New York Times

January 9, 1958.  p. 5.

 

Ex-U.S. Officer Held

Brother Appeals to Havana Embassy and Washington

 

            A former United States Navy officer has been arrested in Cuba, his brother said here yesterday in making known appeals on his behalf to the State Department and United States Embassy in Havana.

            The brother, Henry Santa Cruz of 310 East Seventy-fourth Street, invoked humanitarian grounds. He said he was uncertain of the arrested man’s citizenship.

            In Havana, Maj. Esteban Ventura, in charge of suppression of terroristic activities, said Antonio Santa Cruz had been arrested Jan. 1 for complicity in a bombing. But he said Mr. Santa Cruz was “a good person,” and there was little proof against him personally although some explosive material had been seized in the house where he was arrested.

            Records of the United States Embassy listed Mr. Santa Cruz as born in Tampa, Fla., May 29, 1914. According to his brother here, he joined the Navy as an ensign after the Pearl Harbor attack and served until after the World War II ended.

            About seven years ago, he joined the Cuban Navy as a lieutenant, according to Henry Santa Cruz, and has been teaching engineering in Havana.