The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-10
THE REBEL FLEET AT RIO.
MINISTER MENDoNCA DISCREDIIS THE
REPORT OF THE BOMBARDMENT.

| He Describes Admiral MeiIo's Situation az
| Desperate One, as His ships are had
| " Crippled, HIS Ammunition Nearly Ex-
| hnustcd, and Hts supplies RAINING short.
WASHINGTON Nov e.-sehor Mendonca, the
Brazilian Minister. does not believe that Ad-
miral Mello has again bombardod Rio ia
metro, although he received ndvices by way
OF London that the rebel loader yesterday
poured o furious fusillade OF shot and shell
into the city. The Information. although unof-
hcial the Minister says came from q trust
worthy source. Senior Mendonca is in daily. al
most hourly. communication with the Brazilian
foreign offlce. but none OF his adyices make
mention OF the bombardment; neither did n
despatch from President reixoto m ade public
In New York to. day. and the Minister regards
It as unlikely that tho city should have been
sheled without the fact becoming generally
known.
Admiral Mello's situation Is described by
Senior Mendonca as n desperate one. His
ships are still In badly crippled condition. as
q result OF their encounter n fortnight ago
with the Government forts He has no COM
munication with the mainland. lie secures
his supplies OF food bv running alongside the
small coasters which carry produce to Rio.
and nnying for them In scrip. This scrip. tho
Minister added. will have 10 be redeemed by
tho de facto Government when the rebellion Is
crushed. which Is another reason why It Is
desirable to end the war as speedily AZ posi-
bic. Moreover Meos ammunition is becom-
ing rapidly exhausted. His position in the
harbor is such that he cannot. under any cir
cumstances infict damage upon any but tho
moro isolated and outlying parts OF the capi-
tai. Tho Government buildings and great
commercial houses are out of range of his
guns.
The Peixoto Government. Senior Mendonca
says. Is holding its own. The Congress. tho
army. the several State Assemblies. and the
people generally, from Rio Grande to Para. are
at New York are expected to be Of great SER
vice to President IeiNoo and their arrival ut
Rio Is anxiously awaited.
Minister Mendpnca's advices are that the
representatives OF the BRAZILIAN monarchist
party in Europe are dishenrtened at the lack
the people of Brazil. They had expected a
great uprising as a coneeluence Of Mollo's re-
ment that it did not occur This declaration
led the Minister TO add that there is no mon
s in the the Sgpa ai Aew
sgTS tHs but hsr nImbeTS are nsEnsSn
the the, re G viii contnue. Brazil has seen
the last Of a monarchy with the deportation OF
LONDON. Nov. 10-The Times has this de-
On Nov. 3 the Insurgents placed three guns
skirmishes with the Government troops. The
Governmen emit forts continue to fire on Vile
gaRnon Island. The casualties are small.
Admiral Mello has sent a circular note to
the legations, asking them to recognize his
danger to. life and property. The legations
consider his application premature. There Is.
however. a strong undercurrent OF feeling
here In favor Of the insurgents.
1t H. thought that their success I'LL mean
OF the methods OF government. The Tor.
eign men-of-war maintain their neutrality
and decline to protect vessels landing
ammunition. A speedy cessation Of hostilities
Is considered not at all unlikely"