Cuban stevedores. who had previously unloaded Soviet cargoes. were no longer permitted to do so. They were also reporting that the routes taken by the military convoys in departing from the docks were not in a direction toward any known military installation. but. rather. seemed to be headed out toward the countryside. and that in the outlying towns and villages through which the convoys passed in the night. curfews were imposed. requiring all Cubans to remain in their homes. and all municipally generated electricity was shut off at the source. Refugees who had fled from such towns and villages told of the unmistakable rumblings of the convoys as they passed through. and that those who dared peer out could see. by light reflected from the headlights of the vehicles. trailers transporting large cylindrical objects draped with canvas. Obviously. they were not able to pass judgment on the offensive or defensive nature of these objects. but they know they were missilesand big ones. at that. Refugees who had fled from the countryside reported that the Russians were summarily evicting farmers from their lands. around which fences were erected immediately. Shortly thereafter. blasting was heard. and large quantities of construction materials were seen to enter these restricted areas. from which even the Cuban military personnel were excluded. Other refugees from the seaport areas were describing the newly arriving Russians as being young. physically fit. well disciplined. and possessing an unmistakable military bearing. Upon debarking from the ships. they were seen forming in ranks. and either marching off in step or moving out in military personnel carriers. With the possible exception of construction activity in the restricted areas. our highaltitude U2 aerial photographic reconnaissance flights could detect none of this clandestine activity.
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Refugees refugees