04-23-06,10:49am

Granma re-prints here the communiqués to the Cuban people that Commander in Chief Fidel Castro issued regarding the course of the action at Bay of Pigs 45 years ago today.

Troops disembarking by sea and air are attacking several locations of Cuban territory to the South of Las Villas province, supported by planes and warships.

The glorious soldiers of the Rebel Army and the National Revolutionary Militia have engaged in combat with the enemy at all landing points.

They are fighting in defense of the sacred Homeland and the Revolution against the mercenary attack organized by the imperialist government of the United States.

Our forces are already marching onward, confident of their victory.

Our people mobilize thus ensuring our slogans of defending the Homeland and maintaining production.

Onward Cubans! Let us reply with iron and fire to the barbarians who despise us and want to us to return to slavery. They have come to take away from us the land the Revolution distributed to individual small farmers and members of farm cooperatives; we are fighting to defend the land of campesinos and members of cooperatives. They have come to take away the factories from the hands of the people; to take away the sugar mills and the mines from the hands of the people. They have come to take away from our children the schools the Revolution opened up everywhere; we are, therefore, fighting to defend the schools of our childhood and peasants. They have come here to take away the dignity the Revolution has given back to black men and women; we fight to preserve for all that supreme dignity essential to human beings. They have come to take away from our workers their new jobs; we fight for a liberated Cuba with employment for every working man and woman. They have come to destroy the Homeland and we defend the Homeland.

Onward Cubans, everybody to their work and combat posts!

Onward Cubans, this Revolution is invincible and its enemies would have to come up against it and against the heroic people that defend the Revolution!

Now that so many Cubans are giving their lives in combat let us shout with more firmness and determination than ever

LONG LIVE A FREE CUBA! HOMELAND OR DEATH! WE SHALL OVERCOME!

Fidel Castro Ruz