The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-15
THE BRAZILIAN WAR
Admirals Mello and CANA SOrely
in Need of ReinfOrcementS.
The Advantage Still with PeixOto-
Nearly 300 Persons Killed and
Burned in Chinese Temple.

L"'-NiNt.N, Jan. li.-1ne Times tomorrow
will publish the following letter. dated Dec.
"A, 1893, from its special correspondent at
Rio de Janeiro:
The present position of affairs in Brazil
Is somewhat difficult to accurately define.
The insurgents, under command of Admiral
pa CANA are in the bay of Rio de jan
GIRO. and the Brazilian government has
concentrated all it's efforts to crush the
revolution at this point Hitherto the in
SurgentS have maintained their position
here, and even yet they continue to hold
the legal authorities in check, although
many OF the ships in the insurgents squad
ron. with nearly eight hundred officers and
men. have been dispatched to the south TO
assist in the organization OF land force
and to generally aid in the establishment
of provisional government at Santa Cath
erfna- From all the information which /
have been able to obtain good service mas
been rendered by the officers and men OF
the irsur,yent forces dispatched from here,
and within two or three weeks time 1t is
probable that a considerable insurgent
Catherine for Rio de Janeiro. The ques-
ton now is whether Admiral Da Cana
can hold out In his present position until
the arrival from the south of these rein
forcements. If he can do so the situation
will be an extremely perilous one for Pc
goodszed body of G mem s to land in the City
of Rio de Janeiro and to retain q roofing
here. This once accomplished the lnsur-
gents would be supported in many quar-
tiers.
THE main object of my last. visit to Ad-
miral Da Cana was to ascertain personauy
what truth there was In the reiterated as
sertions of the supporters of Peixoto that
the idea of a restoration of the monarchy
was causing discomfort among the lnsur-
gents. Admiral Da Gama's answer was
perfectly straightforward and explicit. Inc
subject had been referred TO In former con,
versations which he held with me in regard
to the progress of the revolution: ON this
occasion he reiterated emphatically that
and that the Brazilians if the insurgents
gained the victory, would find that he had
not imposed upon any one; ne he adn erg gant
forces considered his presence as one 81
the leaders in the civil war any impedl-
ment to the success of their cause or likely
10 bring about dissension, on account of
political opinion in the ranks he would re-
sign his command at once.
1.-THE men under Admiral Da Cana are
suffering many hardships and, in some
cases. are a little down-hearted at the mag
froHted, chiefly because the reinforcements
from the south are so long delayed. Adj
miral Da Cana has not observed any wish
on their part TO end the war, except by a
complete victory over Peixoto, nor does he
contemplate the possibility of his men seek
ing for termination of hostilities on any
IL feel convinced from the conversations
which / have held with the officers of the
Inducements from the South is all that is
needed to make them redouble their efforts,
not only to win victory In TINS harbor,
but also to take such action as would at
once bring about decisive movement;
What that action would be would depend
upon the strength of the reinforcements
and their arrival in time to render efficient
aid. 1t is certain that with a fresh force
of thousand men arriving upon TINS scene
a landing could be effected. Probably
Nictheroy would be selected as the spot
for debarkation.
1.-The, government is using every endeavor
to make the insurgents in Rio harbor un-
tenable. Every point around the bay is
being made use of for military purposes.
Guns are now mounted on all the COM
nOSitl0QS
on the shore front between Rio ana Fort
Saoa Joao, and from Santa Cruz 10 Meth
ed on Armacao Point and Mucangue island.
There is a total of some four hundred pieces
old-fashioned and of little USE but some
Whtworths, a few Armstrong; and a
number of Krupps make quite respectable
show.
DAILY there is an artillery duel between
the forts, and the amount of ammunition so
far used has been enormous. Still the firing
continues just as though the supply was
inexhaustible. The soldiers lining the shore
front keep up a heavy rifle fire upon Fort
aeSne the the Buildings ON ths
island of Vilegaignon are in ruins. The
garrison, consisting of fourteen officers and
$50 men, during my visit, were living in the
classmates under the batteries in the center
Of the fort. The face Of the batteries look
ing seaward are much cut of from the lire
of the forts at the mouth of the harbor. The
mortality among the garrison at Fort Vile
gaignon has been very heavy, the average
being ten killed and wounded weekly since
the garrison joined in the fight L found
one guns crew sleeping around the gun in
an exposed and dangerous position, ard
when l asked them why. they took such
risks they told me that they preferred be-
ing ready to open fire al a moments notice.
This same spirit animated all the men in
Fort Villegaignon to whom l spoke"
A Different story.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 14-News was
received in this city to-day from the south
Of character most encouraging to the
Brazilian government and disheartening to
the insurgent admiral 1t was to the effect
that the long-expected and much relied upon
achievements from Santa Catherine
unlikely to give anything like prompt as
sistance to their acknowledgements who are
now in Rio harbor. In fact, 1t now looks
as, If the revolutionary leaders at Santa
Catherine would be unable to lend any aid
to De Cana. The serious illness of Admiral
De Mello or board the Republica has had an
apparent disastrous effect upon the insur-
gent forces in the southern part of the
public. In Rio Grande do Sui the insurgents
have raised the siege at Bage. and have
left that city in triumphant possession of
the government garrison. In number OF
other engagements in the south, the revo-
lutionists have suffered defeat and many
of De Mello's men have been wounded or
killed. Unless De MellO rapidly RECEIVERS from
his Illness and is able by his presence TO re-
animate his men, the outlook for the msur-
gents is very dark indeed Discontent is
said to prevail to a large extent in their
ranks, and assertions are said 10 be nu-
nervous Fever is also thinning the insur-
gent army Unless something quickly be
done De Mello will lose fully one-half of
his entire force in the south. Ii is very
probable that this news will lead to greater
activity than ever on the part of Peixoto
and that battle between his troops and
the insurgents squadron and forts of a de-
cisive character will be fought within a
very short time. The inhabitants of Rio are
heartily tired of the war and the epidenics
now raging make the desire for restoration
OF peace all the stronger on the part OF
the citizens generally.