CUBA: Revolution at Dawn

Batista is back. The tough, smiling ex-sergeant, who bossed Cuba through eleven years of "disciplined democracy," this week toppled President Carlos Prio's constitutional regime from power in an almost bloodless army revolution.

Strong Man Fulgencio Batista, at 51 an old campaigner who had overturned half a dozen other presidents in his time, pulled the lanyard at 2:43 a.m. Monday. Aided by younger elements in the army, navy and police force, he achieved complete surprise. With a group of captains and lieutenants he seized control of Camp Columbia, the key army base outside Havana from which he first rode to power 19 years ago. Addressing the troops, he told them he was taking over because the country had lost confidence in the current "ward-heeler government." Batista, who had been a long-shot presidential candidate in the elections scheduled for June, also said: "I had news that President Prio, faced with the defeat of his candidate, was planning a fake revolution for April 15."

Sheets in the Windows. Wearing a pistol with his sport jacket and slacks, the Strong Man took command over a 77-minute revolution. All around the island, members of the plot grabbed control of garrisons, naval bases, radio stations and communication centers. At the palace, Prio had time to issue a communiqué calling on "all Cubans to resist jointly with the President." At one point a car raced, guns firing, toward the palace gate; two guards were killed and seven wounded in an exchange of shots. Shortly afterwards, the gate opened and a limousine bore Prio away. On the dot of 9, armored cars followed by truckloads of infantrymen converged on the palace. White sheets fluttered from upstairs windows. For all practical purposes, the revolt was over.

Plumper and a little greyer, but flashing his oldtime smile, Batista met the press at Camp Columbia, handed out the names of his civilian cabinet, announced that the June 1 elections were off and explained that constitutional guarantees would have to be suspended for a while. "My only intention is to maintain law & order." he said. "I am a friend of the people, not of gangsters."

Tanks in the Streets. Thus ended the "unfettered" democracy that Batista himself had ushered in eight years ago by holding elections so free & fair that the opposition candidate unexpectedly won. Though Batista announced that "free and honest elections will be held as soon as possible," it was at least questionable whether he would make the same mistake twice. He made little or no effort to round up and jail Prio's political pals. In noisy, politically turbulent Havana, all was calm and quiet as the Strong Man's tanks once again brought "disciplined democracy" to the streets.