The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-20
WERECOGNlZEN NO BLOCKADE.
HELLo MUST NOT INTERFEBE WIFE
Dun MERCHANT VESSELS

D.
whns they are LondinE or Unio.sina Oar
soes-Th. san Frsnoiseo ana New YORK,
Possibly the Misntonopoh. to Rs-snforcs
Our R1eet In Brssiiian water--Neiio Not
20 BE RsooenI.ea by Us ss . ReiuRereut.
WASHINGTON Dec. 1e-Important action
Was taken By the Navy Departm ent to-day at
the direction OF tho President which will re-
sult in the assem- bling In Brazilian waters OF
the strongest fleet Of our naval vessels that has
gathered on foreign station since the war;
The determination to take this action was
reached late yesterday afternoon after q long
conferences between Secretaries Gresham and
Herbert ct which tho latest phases OF the
Brazilian situation wore discussed and
decision reached that the occasion was ripe to
make a bold move to maintain the PRINCIPLES
OF the Monroe doctrine. and that no better OPP
portunty would offer than the present one for
the Administration to assert its diplomatic
policy.
After the conference was over yesterday
eecretary Herbert sent orders to Rear ADJ
miral Benham on the flagship San Francisco.
which was expected at Trinidad. to remain
there for further orders. and this morning the
naval cipher was brought into play and
long message sent him to proceed to Rio
without delay and assume com mand Of the
sent to Admiral Gherardi at New York
TO make all preparations for getting the
New York ready for sea service and
to have her placed In dry dock at once. her
bottom scrapod and painted. and the vessel
fully equipped for long service Admiral
Ghersrdi was also ordered to report upon the
condition OF the monitor Miantonomoh. and
whether she could be made ready for active
service upon short notice.
To- ,vfth tpat 10 .
tempt will be made to- morrow at high tide to
place the big cruiser In dry dock at the Brook
i'm Navy Yard. and while there 10 o great
deal OF apprehension felt By some officers
that the work cannot be accomplished without
injury to the vessel the emergency 10 such
that the ofioias deem 1t absolutely necessary
that the ship shall be putin her best condition
before starting on Q six-thousand-mile trip to
South America. Two days. It Is believed. will
be necessary to accomplish the work. when
tho cruiser will he noated out. her bunkers
nlled with coal. and all angements made for
q trip.
This morning there was an important meet
ing In the ofioe OF the Secretary Of the Navy.
All OF the bureau chiefs were present, and the
plan for docking the New York aud the advisa-
bility Of sending other ships was discussed.
1t was discovered that one OF the dynamo en-.
Rlnes on the Miantonomoh had broken down
eign service II she was needed. until this was
replaced.
There Is still some uncertainty about send
Ing the m onitor on this long trip. The Secre-
tary has not fully decided to do so. but will
have her in readiness to send to sea on
short notice should the Administration decide
10 add her to Admiral Benhsms fleet. 1t will
be recalled that this ship was put in condition
Would have to dsSt chii and that no Goustwss
then EXPRESSED as to her ability to weather
The San Francisco sailed to-day from Trinl.
Cad and IL expected 70 make the trip In ten
5000 miles, and will hug the northern coast Of
Brazil pretty close all the way down. instruc-
ADMIRAL benham. in which he was Directed 10
DC careful not to give any recognition TO the
Intention Of this government e to refrain A from
recognizing Me,lo ns 6elligesont no matter
mgns ne asen n I'm a's Gs
Admiral was also told that the United States
would resognizo no blockade OF any trszilian
can merchant ships must not be interfered
with by the insurgents while loading or un-
Important des patches have been received at
the state Department in the last three days
bowers 10 recognize Mello as a GelliEsreat.
terests might be ipconYen!sntiy hampered
Gresham several times since last Saturday.
and it is believed he has given the Adminls
which, coupled with messages from Minister
IN Thompson, resEItsd In the despatch Of the
TO- be issued to two other ships.
The Minister Is stu confident OF the success
sons Tor bel Ewing that secPstary Gfesh"a has
.Ss tsST Mso Ass5s
sround and s that he viii a Ultimately f win. ThS
Minister Is stu Ignorant OF the time at which
but 20 s sa k tb SpSH fh
be done until he has gathered every available
nfntiiSpg ship which be can obtain; s.n
psItment that, all trade out Of Rio is practi-
Sally paralyzed. and that the situation is grow
large fleet Of our war ships in BRAZILIAN waters
II is asserted that the blockade against our
There are now but three United States ship,
Bias W. Terry the Charleston commanded by
Capt H. /; Picking who has rema n ed in charge
the cruiser Detroit, under CommAnder Brown;
con. With the San Francisco. New York, and
agEregagion OF American war ships we have
gathered together for the protection OF our In
The display would exceed that Of any other
power represented in Brazilian waters and
eessity Of so large Zee. was stated at the
NAVY Department today 70 be due TO tho In
likely to be any Interference with our com
meTce.
NEWPORT. Il. l.. Dec. lO.-Commander George
4. Converse Of the torpedo station despatched
tonight by United States tug Fortune, the
New Works outfit OF Whitehead torpedoes
They are the nrst automobile torpedo to be-
come part Of the battery OF any OF our
cruisers. Mechanics so from the tornado
York. " W."
An examination Was'made to-day OF the Law
boat used Friday in the experiment 10 de.
tsrmlne the effect Of denotetons oi large
nuAnIIIlAa RNDlnElERa -
within a submarine boat. Four hundred
pounds Of gun cotton was dsnotsted Friday
400 feet away from tho submerged boat caus-
ing II to sink. When the boat was raised to-
dAy 1t was found 70 To apparently nowhere
Iuptured or injured In any way IL Is believed
however. that the explosion loosened a few
bolts around the hand holes in the boat. caus-
Ing II TO leak ami slowly NIL A pOst-mortsm
examination OF the animals used In the boat
will be made to determine whether they died