The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-28
A BATTLE WITH THE FORTS.
Christmas Eve Marked by a Heavy
CalnOnade at Rio.

The Result of the Engagement Not
Reported Yet-British Shipmasters
Protest Against the Inactivity of
het British Naval Commander and
Consul in Not Protecting Them in
Landing Their CarEoes.
copyrighted 1898 by the Associated Press)
Pernambuco, Dec, 27.-The Spanish
warship Cristobal, Colon arrived here
for coal and orders yesterday, aud
her officers reported that on Christmas
eve there was, according to information
sent to them, a heavya engagement be-
tween the rebel ships and the forts. The
result of the engagement was not known
to the Spanish officers, but both sides are
said to have suffered severely.
NOTHING GIVEN OUT AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, Dec. 27-There was moth
ing new in the Brazilian situation to-day,
about which the officials in the state and
navy departments cared to say anything.
A dispatch from Minister Thompson was
| received, but in the absence of Secretary
Gresham no one was willing to take the
| responsibility of making it public.
Secretary Herbert said he had issued
no orders to the Miantonomoh, the double
! turreted monitor, which is being prepared
for sea duty at New York, probably to go
TO Rio de Janero.
The report coming from Moutevideo
that Minister Thompson has been urging
on the state department the necessity for
recognizing the Brazilian insurgents as
belligerents receives no official contirma-
tion, though it is apparently consistent
with the tenor of dispatches received
from our minister to Rio, the puTport OF
which has been permitted in part to es-
cape into publicity. Minister Thompson,
1t is thought, is imbued with the opinion
that Admirals de Cana and Mello will
be the victors in the struggle.
THE MIANToNoMoH TO SAIL TO-DAY.
New York Dec. 27.--Capt. Wallace, OF
the Miantonomoh, which is now at the
Brooklyn navy yard, received orders
this morning 10 proceed to Trinidad to-
morrow morning
Other sealed orders were also given to
him, which will be opened upon reaching
that place. 1t was intimated at the
Brooklyn navy yard to-day that from
Trinidad the Miantonomah will go to Rio
de Janeiro.
BRITISH SHIP MASTERS PROTEST.
Copyright, 1898, by the United Press)
Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 27.-It is reported
here that eighty British ship masters,
representing 1000 men, and property val
ued at 81 500, 600, have sent to Lord Rose
berry, the British foreign minister, a
DEOI6SU dkdluSb bilt COuISG DuISutu DN
Capt. William I. Dang. commander of the
British cruiser Sirius, and senior officer
of the British squadron now here, and
Mr.. Gwyndham, the British minister to
Brazil, neither of whom, they charge,
will protect them in discharging their
cargoes.
There is no change whatever in the sit
uation here.
MARTENS EXPELLED FROM URUGUAY.
= L
of Uruguay has expelled Gen. Martens,
the foreign minister of the De Mello pro
visional government. Gen. Martens is the
officer who, some months ago. led the
movement in Southern Brazil that had
for it's object the restoration of the mon
archy. He is an enthusiastic monarchist.
1t is thought here that his expulsion from
Uruguay. which is undoubtedly the re-
suit of action taken by the Brazilian gov
ernment to secure that end, will for
time put an end TO his efforts to over
throw the Peixoto government.
THE INSURGENTS HARD PRESSED.
London, Dec. 27.-The Exchange Tele-
graph Company says that dispatches re-
ceived from Rio de Janeiro report the in
surgents to be in a critical condition.
Several preconcerted risings are said to
have been checkmated and Admiral da-
CANA is reported to be disturbed by the
non-arrival of reinforcements.
PoRTUGAL's MINISTER DETAINED.
London, Dec 2s, 2 a. ma dispatch
from Lisbon says: "A great sensation
has been caused in government and other
circles here by the report that the Portu-
guese minister, Comte de Paco d'Arcos,
is detained by force at Rio dc
Janeiro. The Portuguese minister
was recently recalled TO Portugal, and
was to have arrived here on Monday
The passengers of steamer which has
reached this port, confirm the rumor that
the minister is detained, and statement
to this effect is said TO have been forward
ed by the minister's brother to the Por-
tuguese government, and news of his
detention is said TO have been
teleeraphed by the passengers
to the minister's relatives in this city.
The message forwarded by the Portu-
gucse minister is said to read as follows
Inform the Messageries Company that /
am unable to embark, owing to the fact
that | am forcibly detained. PacO
d'Arcos.' The Portuguese government is
said TO be investigating the affair and to
have asked the representative of a for