New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-17
rOY1GE or THE CID.

Tho Cid will sail under the Brazilian nag rs
n vessel of war without an enlisted crew. Ine
shining articles signed by officers ana men are
designed 10 obviatc the possibility of the appii
co,ion Of the Enlistment acts or OF any stature
ro,otinr 10 neutrality law IT is expressly sup
Mated that these articles do not constitute
either an enlistment or an agreement 10 e"''S'
in The Brazilian Navy The ship will be cleared
for Rio with its cargo Of provisions, munitions
of war and coal without an officer OF that navy
4, command and with a crew shipped only Tor
thc VOYAGE. The shipping articles explicitly
nroviJ. that not n man Oh the vessel shall be
under obligation TO serve in the BraZlah Navy
or TO commit any act in violation or the III" VI
nations. or to prejudice his rights and imln'ihi
tics as n citizen Of this or Of any other country.
Tho polnstaking care with which the shipping
articles have been prepared indicates that Mill
istcr Mendonca has been in consultation either
with the State Department or with experienced
lawyers. Every prccnuton has been faKeh 10
avoid any appearance OF technical viola''o" VI
The United States statutes.
Practically. however q fighting crew has Deeh
collected. and will be shipped for service agahs'
the insurgcnt fleet. When the Cid Is on the
high seas new articles Of enlistment VIII uh'
doubleday be produced, and every man on the
ship will voluntarily sign them. 1t Is not wlthh
the bounds Of probability that the ship VIII
proceed on her voyage with any other status
than that Of n cruiser OF the Brazilian Navy.
The ships company will have TO be organized
discipline established. and the marines ana sail
ors drilled for the work that Is before them
L.. b.s1 vii
the enlistment OF the officers and men In the
Brazilian Navy The shipping articles Will pass
muster at the Custom House, and copy may
be filed at the State Department for future
emergencies: bat all DISCUSSES and technical
cvasons will be abandoned when the Cid Is out
OF territorial jurisdiction and heading sou'h
ward on her mission 10 experiment WIN hcr
dynamite gun. torpcdocs and batteries upon
Admiral Mcllo's feet
II the Cid's departure as vessel Of war with
out an enlisted naval force be anomalous. SO
also Is the character Of the ships against when
she is 10 be- sent to offer battle Admiral Mel
los fleet, while flying the Brazilian Nag. does
not represent any branch OF the National Gov
crnment Since its belligerent claims have not
been recognized by any foreign Power, 1t Is
feet In revolt against the flag which 1uttcrs
over IT, It's status is substantially that OF the
IIuascar. the Peruvian monitor. which In May,
1877. rcvol'ed against the Government, declared
FOR Picrola, and was proclaimed officially rs Il
rebel ship When her men boarded several
British vessels and seized officers who were
about TO enter the Government service, the Shah
exchanged broadsidcs with her and drove her
Of For this act Picrola subsequently claimed
Indemnity from Great Britain. This was re-
fused, the officers OF the Crown holding that the
ITuascar was not entitled TO belligercnt rights.
but was merely an irresponsible, depredating
cruiser II the same policy We're carried out in
Rio Harbor. the British and American mcn-of-
war would be firing upon Admiral Mclos fleet
for capturing coal lighters and taking men from
the decks Of merchant ships.
Apart from the anomalies on either side the
meeting between the Cid and the iDsulgcnt
ships promises 10 be one Of The most interest
ing naval events Of recent times. The dyna-
mite gun may be tested for the first time in
actual warfare. The utility Of electric search
lights may be demonstrated Torpcdocs may
be employed with destructive effect. The facil-
ity with which merchant ships can be converted
into n powerful auxiliary navy may be taught
with convincing power When the Cid leaves
her anchorage on n cruise Of exciting advent
urc an important chapter Of the history OF mod
crn warfare may be opened