PEE CUO BA CR EV TLE W 11 
president of the Cuban Telephone Company of Havana. Washington stated that an 
extensive program had been arranged for the occasion, but before the presidents of the 
two republics held conversation it was the intention of the American Bell Telegraph 
and Telephone Company to connect Havana, Cuba, with the Santa Catalina Islands 
(off the south coast of California) to illustrate the practicability of this wonderful inven- 
tion of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. The roll was then called; Washington summoned 
Key West, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Brunswick, Charleston, Richmond, Washington, 
Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los 
Angeles and then the Santa Catalina Islands. As these cities were called, each answered 
and gave the name of the manager of the Telephone Company at the point speaking. 
The distance of the above mentioned connection was 5,470 miles and when it is 
remembered that the connection from Havana, Cuba, to Key West was via submarine 
cable (laid in many places at a depth of one and one-half miles below the surface of the 
gulf of Mexico) and that from the coast of California to the Island of Santa Catalina via 
radio telephone, some idea of the height of the perfection to which this very important 
twentieth century achievement has been brought may be conceived. The voices of the 
speakers at a distance of 5,470 miles were as clear as though the conversation were 
being held with a person in the very next room. Greetings were exchanged and the 
weather conditions maintaining at the two extremes of the telephone conversation were 
described. The sensation, to one listening in spellbound amazement to this wonderful 
conversation, can well be imagined. 
At exactly 5:30 p.m. President Harding and President Menocal were connected on 
the telephone and exchanged very cordial greetings for several minutes, President 
Menocal acknowledging in cordial language the expression of sincere friendship from 
President Harding. Later the different members of the cabinets of the two republics 
exchanged greetings and General Pershing saluted his friend and companion, General 
Enoch Crowder. The American Minister to Cuba, the Honorable Boaz W. Long, 
exchanged greetings with Dr. Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Cuban Minister to Wash- 
ington. 
After the conversations a splendid banquet was held and music was rendered by 
Max Dolin’s orchestra. 
The telephone connection between the two countries had been in course of comple- 
tion for some time and much has been said for and against the completion of the line 
because of the enormous expense, and it was, for a time, questionable whether it was 
piacticable to hold these long distance conversations and whether or not the toll rates 
would not be prohibitive. This aspect of the question has been definitely decided now 
since it has been found that the traffic of the present three cable connections, one to 
Key West, Fla., one to Washington, D. C., and the third to New York, N. Y., is so great 
that additional cables will have to be laid in the near future for the efficient handling of 
the business. The rates are very low considering the distance and the service has already 
proved popular beyond the expectations of the officials of the companies operating the 
cables. 
U. S.S. “Minnesota” Leaves Havana: After a four months’ stay, the U. S.S. 
“Minnesota,” which during that time has been the official home of General Crowder 
and staff, sailed from Havana on Friday afternoon, April 4th. General Crowder remains 
in Havana and has moved his official headquarters to the American Legation in Cerro, 
while he is making his home at the Hotel Sevilla. Before leaving, the commander of the 
“Minnesota” addressed a letter to the captain of the port, Sr. Armando André, thanking 
him for the courtesies shown both the officers and men of the “‘ Minnesota” during her 
stay in Havana. 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF Navy RoosEeveLT Visits CusBa: Colonel Roosevelt, 
Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, arrived in Havana on April 20th via aeroplane. 
Col. Roosevelt after a short stay in Havana, during which time he was the guest of honor 
at a banquet at the American Legation, left for Guantanamo to review the maneuvers 
of the American sailors and marines stationed at that place. 
