
of arms and ammunition.
Meanwhile, his men face Gen.
Batista's well equipped and
well-trained forces. Heavy cas-
ualties have been inflicted on
rebel striking units.
Plane Bombs Rebels
An army fighter plane bombed
200 rebels outside the town of
@Sagua la Grande near the
northern coast of Las Villas
Province today. then troops
s-moved in to flush them out
-of a sugar mill. Eighteen rebels
were killed in the action. Seven
were killed yesterday.
. The rebels were reported to
rbe part Of. unit which landed
three weeks ago on the Las
VILLAS southern coast. They
pushed toward Sagua la Grande.
80 miles northeast Of Santa
Clara. but ran into tough gov
e1nment reinforcements.
In their flight, the rebels
burned two electric power
plants. four or i've gasoline
tanks, q lumber mill and two
railway baggage cars.
The rebels are running into |
similar resistance elsewhere |
against the Cuban armed
forces. which number about |
80. 10000 men.
Lacks Popular Support
The rebel uprisings reflect a |
glaring lack of popular support, |
shining and coordination.
As the situation is now. Cas-
stro stands little chance of GUST
ing Gen. Batista unless he wins
the armed forces to his side or
.stirs up a popular uprising.
Neither seems likely at the
moment.
It probably is no exaggeration
to say that 80 per cent Of the
nations o million people OPP
pose Gen. Batista but they are
not ready-now at least-to
risk their lives and jobs to
topple him.
Gen. Batista apparently dealt
a serious blow to Castro when
he decreed that any worker
who walks out in a general
strike will lose his job perma-
nently. He also gave any
Cuban the right to shoot and /
kill anyone who interfered
with his job.
Another factor is that Cas-
.tro's rebellion is not fed by 1
the basic causes for an up
.heaval-hunger and economic (
distress.