Plot to Invade the Dominican Republic
U.S. Embassy - Havana
[Reference: State Dispatch #4615. 839.00/12-1947]
THE FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Red'd Dec. 29 No. 4615
American Embassy
Habana Cuba, December 19, 1947
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The Honorable
The Secretary of State
Washington
Subject: Frustrated Plot to invade the Dominican Republic Summer of 1947 (Continued).
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this Embassy's despatch No.
4434 of October 17, 1947, reporting in acme details on the abortive
attempt during the past summer to organize in Cuba an invasion of the
Dominican Republic. As indicated in that despatch and in
subsequent communications to the Department (see A 1035 of November 5,
1947) this Embassy has been endeavoring to obtain from the Cuban
authorities information as to the sources and quantities of arms and
ammunition obtained by the revolutionists. Although thus far no
information of this nature has been forthcoming from official circles,
the Embassy possesses fairly complete data on the vessels and planes as
well as the personnel which were to be used in the attempt. It
does not, however have detailed or definite information as to the arms
and ammunition most of which were seized by the Cuban military
authorities. Under these conditions and pending the possible
receipt from the Cuban authorities of more complete data, it has been
considered advisable to recapitulate this despatch information in
the Embassy's possession under the following headings: (1) Personnel,
(2) ships, (3) planes, and (4) arms and ammunition.
I. PERSONNEL
Since reports are now being received that an effort is being made to
organize another attempt (possibly in Venezuela) to overthrow the
Dominican dictator, it is thought that the Department and other
missions concerned might find it useful to have an alphabetical list of
the personnel of the revolutionary force formed last summer in
Cuba. Such a list might prove particularly helpful in view of the
possibility that certain of those who participated in the Cuban attempt
may take part in another conspiracy. The enclosed alphabetical
lists (Annexes I and II) have therefore been compiled. Although
every effort has been made to cross check various sources, it is
possible that some of the names are incorrectly stated. Annex I
includes those revolutionary personnel who were arrested by the Cuban
Army. In despatch No. 4434 of October 17 biographic details were
given concerning certain Cuban, Dominican and other key figures in the
attempt. Their names are again listed without details in Annex II.
II. SHIPS
Although at least eight vessels were to be used in connection with the
attempt, only five reached the scene [unreadable] Cayo Confite.
As the Department well aware, LCI (landing craft infantry) [unreadable]
renamed Patria was detained at Baltimore by Customs authorities at the
Department's request early in August 1947. Two PT boats (Nos.
R-41 and R-42) which, according to the Naval Attache, and had been
purchased by the Cuban Navy some time before through private channels
in Mobile, Alabama, and which had apparently been promised to the
revolutionists, never left the Mariel Naval Base near Habana. (A
member of the expedition, J. L. WANGUEMERT y Maiquez, writing in the
magazine Carteles of October 19, confirms that two PT boats were being
prepared at Mariel.) The ships which actually participated in the
venture were: LCT Libertad, renamed Aurora; LCI No. 1006, renamed
El Fantasma and Maximo Gomez; the Diesel "crash boat" Victoria, renamed
Berta; a small rented auxiliary schooner the Victoria; and the
Dominican schooner Angelina, renamed the Maceo.
The following information is furnished regarding each of these units:
1. The Aurora, according to the testimony of four British seamen
(see Embassy's despatch No. 4273 of August 14, 1947), sailed from New
York on July 9, 1947, and reached Nipe Bay about July 16.
According to information furnished to the Treasury Representative here
by Miguel A. RAMIREZ, formerly doing business at 4 West 104th Street,
New York City, this unit had been purchased in 1946 in the name of CRUZ
ALONSO, a Cuban who took a leading part in procuring vessels and arms
for the expedition. This ship was seized by the Cuban Navy and
brought to Antilla about September 30, 1947. An aerial photograph
showing the Aurora at Cayo Confites is enclosed (Enclosure No. 2).
2. The Maximo Gomez (LCI 1006), according to testimony given, by
Rupert Irwin Waddell, an American connected with the expedition when
questioned by our customs authorities in Miami on October 6, left the
United States from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, on August 25 and
arrived at the Mariel Naval Base on August 29. At Mariel supplies
and munitions were loaded and the ship sailed for Cayo Confites about
September 7. Like the Aurora, the Maximo Gomez was seized by the
Cuban Navy and brought to Antilla about September 30, 1947.
3. The Berta, approximately 100 feet long with twin Diesel
Engines and described by our Naval reconnaissance as a "crash boat",
was used principally to ferry supplies and arms between Nuevitas and
Cayo Confites. An officer of this Embassy who examined the Berta
at Nuevitas on December 11 ascertained that she is a United States Army
aircraft rescue vessel (Navy Hull No. C-77421), built in 1944 by the
Ventnor Boat Works, Incorporated, Atlantic City, New Jersey. She
is equipped with a radio transmitter (Signal Corps, United States Army,
type BC-191, serial No. 118869). According to a report published
in the Habana newspaper Alerta on September 30, one Jose MILO Martinez
was the Captain of the Berta, which originally operated under the
Honduran flag. According to testimony before our customs
authorities at Miami on October 6 given by Thomas E. LAWYER, an
American who participated in the attempt, a Captain SHERWOOD (who
brought the Maximo Gomez from Elizabeth City and who was originally
scheduled to command the Patria), made a trip to Guatemala in the Berta
for the purpose of bringing back rifles. This boat was reportedly
procured from J. E. MAJORRIETA, a Cuban dealer in arms and aircraft, by
or for the account of CRUZ Alonso. An aerial photograph of the
Berta is enclosed (Enclosure No. 3).
4. The Victoria, an auxiliary schooner of about Seventy five
feet, was apparently chartered by the revolutionists and was used when
the first contingent of troops was moved from La Chive (Nipe Bay) to
Cayo Confites. During this voyage the Victoria went aground, two
soldiers were drowned and the rest were rescued by the Berta.
This unit was apparently no used thereafter.
5. The ironclad Dominican schooner Agelina with a crew of nine
was captured by the Maximo Gomez off Cayo Confites about September
11. Equipped with a Diesel engine and about 120 feet long, this
unit was renamed Maceo. She is now under Naval custody at
Nuevitas and was seen there on December 11 by an officer of this
Embassy who noted that her name had apparently been painted over.
III. PLANES
That the plans of the revolutionists for air support were ambitious is
indicated by the fact that they succeeded in bringing to Cuba at least
sixteen aircraft. As the Department knows, a number of other
planes were detained in the United States, including a J2F-6 seized at
Miami about August 9, a PB-4Y seized at Ponca City, Oklahoma, on
November 6, and a B-24 Liberator confiscated at Tulsa about November
7. As reported in this Embassy's telegram No. 572 of October 1, 3
p.m., full information, including photographs, was obtained by the
Treasury Representative in Habana, Mr. Joseph DILLON, and forwarded on
that date to the customs agent at Miami regarding the twelve aircraft
confiscated by the Cuban Army and held at Campo Columbia
Airfield. Although Mr. Dillon was introduced by Ambassador Norweb
to the Minister of State on August 25, at which time his interest in
obtaining date regarding these planes was explained, it was not until
October 1 that through other channels he succeeded in examining the
following twelve aircraft:
1. A B-24 Liberator which had landed at Rancho Boyeros on July
31, at 3:15 p.m., piloted by Chester H. PICKUP who registered at the
Sevilla Biltmore Hotel here as "John Brown" of Rio de Janeiro.
This plane brought in cargo consisting of stretchers, cooking utensils,
aircraft receivers, cartridge belts, rifle slings and other
miscellaneous military equipment which could readily have been
purchased at any army and navy store.
2. Two Vega Venturas which were moved by the military authorities from Rancho Boyeros to Campo Columbia on August 1.
3. Six Lockheed P-38 type (F-5) aircraft. On August 16, two
of these planes were observed at the Mariel Naval Base flying
field. On August 19 four of these planes were observed at that
field. On August 23 one arrived at Camp Columbia and was moved to
Mariel on September 4. The sixth plane landed by mistake at Camp
Columbia and was seized by the Cuban Army (Embassy's telegram No. 504,
August 25). These planes were designed primarily for long range
photographic work and were not equipped with guns or bomb racks upon
arrival in Cuba.
4. Two B-25's (Mitchell bombers). On October 29 the
Treasury Representative (Dillon) observed that the Cuban insignia had
been painted on the wings of these planes. (Cuban insignia are on
all planes now.)
5. One C-46A (Curtis Commando) transport.
In addition to the above-mentioned planes which were taken over by the
Cuban Army and held at Campo Columbia, the revolutionists had the
following aircraft in Cuba:
Two Cessnas C-78 at the Anacra Field, Rancho Boyeros.
Two C-47's based at the Anacra Field, Rancho Boyeros; one of these
(license NC-56001) crashed near Managua (Habana Province) on August 27
because of motor trouble, and the other (license NC-66113) was
confiscated by the Cuban Army at Santiago de Cuba when it landed there
on September 5. According to information furnished this office on
October 13 by Kenneth ROBINSON, an American pilot who had accepted a
position as instructor at this Anacra base, the revolutionists also had
two Vultee BT-13's, one of which returned to the United States and the
other was destroyed in an accident in Cuba.
However, only part of the air fleet with which the revolutionaries
expected to strike a paralyzing blow at Trujillo's air force and ground
installations ever reached Cuba. According to Rolando MASFERRER
(Bohemia, October 12), the revolutionaries had bought eight B-25
bombers but this Embassy can account for only three (two at Campo
Columbia and another seized by the customs authorities at Tulsa about
October 15). Masferrer also stated that six Douglas transports
were to be used to carry 225 paratroopers, but of these planes
only the two C-47's mentioned above apparently reached Cuba.
IV. ARMS AND AMMUNITION
Authoritative data on the origin and quantity of arms and ammunition
assembled in Cuba have not been released. Nevertheless, highly
indicative information has appeared in one form or another. For
example, the statements of three American citizens who were members of
the expeditionary force and in a position to observe (Hollis B. SMITH,
Erwin Rupert WADDELL and Thomas LAWYER), the article by Rolando
Masferrer published in Bohemia on October 12, and other published
material furnished a good deal of detailed information which has been
assembled and is summarized below.
In addition the Embassy has been able to obtain from a local newspaper
four photographs released by the Cuban Army at the time of the seizure
on September 20 of the arms stored at the farm "America" (see despatch
No. 4382, September 26, 1947). Reproductions of these photographs
have been made at the Embassy and three copies of each are enclosed
(Enclosures Nos. 4 to 7) together with explanatory notes. In
connection with these munitions, which at the time were reported to
have filled thirteen trucks, it should be emphasized that they were
apparently to be used in the event that adequate equipment, such as
guns, gun mounts and bomb racks, could be obtained for the
planes. In short, the material at the farm, much of which
apparently came from the Cuban Navy, was never actually moved to the
scene of action.
It is clear from the photographs that the munitions on the farm
"America" were of United States origin. The ground forces of the
expedition already had arms issued to them, or arms and munitions were
on board the vessels. These latter arms and munitions, with the
specific exceptions noted below, came, as far as can be determined,
from sources other than the United States. the bulk of the small
arms, comprising 1,500 Mauser rifles and four million rounds of
cartridges as well as the three-quarter million rounds of 45-caliber
cartridges, presumably came from Argentina.
(a) Rifles
The highest estimate regarding the number of rifles available to the
revolutionaries was that of Lawyer who said that there were about 3,000
from Argentina, 1,500 Springfields, and some others. Masferrer
mentioned 1,500 rifles from Argentina which, according to Smith, were
"similar to the Mauser-98". It is understood that all marks
indicating the origin of the rifles have been removed. The origin
of the Springfields is unknown and the existence of such a quantity of
Springfields is seriously questioned.
As for rifle ammunition, according to Smith there were four million
rounds for the Argentina model Mausers; Lawyer testified that there
were four million rounds aboard the Aurora. the Army official
investigator informed the press on September 29 that two million rounds
of rifle ammunition had been found on board the Aurora. Masferrer
stated that one million rounds had been received from Argentina.
There is photographic evidence that at the farm "America" there was
also a supply of U. S. armor-piercing 30-caliber cartridges (see
Enclosure No. 4).
(b) Machine guns
Masferrer reported that there were about 50 machine guns of a German
type manufactured in Argentina. According to Smith, these machine
guns were of 7.65 caliber, an exact copy of the Masden and made in
Argentina. However, Smith later stated when he visited the
Department on October 20 that they also resembled the German
Schmeizer. Lawyer's statement coincides with that of Masferrer,
viz. 50 of a German type manufactured in Argentina.
There was also a quantity of sub-machine guns. One source
mentions 215 Thompsons. A Dominican exile on Cayo Confites
reported to Embassy sources that of the troops on the Cayo 1,000 were
equipped with rifles and 200 with sub-machine guns. Ammunition
supplies indicated that sub-machine guns were to be used
extensively. There was no mention of ammunition for the machine
guns or automatic rifles. The Embassy does not know if there was
a difference in caliber between the machine guns and rifles, but it is
presumed that the machine guns utilized the standard ammunition of the
Mauser rifles, of which there was an ample supply. Masferrer
stated that there were 775,000 rounds of 45-caliber cartridges.
These could only have been for sub-machine guns and automatic pistols.
© Pistols
Although some 45-caliber pistols were no doubt owned personally by
members of the expedition, there were undoubtedly also pistols which
had been purchased in quantity. Our Military Attache (Colonel
Glenn) reports that he has seen a late model 45-caliber Colt automatic
pistol which was in the hands of the revolutionists.
(d) Automatic rifles
According to Masferrer, there were ten automatic rifles which had been
obtained in Argentina. For a photograph of what appears to be one
of these, see Enclosure No. 3 to this Embassy's despatch No. 4434 of
October 17, 1947.
(e) Bazookas
Masferrer stated that the revolutionaries had bought fifteen bazookas
in the United States. This estimate is supported by the statement
made by the Cuban Army investigator on September 29 at which time he
said that fourteen bazookas were found on board the Aurora.
According to Waddell, there were some 280 bazooka heads which were to
be made into grenades. Lawyer testified that 300 bazooka heads
were loaded by him and Smith.
(f) Bombs
Newspaper reports, e.g. Diario de la Marina on September 21, regarding
the armaments seized at the Finca America indicated that bombs of
various sizes were found, including some weighing 300 pounds.
Smith admitted that he had contracted to make as an experiment some
thirty-six bombs (twelve of 5, 10 and 25-pound size). According
to information reported by a source of Lieutenant-Colonel S. R. KNIGHT,
G-2, Third Army, mentioned in Ciudad Trujillo's despatch No. 1079 of
August 19, 1947, the revolutionaries had some 300 fragmentation bombs
stored in Habana. A photograph taken at the Finca America,
published in the Diario de la Marina on September 21, shows numerous
cylindrical 325-pound depth bombs (see Enclosure No. 5) and several
crates of fins. It is believed possible that these were supplied
by the Cuban Navy from stocks obtained during World War II.
(g) Explosives
According to Lawyer, some 2,000 pounds of dynamite were aboard the
Aurora when captured. This was confirmed by the Army investigator
at a press conference on September 29 (El Mundo, September 30, 1947).
(h) Rockets
Smith testified in August that he made 300 rockets for Ramirez.
These were flown to Mariel from Baltimore on August 16. Size and
description are lacking and there has been no mention of launchers.
(I) Mortars
Masferrer stated that the revolutionists had three Brandet model 81 mm.
mortars, obtained from Argentina. J. L. Wanguemert y Maiquez, a
Habana student who joined the expedition, confirms that there was a
battery of three 81 mm. mortars (Carteles, October 19).
(j) Hand Grenades
Lawyer places the number of hand grenades at 2,000. According to
Masferrer, 1,000 had been bought in Argentina. Smith on October
20 stated that 200 had been acquired in the United States. As
indicated above (see Bazookas), Waddell stated that some 250 bazooka
heads were to be made into grenades. According to Report No.
5001-M of October 15, 1947, from Headquarters Third Army, Smith said
the hand grenades were "exceptionally good" and superior to any United
States make that he had handled or seen.
(k) Cannon
The army official investigating the case against the revolutionaries
stated on September 29 that several 37 mm. guns were seized on board
the Aurora. This was corroborated by information furnished by
Julio CESAR Martinez (U.P. despatch Habana, September 30). On
October 20 Smith said that the revolutionaries had three 37mm.
anti-tank guns manufactured in the United States. According to
Masferrer, three such guns were installed by the Cuban Navy on the
revolutionary ships.
As indicated in Enclosure No. 7, some 20 mm. anti-aircraft cartridges
were stored at the Finca America; however, the Embassy has obtained no
evidence that any 20 mm. guns were in the revolutionists' possession.
(l) Helmets
Various photographs taken at Cayo Confites show that the
revolutionaries were equipped with metal helmets, apparently of the
same type as those used by our army during the past war. The
Treasury Representative here (Dillon) on August 18 interviewed Jay
MATHEWS and Harold WEELER who said that they had brought by air
fifty-three bags of army helmets from San Juan; that they left San Juan
on August 15 in their own B-18 plans and claimed that the shipments had
been cleared by customs in Puerto Rico. Lawyer reported that
Ramirez bought fifty helmets in New York.
(m) Jeeps
According to Smith, some six to eight jeeps had been purchased in New
York City. Reports from various sources indicate that the
revolutionaries made liberal use of automotive vehicles owned by the
Cuban Government. Two were furnished by Manolo CASTRO from the
Cuban Palace of Sports.
(n) Parachutes
According to Smith, some 200 parachutes had been purchased in New York
City (this checks with Masferrer's statement that some 225 men were to
be used as paratroopers), but there is no evidence that parachutes were
delivered to Cuba.
Source of arms.....Did Peron Furnish arms?
There is a reasonable amount of evidence to support the conclusion that
a large part of the arms used by the expeditionary force, as indicated
in the above summary, was manufactured in Argentina. On this
point Masferrer, in an article published in the weekly magazine Bohemia
on October 12, made the following statements (translation):
"Not being too successful in the United States, the revolutionaries
turned to a friendly country. Through it two revolutionary envoys
went to Buenos Aires and interviewed President Peron. He sold
arms in the belief that they were going to aid a government menaced by
North American imperialism. What is more, there was lacking
$350,000 to pay for all the equipment acquired in Argentina and
President Peron paid this from his secret funds. When he
discovered that the arms would be utilized against Trujillo, he decided
to send him a larger quantity of arms so that he could defend
himself. For this he took advantage of the opportunity of the
inauguration in Santo Domingo through the Argentina mission which
represented him and sent it as a gift. This happened on August 17
last (note: this latter apparently did not occur). The arms
made available to us were 1,500 rifles, 50 machine guns of a German
type manufactured in Argentina, 10 machine rifles, three mortars -
Brandet model 81 mm. 1,000 hand grenades, 1,000,000 rifle cartridges,
775,000 45-caliber cartridges for the machine guns, all of which was
taken to a secure part in Central America. A new effort in the
United States made it possible to acquire 15 bazookas, some carbines
and pistols, as well as some Springfields and Brownings."
Although in the above revelation Masferrer merely stated that the "arms
had been brought to a more secure port in Central America", he was more
specific when interviewed following his return from Cayo
Confites. According to a reporter of the daily newspaper Prensa
Libre (October 5):
"Masferrer is convinced that the arms of the expedition were bought by
Guatemala from Argentina on the pretext that they would be used in an
anti-imperialist movement. Guatemala delivered the arms on
condition that after the defeat of Trujillo the movement would be
directed against Somoza and Carias. This operation was carried
out through Arevelo and Cruz Alonso, a Cuban who went to Argentina for
that purpose." (Felix Buenaventura Sanchez and Alejandro Del
Valle, two members of the expedition, told the press stories which
confirm the above; see notes to Enclosure 1 to despatch No. 4434,
October 17.)
According to the Havana Post on October 5, Masferrer stated that
Guatemala had offered to purchase the arms. It will be recalled
that Lawyer told our customs authorities on October 6 that the arms had
come from Guatemala because he knew "some of the boys who went to get
them", including five Dominicans and Captain Sherwood.
Although an Associated Press despatch from Guatemala on October 7
stated that Guatemala's Foreign Office had denied the report that arms
had been furnished to the revolutionists by the Guatemalan Government,
there would appear to be good reason to suspect that Guatemala was
involved. In this connection reference is also made to this
Embassy's despatch No. 4503 of November 7, 1947, in which it was
pointed out that the list of telephone numbers found on Manolo CASTRO,
Cuban Director of Sports, at the time of his arrest at Miami on
September 29 included the Guatemalan Legation in Habana.
I believe the Department will agree that the above summary shows that
the revolutionists had collected an impressive army of war
material. Such an illicit accumulation in improper hands is in
itself a dangerous thing. In the present instance, the use of
such arms against another country would have brought perilous
consequences. Moreover, had the Cuban Army not seized these arms,
their clandestine existence in Cuba during an election year would at
best have been a constant threat to domestic peace and order.
Respectfully yours,
Lester D. Mallory,
Charge d'Affaires a.i.
Enclosures (in triplicate except No. 1):
1. List of personnel, Annexes I and II ..
Annex II
2. Photograph of Aurora
3. Photograph of Berta
4. Photograph of 30-caliber cartridge boxes
5. Photograph of depth bombs
6. Photograph of depth bombs
7. Photograph of 20 mm. ammunition
File No. 800
DVAnderson/dts:mk
Note: The drafting officer acknowledges with appreciation the
assistance of L. D. Mallory, Charge d'Affaires a.i.; Colonel E. E.
Glenn, Military Attache; Colonel B. C. Batterton, Naval Attache; c. W.
Moore, Attache; and V. L. Collins, Second Secretary.
Copies to American Embassies at Caracas, Ciudad Trujillo, Buenos Aires, Guatemala and Port-au-Prince.
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