The Portland daily press., 1893-10-31
HERE'S A STRANGE MIDDLE.
Possible War Like Complications in the
Brazilian Situation.

% New York, October 80. Grave compli-
cations. involving the United States
government in IL controversy with the
great European Powers, from which it
will require the exercise Of the most con-
summate skill and diplomacy to extricate
itself, will arise if the present plans OF
the Brazilian governments agents in this
city for bolstering up the tottering at
ministration Of President Peixoto are
carried out. In brief these agents pro-
pose to purchase, with money appropri-
ated for that purpose by the CONFESS OF
Brazil, as many American merchant
vessels of suitable size and construction
as can be had for the money in hand,
and send them to Rio de Janeiro under
the protection of the American flag,
hoping thus to break he blockade in
stituted by Admiral Mello, the leader of
the insurgents. The assistance of the
United States government is counted on
by those in the scheme. Tt is their pur-
pose to fit out these vessels with as com
pete an armament as possible, proceed
to Rio de Janeiro, and with the stars and
stripes flying at the peak, to force their
way past the rebel fotilla and into the
harbor and in case resistance is offered,
TO fight their way up to the city. relying
upon the tivS warships of the United
States, which will then be i'll the harbor
OF Rio de Janeiro, to step i'll at the first
shot from the insurgent feet and silence
their guns, thus putting an effectual
quietus on the rebellion.
; 1t is bold scheme, and one fr5ught
with grave possibilities. There is no
known precedent for such a proceeding,
but Pelxoto's agents clalm--and the
claim is borne out by the international
code-that as the rebels have not been
law no better than pirates, and should
be so treated Thus il Admiral Mello
should attempt to block the way of these
alleged American merchantmen it would
be the duty of the officer in command Of
the United States warships in the harbor
of Rio de Janeiro to open fire on him,
and treat him as common pirate. The
temper of the United States government
will be tested by President Peixoto at all
events, unless there is decided change
in the plans outlined. The only escape of
this government from the predicament
which the carrying out OF these plans
will entail would seem to be to recognize
the Brazilian rebels as belligerents. This,
however, is not probable, as such action
would be tantamount to an uncondition-
al surrender of the Monroe doctrine. The
situation as it stands is critical and APP
pears to have been appreciated in Wash
ington, as the recent order for a naval
demonstration at Rio de Janeiro implies.
Meanwhile the steamship Ell Cid, which
was sold the other day by CT Hunting
ton to "a party of merchants" for $780,
900, is at City Island, being fitted out
with torpedo guns and other implements
Of naval warfare. The Ell Cid is the first
of the" American merchantmen" which
it is proposed to send to Brazil. She will
be ready for sea duty in week.
Charles R. Flint & Co., of this city,
who, it is understood, made the pur-
chase, are said to be negotiating for the
81 Rio, sister ship and also owned by
Mr.. Huntington, and there are reports
that negotiations have been opened for
the purchase of another large American
steamship.
The arrival of the New York off Rio de
Janeiro will give the United States the
contingent of foreign warships. This
force of United States warships will have
a mighty influence in whatever action
the foreign fleets may decide to take.
The United States feet will be sufficient
ly strong for the Administration to assert
itself, should it be decided to oppose,
vigorously, any violation of the Monroe
The Destroyer, the Latest Acquisition.
New York, October 30.-Ericsson's sub
marine torpedo boat, the Destroyer, the
most terrible engine of war afoat, is the
latest acquisition of the Brazilian gov
eminent. Like the other purchases it
was effected through Charles r. Flint &
Co. All the negotiations were conducted
as secretly as possible. The Destroyer is
now in Newport, whittier she went
several months ago for tests under the
supervision of United States officers to
determine whether she should be made a
part of the navy. The tests have not
been concluded yet, but are underesaod
to have been successful.
The Destroyer was built by Capt.
Ericsson Of monitor fame, as an expert
ment, not many years before his death.
Ericsson worked about five years from
1875 to 1880 approximately, upon the
problem OF sorpedo boats.
The Destroyer is not wholly a SUBJ
marine boat When the queer looking
craft is trimmed for business, however,
only eighteen inches of her is visible
above the water line. To an ordinary
observer she does not reveal her myster-
ious and deadly powers.