CUBA: Sentry Duty

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Loaded with combat gear, a platoon of U.S. marines rode trucks out of the U.S. naval base at Cuba's Guantánamo Bay one day last week. Objective: the base's freshwater supply, a pumping station seven miles inland on the Yateras River.

It was the first time since post-Spanish-American War days that U.S. troops had been ordered into Cuban territory, but the Navy thought it had no choice. Early in June, raiders from the rebel army of Fidel Castro burned the barracks of Cuban guards at the pumping station, jeopardized the water without which most of the 6,000 U.S. citizens on the base would have to move out in 24 hours. Base Commander Rear Admiral Robert Ellis conferred with U.S. Ambassador Earl E.T. Smith, who later talked with Cuban Minister of State Gonzalo Güell. It was agreed that if Cuba could not guard the pumps, the U.S. would be allowed to do so. Last week the Cuban army abandoned the waterworks.

As the marines took over, Castro's rebels protested. The marines, they said, were violating Cuban sovereignty, and by relieving Cuban sentries for antirebel combat duty, they were aiding Dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro's complaints did not impress Washington, but the State Department was put out with the Navy for breaking the U.S. nonintervention policy. Another objection was that Dictator Batista might be gulling U.S. troops into combat with his enemies, the rebels. At week's end the State Department prevailed and the marines withdrew. Without comment, Batista sent his troops back to guard the pumps.