New-York tribune., 1893-12-09
REBEL SUCCESSES DENIED.
SENIOR MENDONCA'S STATEMENT OF AT
FAIRS IN BRAZIL.
MOUNT ARMACAO AND THE NIcTHERoY AR
sEyAL NEVER CAPTURED BY MELIo-
ADMIRAL LANGS RESCUE OF
RTY BARBOSA.

RUY BARBOSA.
washington. Dec s.-Senhor Mendonca. the Bra
lillian Minister to the United States. left Washing
ton this evening for New-York. where ne VIII re-
main several davs Before mis- departure he gave
statement of the condition OF affairs in Brazil. in
cxnIanaton as he said. OF the Montevideo dispatch
published in "The London Times" and the story OF
the captaln Of the British steamer j. W. Taylor
which arrived yesterday at New-iork from kio
Senior Mendoncd said
Mount Armacao is at the upper end Of the point
Of land on which Nictheroy is located. and directly
oppos,te the city Of Rio. on the top Of this point
about GO feet above the level OF the sea, Is an old
fortincatlon, containing several guns OF Hloderh
make II has continuously been IN possession oi
the Government since the detection OF Admirai
Mello II has never been abandoned, but has ire
ouentlv been assaulted by Mellos forces but al
ways unnecessarily. Its possession enables the
Government forces to keep Acllos ships In the lee
~ the islands In the bay and greatly restricts
their range Of movement. Should Mello capture
tie fort II would enable him to control the city oi
Nicthe-oy and liberate his wooden ships to much
greater freedom and activity. Hence the mpor-
tance OF the place
AS TO the reported capture by Mello OF the
arsenal at Nictheroy which. according to the cap
tain of the j. W. Taylor, the Government mas
been keeping secret for several weeks, the tacts
are these: The arsenal was about half mile pack
OF the fort on Mount Armacao. and was hIled Win
the largest store or cartridges LOT rapu-"ic s""'
and other munitions Of which the Govern
uent I'd Mello OF course knew this and
the first thing he did on September was to carry
of nearly a third OF the contents OF the arsenal
That was all he got. however, for subsequent at
ternp.s 10 land defeated, and his forces re-
pulsed. The remaining stores were carried by
students Of the military school TO Mucansue Island
and there destroyed November p. Meilo mas
not captured the arsenal and If he had it would
benefit him nothing"
When questioned as TO the truth OF the report
that Brazil had secretly issued $75OoOeD Nationai
bank notes. contracted a loan for that amount
Minister Mendonca said that he could neither con-
The South American mail which reached Wash.
ngton yesterday brought copies OF La Pf.nnssa, nrs
a leading newspaper OF BuenOs Ayres containing
the account OF an extraordinary incident in the
Ray seSsess Ss s0 senator aSG5"s he
from II the sss Of Bs Ne Saf had Sef feS %nsr sG
picion OF the National authorities OF brazh pc
surren forces under Admiral Meo. Bareosa re
Gently left Buenos Ayres on the Royal Mail steamer
aS ana 'Is posed wih them 1"T to Bahia M
movements excited the attention OF the Govern
Hn so1t apa was =" msS to the upon the
arrival Of the Nagdallns al Rio, by some means.
made be came known to Admiral Lang. in command
Of the gA u s4aobb bo.pds IN a. III. %axan. ain S
armed men from the Sirius app-ared accompanied
by four oficers and repid-hre gun and oTdersa
to the Brazilian authorftiss This action Of The
British Admiral dsconcerted Peirotos officers, ana
they retired without endea voring to enforce their
orders The Government. however forwarded tho
order for Barbosa's arrest 20 Bahia and sent two
agents board the vessel. with instructions
not TO ioGe sight OF Barbose and 70 capture him
in any way possible. Friends OF the fugitive Ia,
formed him o. what he might expect in the north
OF Brasil. 30 he determined 70 return TO bueno.
Ayres He found asylum the Aquidhban
until the departure Of the steamer Garcia. on
which ne returned to Buenos Ayr., La Pronsa"
says however that Barbona's friends and family
arrested in Rio az soon AZ they returned
from ca ling on him. and form part OF the moro
than so persons confned In the prisons OF
the capital for political offences.
DR. Barbosa Informed La Prenea" that the
brazilian Government had made = secret loan OF
SIS 0oOco. issue OF National bank notes TO
that amount