Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-31

4 dispatch to the Chronicle from Vienna
says that the Brazilian government pur-
YESTERDAY and that 10000 more have been
ordered from the Loves of Germany.
ADMIRAL BENHAMs DISPATCHES.
Owing to the Presidenfs Wish They
VIII Remain Secret for the Present.
Earnest efforts have been made to obtain
the text of Admiral Benham's dispatches to
Secretary Herbert, and as far as the cabi-
net officers are concerned, before wrom they
we're laid in extenso yesterday, it is said.
on good authority, that they saw no objec-
ton to their being made public.
The President. however. 1t Is understood,
is of different opinion. and. consequently,
the important information contained in
these cable messages as to the action of
the admiral commanding the United States
feet and the motives that instigated it
VII remain a state secret for the present.
Some privileged Congressman who have
seen the story as told by Benham are en-
phatic In the assertion that there is no
mention in the dispatches of any surrender
by Da Cana to Benham, as stated in cable
messages to the Rothschilds.
The chief international import appears
to be in the fact that Admiral Benham has
blockade, and has forcibly broken through
Ii. and has intimated that he viii use force
10 protect American commerce, If need be,
against the interference of the insurgent
heet-
1t cannot be ascertained whether this
government has cabled Admiral Benham
sustaining his action, but from intimations
which were allowed to escape before an
embargo was placed on news il is assumed
that this Is highly probable.
More than two weeks ago Admiral Ben
nam cabled that he proposed to refuse ac-
QuleScence in the blockade, far as Amer
lean merchantmen and their cargoes were
concerned. and, careful officer as he is. he
would not have taken the vigorous mea s.
ures reported in the Rio dispatches IL he
had been instructed to the contrary, or even
IL left to infer that his proposed action
would not be approved.
Matters Less Sensational.
The sensationalism attached to the sit
uation at Rio Janeiro appears to have un-
deigone a change and today statements
made by those in authority now bring mat
tiers down to a very commonplace plane.
Perhaps the most important feature of
the new phase. seemingly involving the
United States in international complica-
lions, is that nothing has been received by
Secretary Herbert from Rear Admiral Ben
ham since Monday night. All day yester-
day and until late last evening officials OF
the Navy Department waited anxiously for
duUitiOiGl duNlceS from the admiral
But the department was disappointed for
nothing came and Secretary Herbert was
allowed to enjoy the cabinet dinner at
Secretary Smiths in peace. and the cipher
e e expert made up the sleep he lost Mon
day night putting into intelligible English
the news sent from Rio.
Minister Thompson SILENT
Nothing has been received at the State
Department from Mr.. Thompson, the Uni
ted States minister at Rio, and nothing is
expected He has been quietly ignored all
through the recent phases of the Brazilian
situation. and news of a purely diplomatic
character is being transmitted by Admiral
Benham- This much is admitted at the
State Department.
1t is said that the dissatisfaction with
Mr.. Thompson arises from the fact that he
spent most of his time at Petropolis the
official quarter of the Brazilian capital,
about tweuty-four miles away and two
hours and a half distant by rail- Recently
Mr.. Thompson moved nearer the scene of
hostilities. the result, Il is said, of instruc-
tons from Secretary Gresham.
The news that the Peixoto government
had refused payment for the Ericsson DE
stroyer' is no surprise to the Navy De-
partment- When she was purchased for
the Brazilian government one of the most
distinguished naval experts said she was
more nit for a navy museum than for any
active service.
Two Men Injured.
1t developed today that an officer and
sailor on the Detroit were injured during
the progress of the incident, but no partic-
ulars can be obtained at the Navy Depart
ment- The men were injured a result
of their own carelessness in handling the
guns Of the Detroit, and through no fault
of the insurgents. 1t is admitted that they
were not shot, and that their injuries are
not serious. But their names, the charac-
ter of their wounds and the manner IF
their infiiction are guarded as a most i'm
portant state secret.
The Reported Surrender.
In the absence of Information from Ad-
mirai Benham to that effect, no credence
is placed IN the report that Admiral Da
Cana has surrendered to the American
admiral That report probably originated
from the fact that the insurgent admiral
had been compelled by Admiral Benham to
surrender the principle in contention be-
tween them regarding the free passage of
American merchantmen.
The Right to Interfere.
The course of the American admiral finds
warm Endorsement In official circles. An
official OF prominence said that Admiral
Benham had perfect right to interfere
with Da Gana's movements when they be-
came menace to the interests of American
vessels. The insurgents. he said, had rot
been recognized belligerents by the
United States or any other nation. They
had no right to establish a blockade, but
they had done SO. Yet in establishing IL
they took no means to enforce it by giving
warning to Incoming vessels. He believed
Benham had done right and that ne would
be 1ndorsed by the administration for STOP
ping the arrogance of Da Cana
Those who know Admiral Benhaun saw he
u gallant officer. ever ready to resent an
insult to the flag, but exceedingly conserya-
i've and not likely to do anything without
considering IL carefully.
Rejoicing in Naval Circles
There is great. though suppressed. en-
thusiasm in naval circles over the course
things have taken in Brazil. 1t Is said that
there are eighty merchantm IN in Rio harbor
bearing the British flag. They have fumed
and fretted and have practically been rot
ting in the hArbor without being allowed In
land their cargoes.
The fact that the American government
has taken the initiative in insisting upon
the commercial rights of its citizens i'm a
foreign port is cherished as a glorious be-
ginning for the new navy. 1t is considered
that Great Britain will now feel forced to
cennitely assume an attitude and disclose
her sentiment toward parties in Brazil
1t looks as though she would either have
to follow the lead of the United STATES and
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