Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-11
Castro Battle
Sweeps Into
Countryside
Several Places
Report Arrests,
Armed Clashes

NItttS0 Sl0SIbSS
HAVANA, Aug. IL (AP).-|
Fidel Castro's battle against
the first major conspiracy
threatening his revolutionary
regime swept into the Cuban
countryside today. New arrests
and armed clashes, were re-
ported in several places.
officials claimed the plot was
crushed. Unofficial reports said
as many as 1900 persons had
been arrested up to late yes
terday.
A military communications
blackout in Las Villas Province
-Cuba's agricultural heartland
hid developments there. But
it was understood Castro forces
fought skirmishes with groups
opposing him.
Havana Quiet Again
Havana was quiet after a
night Of disturbances. About a
dozen cases of street shooting
were reported, but no casual
ties. A police spokesman said
conspirators fired on official
automobiles and public build
ings in an unsuccessful attempt
to create panic.
Reports also filtered through
the military screen from Santa
Clara and Cienfuegos. Num-
erous arrests were reported in
both of those central cities.
Mass arrests appeared to
have subsidized in Havana, and
police began sorting out those
seized in the dragnet. Informed
sources said many will be freed
as soon as officials complete
their Investigations.
The United States Embassy
said it had no word of any
American being detained now
in the roundup Of supposed
conspirators.
Americans Role Disputed
However, there were con-
flicting reports on the status
of Mai. william Morgan of
Toledo, Ohio, an American who
served with Premier Castro'S
forces.
One newspaper claimed he
was mixed up in the plot. But
a formal statement by the Vet
Grams of the Second Front of
Escambray. a group that fought
with Mr.. Castro in his guerrilla
wra against the BatiSta dicta-
torship, credited Mai. Morgan
and two Cuban majors with
playing important roles in
smashing the conspiracy.
Other rebel sources said Mai.
Morgan served as an under
cover Castro agent, pretending
to join the conspirators IN order
to expose them.
The newspaper Revolution,
organ of Castro'S 26th of July
Movement, blamed the con-
spiracy on three elements
members of the former Batista
army some large landowners
affected by the land redistri-
button law and mercenaries
hired by Generalissimo Eafael
L. Trujillo, dictator of the
Dominican Republic.
Castro Report Awaited
THE Cuban people must re-
main calm because neither the
(CaStro) revolution nor the
country are in danger" the
paper said in a front-page
editorial.
1t urged Cubans to await
Mr.. Castro's statement to the
nation.
The Cuban leader gave no
advance hint of when he might
go on radio and television, his
favorite method of reaching
the Cuban people.
Communications blackouts in
Las Villas Province have OBJ
scured developments there
since the week end.
Remnants of an armed band
that clashed with Premier Cas-
tro'S army Sunday repeatedly
took TO the hills in the southern
part of the province. where a
number of conSpiratorS have
been reported arrested.
Castro Changes Mind
Observers also considered it
significant that Mr.. Castro
suddenly changed his mind
about going to the inter-
American foreign ministers
conference in Santiago, Chile.
They looked on this as a meas
ure of the gravity of the sit
uation in Cuba.
From reliable sources both
in and out of the government
these were developments:
l. Camp Libertad on the
See CUBA, Page A-6