The evening world., 1893-11-21
MENOONCA'S PLANS.
Brazil's Minister Tells What the
New Warships Are to Do.
Nictheroy and America Will Go
South in Company.
MelIo's Fleet to Be Destroyed by
Dynamite.

Minister Mendonca, who has been in
trusted by President PeiXoto with the
fitting out of a Brazilian fleet, consented
this morning for the first time to tell
something of the mission of the Nicthe-
roy and her sister ship, America, the
peaceful Britannia of three weeks ago.
He first corrected the impression that
the Nlctheroy would proceed alone to
Brazil to be followed by America.
las a matter of safety. in case the
vessels hould be attacked" he said,
the commanders have been instructed
to proceed together to the place OF rem
devious. The Nictheroy, which will de-
part from off the coast some time this
afternoon, will move slowly until over
taken by the America.
The work on the America Is now
nearly completed, and l have given in
structions to have her put to sea from
the foot of East Ninth street tomorrow
evening or during the night. If her guns
are not all mounted then the work can
be completed at sea. She will go at full
speed. and being now able to go eigh-
teen and one-half knots, although she
was only a seventeen-knot boat when
we bought her, she will probably over
take the Nictheroy in twenty-four hours.
iAiC WV mp VIII llt http ClOSe To-
gether, and will be better able to pro-
tect themselves in case they are at
This statement seemed to indicate the
possibility of a fight, so the astute
South American who has succeeded in
hitting out a navy in this country with
our mourning the displeasure OF Uncle
fighting unless the Nictheroy and the
America are attacked.
Even in this event l have instructed
mem m III - no continued sbntt al
though the sea is large, there are plenty
of corners to it, and it is always well in
times of wal to be prepared.
has any vessels he would care to send
north and to meet our improvised war
ships The Nictheroy and America are
except the. Aquidabsn. rhe latter. of
course, having four big guns. Is superior,
but her mac ninery Is undoubtedly dts
ahled. and 7 do moi believe she has more
than fifty shots on board. Under pres
ent conditions she could not or would
not venture to pass the forts guarding
led me to believe that the ~Nictheroy
and America will safely reach Brazil"
'And what mas been planned for them
to 40 hsn;n he was asked -, ,,o,
with a twinkle in his eve that indicated
more than guesswork. he said he could
only indicate what he would do with the
The Aquidaban," he said, cannot
leave the port until her machinery, is
roy and America will reach the har-
Dor. The entrance is guarded by forts.
The channel through which the Aquida-
Within a haif-mile Of the Fortress Of
santa Cruz. Now, the guns of this
fortress may not be heavy enough to
stop the Aquidaban, so here is where
Nictheroy, could be made effective"
Then Minister Mendonca drew a map
and continued to unfold a plan of cam
He would station the Nictheroy behind
the fortress, where she would be safe
from the guns of the Aquidahan, and
have her throw dynamite shells from
deck Of the AHuidaban.
You know the gun can be used as "A
mortar" he added. "a man could see
gun could be trained. The shells could
be dropped on the ~Aquiiaban's deck as
nicely as you please, and there you
which indicated his belief hat after one
shell was sent on such n mission the
Aquidaban would be at the bottom of
Mr.. Mendonca also thought it probable
that the Nictheroy and America would
be used to patrol the coast and persuade
the inSurgent merchantmen the PeiXoto
side of the fence is most advantageous.
Continuing. the Minister said he was
positive that Mello has not declared
for n monarchy.
He is rescrvinE tina as a last card
to play" added Mr.. Mendonca, "and
have no doubt he will be forced to play
the card before long.
I'm fact, l hope he will. The rebellion
would be just as quickly put down, and
then the question OF monarchy would be
forever settled. The war then would
not be without good results. Republics.
II seems. must be baptized in blood, and
Brazil might az we'll receive that bap-
tism now as again. | am in favor of
settling internal disputes at the polls,
but II monarchy must be downed with
war, now Is the time to do it.
And when Mello is conquered. the
leaders OF his rebellion should be given
no quarter. RraZilians have been too
lenient with their Revolutionists. If
rebels knew that "A rope instead Of am
nesty was awaiting them they might be
less hasty in declaring war"