, 1893-12-09

HOuR, OllC6 yer CONVERSION 10 y W8ISIllp snG
has been very heavily armed, having two
47-inch rifles, six 6-poundors, ten l-pounde7s
and several machine guns, besides four tubes
f.. disoharging Howell torpedoes, 81.
Thorn az Bulletin. End Dec.
The torpedo vessel Destroyo which car
ries the famous submarine gun, aud which
was reported rs having sailed from New
York some d W ago, is being conveyed by a
chartered transport laden With munitions Of
war for tue Brazilian Cover ment. ibid.
The Brazilian steamer Nictleroy (under
conmard IF Capt. Baker, formerly Of the
y 5. 4 b.. N. co., 80 guns, 228 men, which
was purchased in New York aal fitted up as
a warship for the Government Of Brazil, ar.
rived here OH Monday from New York en-
route to Brazil. and after ooaliOg pat to sea
to-day The N'ctheroy Formerly Ell Cid1
named afterthe fort which 50 loyalty de-
Tended the government in the 4. fence Of Rio
Janelro has bean converted vt considerable
expense into = fighting vessel, and is equipped
with the best Of appIianc 5 and a mameIt
among them the famous dynamite gun, as also
with two torpedo boats. aud powerful eleotro
search lights Her capacity il about 1000
tons, and she has the reputation Of being very
fast. II connection with the purchase aal
equipment IN America Of ships for war pur.
poses, the Herald publishes the following ex.
plantations as the result Of an interview be.
tween one IF it's Reporters and Minister
MendoncA. The enlistment Of men here for
service lii Brazil. it says, might 0c an
infringement. But there viii be no such
Infringement, for our agents in New York
have osilive instructions not to make any
contacts with men which will bind them to
continue wi b the vessels ON which they ship
after they have reached Brazilian ports or
such ports on the high seas as may be desig-
mated. No men whatever ar being enlisted
for war service. Our contract with Flint &
Co. calls for the delivery Of ships and mum.
tons Of war in New York harbour, with the
further consideration that officers and crews
be provided to manage the shipe until they ale
turned over to officers of the Brazilian govern.
ment directed to receive them have satisi.
ed myself that there can be no objection to
Americans being employed for this purpose.
They are beng enlisted as sugar merchant.
men. Although the vessels will be flying the
Brazilian flag when they leave New York
harbor, they Will not be men .of.w ar until
after the services Of the men have been dis
pensed with. Under Brazilian laws they
must have y Brazilian commander and a crew
two thirds Brazllians before they become war
vessels. If any Of the men accom- oanying the
ships should ask to be- enlisted for wal service
after their arrival, there can be no objce ion
totheir doing SO, but they arc now be.
ing enlisted for the sole purpose of conduct.
ing the ships to Brazil. In many instances
the r'tnrn passage Of the men enlisting has
been arranged for. It attacked while still in
charge of the American officers and sail,rs
the men, he says, would Of course be justified
III defending the property, which can only
be regarded as Legitimate commercial vessels
until they formally become men-of-war. One
of the best gunners formerly in the United
States Navy will go out as chief gunner; he
was in the navy for many years and for three
years in succession he won the prize as the
best gunner in the North Atlantic squadron"
The same paper is authority for the statement
that Flint & Go. are negotiating for the pur.
chase of fotr more steamers for use as cruisers
-theAira~smia and Portid. 1900 tons each
and two others Of smaller tonnage.