The morning call., 1893-11-06
Ell CID AND THE BRITANNIA.
Revolution Can Never Win in
Brazil"
MELLo's BEST BOAT CRIPPLED.
Preparation for Departure Of the
Vessels From New York City
Going Forward.

NEW YORK, Nov. 5-Senor Mendonca,
the Brazilian Minister at Washington.
drove down to the Morgan Iron Works at
the foot Of East Ninth street this morning
and had a look at El Cid and
Britannia. He is of a medium height, black
haired, with rather sober face, touched
up bit by a long pointed goatee. He
spent most of his time in the Office of the
company discussing the vessels purchased
for Peixoto with Flint. Kafer, Burt and
others.
The Minister left about noon. He ex-
pected to return to Washington at mid
night.
Flint, Kafer and Burt had a busy day
supervising the work on Ell Cid and in-
specting the Britannia. The inspection
of the Brittania was satisfactory and it
is calculated that she can be turned In to a
cruiser in ten days.
All her machinery and her engines will
be overhauled. because she has been laid
up for some time. Much of the light work
on her upper deck will be removed. Her
engines will be protected by coal slowed in
her bunkers. and In the space between the
engines aud sides. she can carry 1000 tons.
Her armament will consist, il is thought.
of two six-inch guns mounted forward and
aft, and as many six-pound and rapid fire
guns as she can carry. She probably will
be provided with torpedo tubes. To-mor-
row she passes into the hands of her new
owners and Tuesday she goes into the dry
dock.
Minister Mendonca said he had no fear
of the establishment Of monarchy in
Brazil. He would not say that the revo-
lutionists, if successful. would restore the
monarchy. He had no fear that the revo-
lutionists would succeed.
Even if they captured Rio they would
not control the republic any more than a
man could hope to rule America if he cap
tured New York. A monarchy could
never live in Brazil again.
The Minister said he has almost daily
cables from the Government at Rio.
He said that Mello was in bad way,
his most important vessel being severely
crippled. The only boats the Government
has fer the New York fleet are the Cid.
BrittaDia, Destroyer. JaveliD, Feiseen and
Yarrow, the torpedo boat which is on the
way from England.
He said it was not intended to get any
more boats. He could not tell when they
would sail. ALI contracts called for work
to be completed on the 18th, but he had
left all arrangements to his friends in New
York, and frequent changes were made in
plans which delayed work.
The Minister was asked how the vessels
would get to Brazil and how they were to
be manned.
"They will not fly the American flag.
They will sail from New York under the
Brazilian flag for some port in Brazil,
which cannot tell, and will seek cover 10
some Northern port If they are attacked
by the republicans.
'Will they fight? They are not going
as fighting ships and there is little expec-
tation of their fighting or meeting
Mello, but if they do it will be
like the man in corner with cane
in his hand--he isn't there to fight, but if
he is attacked he can protect himself. OF
course. if Mello got the ship the loss would
be BraziPs.
III want to speak about enlisting. The
crews are going as crews of merchant
vessels. Ships are not considered vessels
of war until they are put under military
commanders.
"We are not getting fighting crews. We
are simply getting merchant crews. with.
OF course, men to attend to the machinery.
No. we are not shipping gunners or fight
in u man