1959-04-13 — Page 4

THE CHINA MAIL, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1959.

I

#

"I don't care if you are sick of photographing woddings--you've no right to punch my Alfio's noso."

London Express Service.

There's no gambling now

HAVANA.

REPORT from the. cra- ziest city in the world-

city where Boy Scouts fireet the trail because the policemen who should be doing the job are locked up in their own gaul cells. Where the Customs ofeers at the airport insist that they strip and such a party of furious dourists, then, finding nothing. by: "I am so sorry. Now we

will all go to the bar so I can buy you a drink,"

Where a boy of 15 who in the Inst two years has killed six men is being told at his school denk: "You really must learn ant to ride your bleuele lip a ear-way strect,"

The beautiful girls and the all-night gaming tables

these were the big tourist attractions of Cuba before the revolution which swept Fidel Castro into power. Today the hotels and the casinos of Havana are empty... the cafés are filled with out-of-work Cubans children beg in the streets. And all Castro can do is cry: "Give me time and all will be well."

in 'Casino City'

"That teil be two dollars 50 round to Government offices to Ep2ts” (178. (1).

Another emelal gave me R paper-barked Gospel according to Saint Luke and a card saving: "Welcome in the name of Christian brotherhood.”

Before I could even think of thanking him, be thrust second card At mu: "All financial contributions grate- fully received."

plend: "Can't you send him an his holiday? If only you could keep him quiet for ten days we might get some business."

But trying to stop Castro talking is like trying to stem Niagara Falls with a bath plug.

A few nights ago he appeared on television and made a speech husting five hours, Everyone thought that must have got it all off his chest. But two nights later he won back again,

He started before 11 o'clock. When I turned over in bed at 3am, his voice was still rasping

from radios otherwise silent city.

NO DIFFERENCE The Customs officers who are building up

a big reputation

let locally for undressing visitors

ilghtly.

They out

ከሶ

alt

agressive-looking lot they are This Havana after the re too. They walk around ke volution which swept away mobile armouries festooned Cuba's letator, Fulgencio Ba- with rifles and pistols which isla, and put 39-year-old ex- they spin round their Angers Jawyer Fidel Castro into power.

Only a few weeks ago, as the crusade la 1956 they swore to

When they launched their chatter of machine guns died to have their hair cut until only made me turn everything Chatro Was borne la Cuba's 5,000,000 people saw their out of my bags, which bad taken triumph into the capital here, enus for the glorious thing two hours to pack.

The guerilla war he and his they themselves believed it to robe! army had fought for be

A porter standing at my side nearly three years from hide-

shrugged And Apparently some Cubans have They

whispered; wuts in this Caribbean Island

have been doing the yut 10 be enlightened. For job only for a furtnight. of sunshine, sugar, and cigars Castro's men Row have beards it tire."

They was over. Castro was hailed as

to their chests and their hair the saviour of his people.

hangs

curls un their shoulders.

But what a crazy set-up they have got now.

Just about everybody who had any way in ruming the place has fled or has been Bung into prison. So now it is running on a shot string.

WELCOME ....

On the way into town I met my first trafe-controlling Boy Scout. These boys are having fun. Some drivers take notice

Over the

There was a time when no visitors to Havana were ever in bed at 3 am,

They were all much nearer home.

And never

at the casinos gambling until in memory ling Cibo staged a dawn.

That was what most of bullfight. them came for,

But Castro doesn't like casino", He thinks gambling is wrong. And he says, quite rightly, th

lot of gambling In Havana had got into the hands of thugs and mobsters from America.

On top of all this, Castro is broke, Desperately 50, For when Dictator Batista scuttled off to <xile, he first stuffed his porkets with public funds. Tens of millions of dollars went with

him. And he left behind

The reason there were more of Custre's inen than passengers of them; some don't. It So first he shut down the monumẹnini national debt.

tien

the airport was that they look it over during the revolu Now no one can find any thing else for them to do. they just stay there.

As I checked in In

When I arrived here I thought handed me

the revolution had broken out all over again.

Toll

makes no difference. They all casinos-which made sure that nish up in the same enraged anyone planning to fly here to jun.

went somewhere else.

dice or play the wheels

Then he decided to open them again-but only an condition

I asked what was happening 50

to the pollee. "They are wait" ing in cool for fair trial.”

Forty-three airmen who had for depased dictalor

official a piece of paper flown

saying that Cuba welcomed ma gatista got one of these "fair

as a luarist,

The sport was st with Castro's soldiers. And a pretty his kindness

Coldo

Even the slightest cold

Is to be feared

Do not let it spread! Defeat Itfrom the start by taking for 2 'CAFASPINS'

CAFASPIN

POPULAR

trials" a few days ago.

They

I was about to thank him for were all found not guilty.

when he said- This so infuriated Premlyr Castro-who glows one minute with the righteousness of a man who still believes in Santa ¿Claus pudathe-next::shows", Then very qualities he deplored in Butista-that he ordered a retrial,

[BAYER

This time the airmen were ait found guilty, and given hard labour sentences from one to 30 years.

So it looks as if Huvann will not be having a police force

until it trains a new one.

FIDEL CASTRO

A

Castro was never able to pay his soldiers in the three years they fought for him. They hud to live off the land.

Since the revolution Castro has made one payment of £16 to all his soldiers.

That was il

month

ago and there is no sign of their getting any more,

A Ship Accursed

THE

Buenos Aires.

THE misfortune which -haunts the 23,000 gross

ton

"Cruz del Sur," onco

the proudest, biggest whale

By BOB BLOAN

Special To China Mail

gentine, sailor of the legend project and

however, went ahead with the nothing. The Government took

ORG

on

factory ship in the world, Miguel Miranda, died. Then costing Ryan the equivalent of has reminded many an Ar no more money come. Ryan, £2,000 a month and yielding

that a curse deaconds upon construction of the vessel with ly less than £1,000,000 or

pold for the her over, paid Ryan theoretical- any ship on whose construc- la foreign earnings from whale third of its value. Two thirds tion lives have been lost. oil,

In 1951, just after the vessel irregular because paymeris hod Но knew that thla was had been launched In her Belfast yards, the gangplank Gank. collapsed and 42 men fell inlo the water. Twenty, died,

The curse seemed to dog the ship from the start. The floating factory was equipped with the most up-to-date machinery to Process the catch. But in the eight years afloat, del Sur never saw a whale. The port became the acene of o Kila zentiment for it has naw ship was especially fitted to sell murder record in the annals of put the ship, renamed "Cruz del

the Buenos Aires She EQUS.

police. A Surt after the 1833 revolution, never saw the midnight sun.

ship's electrician touk an up for sale by tender, and de- occasionet girl friend aboard cided that with the proceeds t the vessel, drank himself silly will order o fleet of smaller She has been used as a tanker, and at dawn killed her and tankers. detailed to operate as a tramp, threw her body into the river

III Repute

of that num went to most taxes and fines,

Once, the ship railed on to be made through the Central instruction course for merchant He began to have mis- saitors and later Bhc WED givings. "Whenever the whale handed over to the state oll Jvered, fancying a Walt Dis bring all from Curacao...which port opened," he recalls, "I corporation, YPF, and used to neyith big mouth leering at me, prompted one shipper to com-

wil make

a tool of you, it ment: "Its like using a Rolls- seemed to say,"

Royce, to deliver milk." Four years later, the whale YPF must have agreed with

frozen

Arctic

Tankor

the Chiz

Ryan decided that the best

Although she is barely eight millions,. she cost way out of his plight would be years old. shipping executives

to secure the favour of the then in one

the busines district mi dictator, General Juan Peron. Buenos Aires talk of her as of He sought to interest him by a lady of ill repute. "Beware of naming the vessel after him. touching her," they say, "she is But his endeavours met

with no good."

more

D

or Jald Idie near the part of through the port doors. Euenos Aires. Instead of pro- ducing millions; and at legat shipper commented private-

"I would consider owning that ship than teping an elephant in the back garden!

tule BVCCESS. The former Actually, this is more than The mon, who brought the dictator never visited the ship: wisecrack. YPF announced ship into existence, was 60-add When the silver grey "Juon that the will only be sold ytars old, Gibraltar-born Perzon" faally entered the port condition that she continues to Alfredo Ryan, a financial wizard of Buenos Aires, it was the anil under the Argentine Ang who, as President of the Com- biggest ship ever to dock there and is used as a factory for the pania Argentina le Pesca, To make the most of its malden whaling industry. But to re piminated Argentine whale voyage, it arrived with 25,000 ft her will cost a fortune. The 1shing in the politically lons of petrol, Ryan was on the factory board has been largely troubled Antarctic waters where bridge beside the captain, dismantled, since, for YPX's British and Argentine claims to sweating with the responsibility purposes it was merely dead tovereignty clash.

of bringing the vessel through weight,

As long as he enjoyed the the tricky roads of The River favour of Government House, Plate, nothing Was Impossible for

Ryan. He wrongled his way and

managed operate in the dis-

Impounded

puted Island of South: Georgia That was about the last Ryan by serving two masters of once, saw of the Juan Peron."

As

on

A large part of the mallors' quarters she originally had accommodation for 800, but only just 100 were needed to use her as a tanker has been turned into store rooms.

Moreover, whales at present

He secured a special charter soon ELS she docked, he WIE POCIT

to be scarce in the from the Argentines and leave given notice of embargo, The Antarctic. from the British-to whom he hip was impounded for pay- What is more. Ryan, the paid taxes.

ments which the Central Bank kellest candidate who even deem Irregular.

sorne time ago was shy of Then began her career of buying the vessel, is fond To build the ship, which cost humiliation. She changed her saying: "I am not supersutious £2,918,000, he was granted on master often and wis never of course, but I am un Irishman official loan, until his prolector, loved. For 14 months she stood and whenever I see a black cat,

lato Argentine Anancier, idle in the port of Buenos Aires, I cross my fingers."

The

Irregular

martis

How to drive

with children

and stay sane

а blue station wagon parked Life in Havana to almost it by the roadside

GIVE ME TIME IF you see

a standstill.

Lines of taxis

next

already gleaming are polished week-end with someone peering intently into the don't go

their

by PETER DACRE

of

some well-known parents how they do this." Most of them plumped for games of the I-m? S "Tariety.

ENID BLYTON (who is a. surgeon's wife and mother of can become comparatively pain-we) recommends a list of right

TLF TIENTALLET dozen gespre

only one base the journey.

hour upon hour by divers Ratels docmyne get into them. Cafes are engine, illed with out-of-work Cubans thinking: "There's some children from getting bored,

principle to observe; keep the

who languidly sip cups of bitter, strong coffou. Children beg in one in trouble."”.

the streets.

comic

worming the baby's bottle.

ard

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a

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First, always travel in short The list must not be too Sakay It probably will be only nie eny normally healthy child can take me one she has used suc- stages. Two hours is the most boo difficult, Miss Blyton And constantly comes the call from Castro:

cestully: cat on a window-stil, "Give me time It is a little trick I perfected be expected to sit still. and all will be well."

on a 1,500-mile car trip from

Half the hair-learing atom- while cow,

red garden gate, yellow car, sphere built As If this is not fantasy [New York to Florida.

a double pram, up in cars during woman carrying a dog, and enough there exists a political

Jangy Journeys is crused We had a body who needed I drove to one of the £20-a-

situation which would rate for his bottle every three

fathers day

who want to keep tree struck by lightning, American-owned hotels

hours. moving

You give ten cents for every Put mest man behind object spotted and a dollar for If it did орега A coin that they pald him swingeing threaten tragedy for millions.

not Wo also had + along the waterfront.

family of other

wheel en a long ride and they assorted missionaire in while pith heimet taxes,

youngsters want For, with none of his doorstep whose insatiable appetite

to press on regardless. with green cockade. leaped for It is beyond the ingenuity problems sorted out, there is drinka

for They want to roll up at their

Novelis NIGEL BALCHIN word to open the car door, Thu even of a gangster to work out talk

knickerbocker destination and say modestly: principle of the ship's zum You runs a sweepstake on tho of Castro invading the glories made it an expensive hotel doors opened themselves how he is going to pay Castro

"Four hours 22 minutes hom (by means of an electric cyc) when the customers who migh: Dominican Repubile invading to have the bottle warmed.

stopping at coles just door-to-door. Not bad going tons on this "How far can 90 can devise a number of varia- six tect before I renched them. have provided the money have Castro's Cuba: of 100,000.exiled So I devised the idea of

c57" The $18.00

lobby was a soaringly been frightened away. splendid affair with a fountain

Hallians launching an invasion warming it on the car engine, experience has taught me that little Johnny wants to get

I am no exception. But batera bature the baby cries of I talked to one of them In from here back to their own which was nicely hot after a 18.00 at its centre and palm trees a casino which was almost country,'

of the cor?" Last three-hour run. I parked

this merely results in all con- round the edges. Under them empty. His name was Butch,

cerned arriving in a state of Or play the Silence There is even talk of counter- 18.00 were va guests-and 14 soldiers He wore smoked glasses and a

the car, wrapped the bolido "in revolution within Cuba itself to

a Ugh cloth to keep out the

nervous exhaustion. Now I take "How for can double-breasted navy blue suit overthrow Castro,

it steady. 25.00 with automaties.

somebody apoaks?” engine fumes, and placed it on So badly has the revolution with a bulge under the left arm. But most fantastic of all was the cylinder blods.

Fiteen minutes before siart- PSYCHOLOGICAL? 7.50 hit the tourist trade one of He told me! "This

ing I pack the kids into the guy my meeting with the 18-year-old. Cuba's biggest Mources of Castro?

for the other 9.00

What's he done? Fit boy who fought for two years NO COMPLAINTS

some of their animal spiriája. problem: car sickness. Doctors 4.50 beci, offering to put up Amer- cut himself into the business

In 10 minutes the milk was On long trips we niways take and motor experts. I quizzed He was only 13 when he nicely warned, spparently with salwiches to eat as we go cans free for three days. And with no investment when we killed four Batista mea with out sing tainted by

cesure is it is largely inental 1.00 the National Airline has said it ain't got no ellents. How crazy knife, then two more with a

petrolidong. This allows me to delve end psychological. fames. Baby mado no 1.50 would fly people here at cut can you get?"

con- through the Junch' hours when But acme people think it is sun.

plaints. He is Castro is also against girls-

now a sturdy there is deus traffic and dewar ped by static electricity, You But the tourists aren't coming, or at least against their being young Victor Arguelles back effects, although now and that we do stop the children can use from chain from the car to act Today they are trying to turn two-year-old chowing no after heavy lorries about. And when have probably tried hanging on 1.50

They were scared off by the publicised to attract tourists. As into a schoolboy, teaching him he does make a noise like the 4.50lighúng

the time to .etas about.'»

AN AN oarth Havana

and found it probably has more how to read and write....how crashing of gears.

On breathtaking HIS SPEECH

beauties to

the Continent, where uselane, the not to ride his bicycle on the I have revealed this skeleton lunch eta square mile than anywhere elsa

lost

However, four hour,

If you keep the Schizophrenie Castro keeps in the world, this seems

wrong side of the road...how in the car bonnet to Blustrate pating as you drive is an even children really occupied ́ you saying be wants the tourists in lot of Cubans

a to speak courteously to his that with a Utile Ingenuity the better idea.

should not be bothered by car a waste of: a Dgain. Then he lets off a speech natural asset.

elders.

problems of travelling with But what appans while you akness or anything else, lambisting the United States and

But all Victor wants to talk children can be overcome. But instead of girls and about how he took tho lives

aro in the car? · Xi is little use You may even – get through all t has stood for since the gambling, Castro wants Cuba la of the men who thought I tour moan: "We would drive thene du books into the back out tive qucolica, which owlly I was tired of hearing people towing a few comics and ple- the journey without that glaky- Spanish-American wor more be famed for its benches and just a kid and could do them no it weren't for the children,” then 60 years ago.

and `hoplog" that tho" "chlidren" - comes Avo, mhixtes after you bullfighting, Every time he does this. Yet millions, of Americans

I sign: “Get out the our and will be antlafloch

have started out: "Are we deputation of hotel chiefs races holiday-makers can find a beach so le everything in Cuba today. Ittle thought the

"Funtastic, perhaps, but then go children or no?" With - The cally real strewer, la to nearly there yet, Daddy?“

operation · · keep them sentrod. I asked

London Kupres Serviós.

35.00

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST LTD.

комакона

KOWLOON

od let them run aft revin-that some hetels have tell you what he's done, Ho's in Castro's rebel arany.

prices.

to

Charm,

Now