Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-28
MINISTER MENDONCA CONFIDENT.
The Commercial Situation at Rio
to Be Attended To.
STRENGTH OF OUR FORCES.

the Iuu resumption OF Foreign trade rela-
ton with Brazil. The port of Rio is prac-
ticaiiy closed at present. 1t is dangerous
for foreign merchantmen to approach the
wharves. and it Is understood that the
naval forces of the United States in Brazil
were increased with the special purpose of
preventing any further interruption Of the
commerce Of this country. That there is no
special discrimination against the United
states in this matter Is shown by the report
that eighty British shipmasters, represent
Ing 1900 men and property valued at 81, ,5OO,-
600. have sent to Lord Rosebery, the British
foreign minister, a protest against the
course pursued by Capt. William NJ. Lang.
commander of the British cruiser Sirius and
senior officer of the British squadron now
at Rio. and Mr.. G. Wyndham, the British
minister to Brazil neither of whom, they
charge, VIII protect them In discharging
their Cargoes
Making Investigations.
The State and Navy Departments have
instituted investigation Of the commercial
situation at Rio. in order to take prompt ac-
ton on the request of American merchant
men that they may be allowed to load and
unload at the usual place in Rio, without
risking their lives and property. The in
surgent forces have all the landing places
within range Of their guns, and 30 far have
shown no disposition to suspend firing long
enough to allow a merchant ship to dis
charge or take on q cargo. The Brazilian
government notified the representatives of
foreign governments that it's forces would
suspend nring In such cases. but, 1t is said
that 1t was found impossible to make a
similar arrangement with the Insurgents
Inc dlnculty in treating with the latter
arises from the fact tnat they have not
been recognized as belligerents, and because
or the very apparent indisposition on the
part OF all the neutral powers to treat them
as pirates o. marauders. 1t is expected that
decisive action for the settlement of the
commercial troubles will be taken very
shortly. but that no one nation will under
take to act In the matter without the sane
tioh ana approval OF the others in interest.
Minister MendOnca Confident.
Minister Mendonca continues to show a
most persistent confidence In the ultimate
success Of the government in overcoming
the present revolutionary movement. Last
night he commented on the situation with
the following cheerful remarks:
The insurrection in Brazil is fast crumb-
ling to pieces. The manifesto Of Admiral
da Cana declaring in favor Of a monarchy
Is working great injury to the Insurgents
cause. Many of the rank and file among
the rebels are strong republicans, and these
are deserving Mello at every opportunity
or course, the monarchical element Is more
friendly to the rebellion that il was before
da CANA S manifesto, but these are compar-
attvely few In number, and the result of the
Improve their prospects
Ihere was never any hope for Mello and
his followers unless they received aid from
Europe: That aid has not been forthcom-
ing. There is no indication that the rebels
Will receive any substantial assistance from
that quarter. The attitude taken by the
united States of strict neutrality in Brazil
ian ana1rs Is very encouraging to our peo-
pie, and the effect upon the world at large
has been beneficial to us.
Mello Is cruising up and down the coast
IN MS nagship. the Aquidaban but he Is
accomplishing nothing. The latest dispatch
es report that he has gone to the Island OF
Fernando de Noronha, which is the Botany
Bay of Brazil In other words an island
where about 200 convicts are quartered
shows Melos desperation and II proves
conclusively the failure of his efforts to Sc
cure any considerable addition to his ranks
from the people of Brazil.
The steamer America. I am advised n,;1l
arrive at one of the northern ports of IRA iii
on Friday. Two days later she will join the
Nlctheroy, which is now at Pernambuco
awaiting her arrival Their movements
from that time are uncertain, but the gov
ernment will no doubt make excellent use
of their services"
increasing Our Forces.
With the arrival of the New York and
the san francisco at Rio the United States
Will have a stronger naval feet in Brazil
ian waters than almost any two other
foreign countries combined and will he
well prepared to enforce the Monroe doc
trine against foreign encroachments on
American territory
Inc New York, which will undoubtedly
pe the nagshlp OF the squadron, is a steel
armored cruiser, with two steel barbettes
She is the largest and most powerful ALL
around vessel of the new navy now in com
mission. She is 3SO.6 feet in length. "a. no
Ieet beam and 23.4 feet mean draft Her
displacement is s. 100 tons, and her engines
have 800 horse power, giving her a sneed
OF twenty knots an hour Her armament
consists of six eight-inch breech-loadinc
r!1es' twelve four-inch rapid-firing guns,
eight six-pounders and four one-pounder
rapld-fire guns and four gatlings
The San Francisco is an unarmored steel
cruiser. built by the Union iron works of
san francisco. She has displacement of
4OSI tons. and an indicated horse power
OF to,4oo Her dimensions are: Length
80 feet; extreme BREADTH 49, feet and
mean draft 1873 feet. She has twin screws
and has record of 2011 knots Her main
battery consists of twelve six-inch breech-
loading rifles and her secondary battery
OF four six-pound, two three-pound and two
one-pound rapid-fre guns; four Hotchkiss
revolving rifles and two gatling guns
The Charleston, now at Rio. is one of
the new twin-screw cruisers of 4O4O tons
displacement and a speed of 1872 knots
Her armament consists of two eight-inch
'A<>
six-pounders. two three-pounders and two
one-pounder rapid-fre guns; four Hotch-
KISS revolving rifles and two gatlings.
The Newark, another of the fleet, is
steel-protected cruiser of 4,OS3 tons displace-
ment, speed of 10 knots, and carries a
battery of twelve six-inch breech loading
rifles. four six-pounders, four three-pound-
ers and two one-pounder rapid-fire guns:
three Hotchkiss revolving rifles and two
Gatlings.
Smaller Vessels.
The Detroit is an unarmored steel cruiser
of 1000 tons displacement, with a speed
of over II knots. Her armament comprises
eight five-inch breech-loading rifles, six
six-poUnders and two one-pounder randi
fire guns. and two gatlings. She has just
gone into commission. and this is her first
cruise.
The Yantic is one Of the old wooden third
rate vessels, barkentine rig, 800 tons dis
placement and a speed of about knots
Her armament consists of two nine-inch
smCoth-bore guns, one eight-inch muZZIe-
loading rifle, one twelve-pOunder smooth
bore howitzer, one gatling and one three
inch breech-loading howitzer. She is now
at Montevideo. and will probably remain
there