Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-11
BREAKING Up IN BnAzrr.
Many sf the Provinces Preparing to Re-
volt g.

It "a now generally admitted that thsre q no
room for further doubt that the province Of
Rio 0rande do Sui in Brasil has declared inda-
pendenco, and, 40 II Is reported that its indie
pendent territory includes about Atty thousand
fighting Germans among its population. the re-
volt there il undoubtedly serious. The report
that there had been lighting In the province Of
Rio Grande do Sui has been confirmed. The
trouble referred to 10 said to have its center at
Port Allegro. the capital Of Rio Grande do Sui,
but the telegraph wires leading from the sup
posed scene of the fighting bavirg been cut
some time must elapso before definite news
gets even so far as Rio de Janeiro.
The announcement IL made that ct least IN.
other vince-~Pernambuco-has revolted
against the dictation Of Fonseca and has de-
clsred itself Independent Of the government az
now constituted.
At least two other provinces are on the
verge Of declaring their independence, and ru-
NOR also has IL that the restoration" party
held sway in one of the revoleed provinces.
This report, which comes from Bahia, may
have it's origin In imperialist circles, but. be
that how it may, the situation Of affairs would
seem to indicate long and bloody civil war in
the near future, the overthrow Of Fonseca's
dictatorship and the establishment in Brazil Of
number OF separate republics somewhat SINH
lar to those of South Africa
The German population Of Rio Grande do
Sui 10 reported to be organizing into armed
bodies of men on the plan OF the Dutch Set
tiers Of South Africa and TO be determined TO
defend the independence Of their new state.
The troops under the command Of Marshal
da Fonscca are ss;d to have been ordered to
move upon Rio Grande do Sui ....
Great Excitement prevails at Rio de Janeiro
and throughout Brazil. 1t ID reported that
Marshal da Fonseca has been informed that he
is suffering from q disease which must soon
cause his death, and that he has announced his
willingness to resign the reins Of power.
A dispatch received at pm. from Pernsm-
buco brings further alarming intelligence re.
garding the situation of affairs in Braxil. There
out OF the assumption Of dictatorial powers by
the late president Of the republic, Marshal
Deodoro da Fonsscs, 10 rapidly approaching b
point where . resort to arms will be necessary
70 establish the position Of the dictator.
The dispatch shows that steps will have to
the disintegration Of the republic.
PARA pECLARKs ITS INpHPESDaNcx.
The province Of Grao Para has followed tho
example ret by Rio Grande do Sui, aud has de-
clared its independence. Grso Para, or, as II Is
better known, Para, 10 one Of the most i'm
portsnt provinces Of Brazil. It 10 situated in
the extreme north Of the country, Il contains
Az, 467 square miles and its population 10 esti-
mated at 343, 51l souls 10, 600 OF whom are sup
posed to be Indians. The capital Of tna prov
tnce 10 Para, situated on the right bank OF the
Tocansins river. Here are located the gov
ernor's palace, cathedral, several churches
converts. barracks and numerous other public
buiidings. 1t 10 the great rubber pOrt Of the
world. Itexports, in addition to other products
woods, honey, wax and great variety OF other
vegetable and animal products. The trade 10
mostly with Liverpool, London, Barbados
Cayenne and North American ports.
The Tocantius or Para river il celebrated for
it's bore. The river IL really one OF the mouths
chiefly manifested, the tide rising to . great
height in few minutes before the new and full
moons by vast wave fifteen feet In height
sometimes followed by three others, which
enter the estuary with great violence.
The dispatch received last evening further
stated that it is expected that the independ-
ence movement, which had its origin in the
province Of Rio Grande do Sui. and which has
been promptly followed in Grao Para, would be
followed by similar declaration by the prov
inos of Bahia -
FoNsEcA PREPARING TO FIGHT.
Dictator Fonseca 10 moving rapidly to sup.
press these attempts to set up separate govern
ments aud he has ordered a war ship to proceed
without delay to Rio do Sui to take such action
authorities from carrying their declaration Of
independence into effect. II behoovss him to
move with alacrity, for already man has been
named in connection with the contemplated
presidency Of the province. He il Silverio
Martinez who, during the last revelation, was
banished from the country. He was subse-
quently allowed to return and be. without
doubt. possesses greater political influence
than any other man In the province.
The situation. as may be judged from the
events which are rapidly crowding upon each
other. IL daily becoming more grave. and what
the result Of the widespread disco tent in Brazil
will be can only be matter Of conjecture.
THE DIcrAToR's ILLNESS.
The dictator might perhaps do more to e.
tablish the new order Of things were 1t not for
the fact that he is sick man. Some reports
have il that the disease from which he 10 suf-
fering 10 cancer, which, il true, would neces-
sarily prevent him from taking the field in
person should resort to arms be necessary.
That he will take vigorous measures to sup
press these latest revolts against his authority
Il not doubted by those who are acquainted
with the personal characteristics of the man.
He In no way lacks determination, and to
gain his ends he will fight desperately to sweep
all obstacles from his path.
NAVAL FORCES IN BRAZIL.
The naval forces Of Brazil comprise 5,7o0 Off
GERS and men. There are five naval arsenals,
one each at Rio Janeiro, Para, rsrnambuco,
Bahia and Ladario de Matto Crosse OF course.
III the event OF nORtlltleg there would be q
chance that the arsenals at Para and Bahia, the
capitals Of two Of the voltinG provinces, would
fall into the hands Of the provincial authori-
ties, and the ammunition, &c, in them would
be used against the dictator's forces The navy
includes four seagoing. six coast defense srmor-
clads, five frst-class, six second-class and three
third-clsss torpedo boats. besides . torpedo
school ship. OF unprotected vessels there are
two frst-clsss and two second-class cruisers
two training corvettes, nine screw gun boats,
eight paddle gun boats two transports, one
battery tender and . number Of auxiliary
steamers aud other vessels. 49,,
The two most powerful vessels are the Ria
chuelo, g. 700 tons displacement, and smaller
vessel, the Aquidaban. Both vessels are pro-
tected by belt OF steel-faced armor having
maximum thickness OF eleven inches. Each
vessel has two turrets protected by ten-inch
armor. The principal armament consists OF
four twenty-tOn breech-loading guns carried in
the turrets and an auxiliary armament of six
in one ship and in the other four seventy.
Founders and machine guns. Both vessels are
built of steel, sheathed with wood and metal
They have . good sail spread and are capable
Of keeping the sea for long periods.
The Selimoes and Javari are two powerful
double-turreted ships Of light draft, suitable
for coast defense or river service. They each
carry four ten-inch Whitworth guns.
The army on war footing Ia 1890 consisted
OF 6,617 men. but it was the intention Of the
government to rcorganize its forces, and con-
sequently the exact number OF effective men