New York Times
April 18, 1961.  p. 14.

Messages Depict Cuban Confusion
Radio Listeners Hear Report of Bombs Near Castro

Special to The New York Times

        MIAMI, April 17--Intercepted military messages by radio were the first source today of direct information from Cuba on the invasion by anti-Castro rebels.
        They gave a vivid if fragmentary picture of violence and confusion.  Fidel Castro's officers shouted urgently back and forth to each other.
        The messages were interrupted by static. Much of the time only one side of an exchange could be heard. However, pieced together, the fragments were informative.
        The radio network was shut down abruptly at 7:20 A.M. on the ground that too many Cubans were hearing the messages and "they are alarming the public a little."
        Further use of the station was reserved for serious emergencies, at the discretion of the field commanders. At 11 A.M., for instance, one was used to call for ambulances.
Castro Under Fire
        Meanwhile, they had revealed that Dr. Castro had been under bombardment near the scene of a landing.
        Messages that were understandable gave the following series of developments:
        (A dash at the beginning of a paragraph indicates a change of speakers. In many cases there is no way of identifying the station or the speaker. The exchanges were over the island-wide net of microwave stations generally relied on for official communication.)
        (6:40 A.M.): A Sea Fury has pursued a B-26. Orders have been given to post lookouts on hilltops to know what planes are coming and going. [The Cuban Air Force has some British Sea Fury planes. The anti-Castro forces are not believed to have any.]
        -- (6:43): The aircraft are asking for reinforcements. They are firing on the boats.
        -- (6:45): (Havana central to Laguna) Please repeat the message from the boat in the inlet that picked up the call from the planes asking for help.
        -- (6:47): (From Laguna) According to the boat, they are asking for help.
        -- (6:50): (From Havana) The chief of operations wants to know who is authorizing the information bulletins.
        --They are being authorized by Osamani Cienfuegos and by Sergio. [Osamani Cienfuegos is Minister of Communications in the Castro Government. Maj. Sergio del Valle is the air force commander.]
'Alarming the Public'
        --Listen, Osamani, this is Captain Ruiz of the detachment at Jovellanos. The problem is this: You know that the army bulletins can't be transmitted by the microwave stations of the various departments. The adjutant says it must be done exclusively through the official channels because all the departments are picking them up and they are alarming the public a little.
        -- (From Cienfuegos) Listen, this is the problem: We here are in direct communication with Fidel and we are using a part of this information to keep up to date on what is happening.
        -- (Havana, apparently in answer to a question) Osamani and Sergio are at the headquarters of the militia. They are still using the station at Jaguey.
        -- (After an unintelligible period) Ask if our people also are dropping parachutes.
        -- Tell him no.
        -- What are they dropping? Men or cases?
        -- They are dropping parachutes and bombs. In the Boca de la Zanja they are dropping bombs. The lieutenant says the enemy is among the works [apparently referring to the construction work in progress] on Playa Larga [Long Beach]. Our people are passing through alpite.
        -- (After another interruption) The four planes are already over the beach. Message signed Evelio Rodriguez.
Bombs 'Where Fidel is'
        -- (Havana calling) Tell me, Laguna, how many parachutes? La Boca is still calling. A bomb fell near La Boca.
        -- (Jaguey to Havana headquarters) They bombed here where Fidel is.
        -- (Havana) If they bombed where Fidel was, how is it you did not know about it when you have him there almost in front of you?
        -- Tell me if they are men or bundles being dropped. It is very far from here and we can not tell. There are about thirty parachutes and bombs can be heard. Explosions can be heard and the walls are shaking.
        -- (Apparently Jaguey to Havana) Czech truck passed through here with about thirty militiamen of Battalion 225, Company 1.
        The network was heard again at 11 A.M. in an urgent call from Jaguey to the Red Cross in Havana, asking that all possible ambulances be sent to pick up "many wounded."
        All the places mentioned in the messages are in the area north of Bahia Cochinos, where a landing was reported under way. Jaguey is about twenty five miles north of the inner tip of the bay. Jovellanos is about the same distance north of Jaguey. They are mostly in Matanzas Province, though the landing point was in Las Villas Province.