JOHNSON'S SHAME

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000400110002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 1, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

WASFIINGTON OBSERVER NEW8I.>iTTJ~ 1
~y v 1 1966
Approved For Release Z0O0/09/14 : CIA-RDP75-
r_P1RGHT'+
J~~iliJ~l1~S Over forty U.S. citizens are being'
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tortured a
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WAME on dungeons in Cuba, according to-,
BTdsed-dnnr hears
CP T MUM 1 mittce.
Most of these prisoners were American engineers
and technicians who had been employed by American
business firms in Cuba and never participated in politi-
cal or revolutionary activities. They are simply held as .'.
hostages to trade for Castro spies and saboteurs in the .
U.S. The State Department is only making token rep- '
resentations to get these Americans released through
the Swiss Embassy in Havana.
Several of these American prisoners have died as the
result of beatings, malnutrition and lack of medical
attention. In fact, the Americans receive no medical
attention and are not allowed to receive medicines and
supplies from the outside, nor are the International
Red Cross representatives allowed to inspect 'their
dungeons, where they. live in filth and sleep on damp
rock floors. -They are being tortured with electric
rods and lighted cigarette butts and some have been
mutilated.
One American held in the dungeon of San Severino
Castle, Major William Howard, .a pilot who tried to
rescue a Cuban Army Colonel in his plane, was shot in
the leg. He was allowed to receive no medical atten-
tion, was beaten and tortured with electric shocks and
finally he was blinded. Howard was transferred to
i La Luisa prison. The Swiss Ambassador in Havana,
phoney claim in order to barter for his own spies who.;'
are caught in the U.S.
n !,
Approved For Release 2000/09/14: CIA-RDP75-00149R000400.1100Q2}7"