Cuban Army Uses Tanks In A Clash

400 Rebels Reported Routed Near Hide-Out of Castro—Election Delay Urged

Special to The New York Times

HAVANA, Feb. 17—Reports of heavy fighting between rebels and Government troops at Pinto del Agua in Oriente Province reached here today.

The reports said 400 rebels had attacked the Government forces and then fled back into the Sierra Maestra hide-out of Fidel Castro, leader. The reports said the Cuban Army had used small tanks and armored trucks in repulsing the rebels.

The rebels were said to have been led by Che Guevara, Argentine physician, who since 1956 has been one of the principal aides of Señor Castro. There was no official statement on casualties.

As the report of this clash and others were received in Havana, civic, cultural and professional associations issued a manifesto suggesting a delay in the elections scheduled for June 1.

The manifesto said it would be impossible to hold elections in the present state of civil war in Cuba.

The manifesto asserted that far from solving Cuba’s problems, an election would make conditions worse. Such an election would not be an expression of the free will of the majority of Cubans, which is necessary to restore-peace to the island, the manifesto contended.

In addition to the fighting in Pinto del Agua, a clash was reported at Sevilla Arriba, also in Oriente Province, in which five rebels were said to have been killed and one Cuban soldier wounded.