ABSTRACT
General Francisco Tabernilla, Sr., has described the military situation which signaled the downfall of the Batista regime as follows: “Oriente with the whole countryside and many towns in the hands of the rebels. . . . Santiago de Cuba, Bayamo and Holguín seriously threatened. . . . Las Villas with many towns in the hands of the enemy after the surrender of the garrisons without a single shot being fired.” Each day the island was more isolated from the capital; the main bridges blown up; transportation practically paralyzed; fuel and provisions in low supply in the towns; the sugar cane ready to be harvested with very little chance that the job could be done, and with taxes previously imposed by the insurrectionists. The regular army was tired and decimated by “two years of a prolonged campaign. It had completely lost its combat power. Desertions to the enemy increased daily.” 1
