The Ambassador in Cuba
(Welles) to the Secretary of State
HABANA, November 9, 1933 - 10 a.m.
[Received 11:45 a.m.]
440. At 3 o'clock this morning, by concerted arrangement, the oppositionists
in Dragones and Ambrosio barrack evacuated, passed through the city with
all of the arms and ammunition and other supplies from those barracks and
joined the opposition garrison in the fortress of Atares situated on high
hill dominating the lower part of the harbor. No a shot was fired to prevent
this movement. So far as can be ascertained the total force now defending
Atares amounts to approximately 3,000 men fully armed and with ample ammunition.
The leaders of the rebellion appear to be Colonel Collazo, Major Leanard,
Blas Hernandez, and Rafael Iturralde.
The major part of the province of Santa Clara outside of the capital
city is reported to have joined the revolution and to be in arms under
the command of Colonel Carrillo. Reports received early are that the entire
province of Matanzas is in arms including the soldiers, all supporting
the revolutions. No dependable reports as yet have been received from the
rest of the interior.
I beg to request that reports of the above character be not given to
the press by the Department. All reports given out by the Department are
invariably cabled to Habana and republished in the press here and under
present circumstances it is desirable that no reports coming for me be
made public.
WELLES