THECUBAREVIE^\ 13 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



Septcnibcr IGtli, 1918. 

 Cuban Congress. — No legislation of importance on the part of the Cuban Congress has 

 been passed since our last letter; in factConjircss is not now in session, although it was reported 

 that a call would be issued for an extra session soon, to vote on an appropriation of $2,000,000 

 to defray expenses in connection with bringing immigrants to Cuba to be employed during the 

 nextsugiir crop beginning in Dcc:;mber, hat sr) far no definite date has been set for this meeting. 



Military Registration. — Registrationof Cubans between the ages of 21 and 28 in accord- 

 ance with the obligatory military service bill begins on Sept. Kith, and on its comjiletion, which 

 lasts foi several months, lots will be drawn and the conscripts will enter the army. Then comes 

 the registration of those between 28 and 45, and when this is concluded, from the latter will be 

 taken those who will form the reserve forces of the country. The newspai)ers have been asked 

 to inform the public that citizens who have to register should not wait to be called upon to do 

 so, but should present themselves as soon as possible for this purpose. It is the intention on 

 the opening day to have troops throughout the Republic parade, with flags flying and music 

 playing to stimulate citizens to register. 



Customs Receipts. — Custom House receipts at Havana for August were $2,779,762.49 

 as against .$2,.501,4.5t3..52 for July. 



Submarine Subscriptions. — The campaign for acquisition of six submarines by public 

 subscription is going on actively, and the school boards in the different parts of the Island are 

 working on a proposition which permits each scholar to donate a small sum to this end. The 

 Vice-President of the Republic, General Einilio Nunez, who is also the President of the Execvi- 

 tive Committee in charge of this subscription, has issued a call to all citizens urging their co- 

 operation in this matter. 



Aviation. — Papers report that Combat Squadron No. 1 of the Cuban Aviation Service, 

 commanded by Captain Francisco Terry, has arrived at an Atlantic port in the United States 

 for training. It is also stated that the organization of Squadron No. 2 is going on and its leader 

 will be Lieutenant Santiago Campuzano, who has heretofore been attached to the French 

 flj'ing forces. 



Isle of Pines Wireless Service. — The Isle of Pines has been without wireless service with 

 Cuba since the cyclone last September, which destroyed the station. There has been consider- 

 able delaj in renewing the service, but it is now in operation again, repairs having finally been 

 completed, a;id it is stated that the new station is much more powerful than the former one. 



Strikes.^ — ^There have been threats of strikes on the part of the bay workmen to take effect 

 this month if their demands for increased wages were not granted. The steamship lines, 

 wharf and warehouse companies, etc., have flatly refused to comply with their demands, which 

 are consideied exorbitant, and it is proposed, if the two sides cannot come to an agreement, that 

 the subject be submitted to arbitration. At the same time there is a strike of carpenters and 

 it is stated other workmen may also go out. The motormen and conductors of the Havana 

 Electric Railway, Light & Power Co. have presented demands for increased pay and also 

 threaten to strike if same are not complied with. 



Cigars. — ^We reported in our last letter an increa.se of $10 per thousand on all cigars man- 

 factured in Cuba. The papers report that since then there has been a considerable reduction 

 in the orders received from foreign countries for Cuban cigars, which they say is largely caused 

 by this increase in price. 



1918~1919 Sugar. — .Advices have been received here that the Sugar Equalization Board on 

 behalf of the American, French, British and Italian Governments has agreed with the repre- 

 sentative of the Cuban sugar interests on a price of $.5..50 per 100 lbs. f.o.b. Cuban ports for the 

 coming crop. This is an advance of almost Ic. per pound over the price allowed for the 1917- 



