The morning call., 1893-12-08
MELLO PASSED THE FORTS.
How the Trick Was Done at Mid.
night.
BATTLE UNDER SEARCHLIGHTS.
Such a Sight as Perhaps Was Never
Seen in the World
Before.

LONDON. Dec. THE Times tomorrow
will publish the following:
Rio DE JANEIRo. Dec. 5 (via Montevideo,
Dec. O.-Government troops have occupied
Armacao. which was abandoned by the
insurgent sailors. On Sunday afternoon
insurgent launches attempted 10 land a
force of men at Armacao under cover of
FIRE of the guns of the warships Trajaro.
Jupiter and Aquidaban. They were re-
sisted by the Government soldiers. who
kept up heavy rife fire. The sailors
were unable to land and retired with The
loss of one killed and three wounded. On
the same day there was heavy artillery
fire from the Government forts on Fort
Villegaignon. The fire of the latter was
we'll directed and many shells burst within
the walls of Santa Cruz AID Sac Joao.
Villegsignon was also hit by many shells,
and one man was killed and two wounded.
On Monday 800 Government soldiers,
from the shelter of the walls and houses
at Armacao, again successfully opposed
the attempt of the insurgent sailors to
secure a landing. The insurgent ships
fred upon Armacao for an hour, and then
the parties in launches made several at
tempts to land. The fire of the Govern
ment forces were so heavy that they were
compelled to return to their ships. The
sailors lost four killed and five wounded,
and heavy casualties are reported among
the troops. The artillery fire from the
forts continued all of Monday. Riflemen
on the shore in front of Santa Lucia also
fired upon the gunners at VillegaignOn
and wounded one. Villegagnon replied
with machine guns and rifles, killing and
wounding twenty.
On Tuesday evening insurgent launches
again attempted TO make a landing at
Armacao and were again repulsed. The
Government reports many casualties
among its troops.
On Wednesday the new torpedo boat
Aurora, purchased by Peixoto in Eng
land, was delivered at Pernambuco. The
Government has renamed her the Gustayo
San Daio.
The Aquidaban weighed anchor on
Thursday at midnight and proceeded
slowly round the harbor, with the Esper-
anca 400 yards in advance. The search
lights on Gloria Hill and Fort Sac Joao
showed the whole scene distinctly. Forts
Bage. Santa Cruz and Sac Joao opened fire
on the vessels at 10 80 o'clock. The ships
Bage safely and when abreast of Fort
Santa Cruz the Esperanca opened heavy
fire on the fort and the AQuidaban, when
700 yards from the fort, gave it a full
brondside. The fire of the ships continued
with machine aud qulck-firing guns until
they we're abreast of Fort Sac Jnao and
then both opened their starboard broad
sides. While the ships were passing the
forts the insurgents gunners In Fort Vii
legaignon opened a well-directed fire on
Forts Bage ana Sac Joao, bursting seven
shells over one searcblght and damaging
it to such an extent that the light was put
out. After the first broadside from the
AQuidabsn the heavy smoke enveloped the
ships and the searchlights were unable to
penetrate it. The Aquida ban did not use
her searchIieht In passing the forts.
l visited the Aauid ban before she left
the bay. and found Mello and his officials
and crew cheerful and confident of ulti-
mate success. The Aquidaban has gone
to Desierro to join the Republica and bring
troops north.
After clearing the forts the Aquidaban
threw her searchlight upon the military
school, which she bombarded for half an
hour, doing great damage TO the buildings.
The Government fears that Admiral Con-
calves, with the warships Tiradentes and
Bahia, now at Montevideo. will probably
join the insurgents. Admiral Cana has
assumed command OF the insurgent vessels
here.
: The insurgent manifesto says the victory
OF the insurgents is certain, and calls upon
the Brazilian nation to remedy by force of
arms the m istakes made in a moment of
temporary madness on Novem Der 10, 1885,
General Pogo. strong monarchist, COM
manding the Government troops south of
San Paulo, is reported to be in sympathy
with the insurgents. The Government is
una BILE to find crews for the new warships
The states Of siege has been prolonged
until December 25.
Conxricht