The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-02
6o-62 West 23d st.

arrogant attacks Of feet which no power
recognizes MS a awful beigerent.
The detailed discussion OF the rig hit or wrong
involved In tho Detrots shot will PERHAPS
now be in order. There Is a general impulse
among naval men OF all nations TO stand by
each other, with other things equal. This
impulse possibly accounts in part for the
sympathy felt by our naval officers with the
Congress cause in the Chiian civil war. be-
cause the navy had espoused that side. The
" hood thicker than water" Of naval demon
strations in Asiatic waters is we'll remembered.
Perhaps something OF the snme professional
feeling mas have had n lttlo influence with
Admiral stanton In causing him to make the
mistake he did regarding the recognition OF
Admiral Mello. In dispute between two sets
OF naval officers there may be varying SYM
rathies. and it lie rumored. perhaps without
knowledge that the Germans at Rio do
Janeiro are inclined to sympathize with Ad-
miral Benhnm action. while the British LOOK
upon 1t more douhtiully.
ltthere is that difference. perhaps i may be
officers with several score OF their merchant
vessels In tho harbor. have been submitting
only "A few small craft to protect have prompt.
~ resented and stopped. The British naval
conduct without feeling some chagrin at their
own. Here. again. their cautious attitude
ths desire TO Se ali right with the Winning side
whichever that side should turn out to be; and
nj the m ore desirable would such course be
should the fleet win and then seek to restore
the throne. But in any case the British officers
might not like to see another nation taking
The initiative In harbor soimportant as Rio
But that the initiative rightly belonged to us
tTSes but from i 0 the supepiority OF omT aeet
there. II includes nve OF the finest cruisers In
our new navy headed by the , isst and power
ing to lnte adviccs. have but three snips there.
the Italians three. and other nations Tower.
o; our forces is vet manifest Minister
Thompson reports. 1t will be Observed. that
all foreign commanders concur. as far as am
Admiral Benham undoubtedly went to Rio
do Janeiro determined not to make the mis-
take OF his predecessor in giving an unwar-
weeks there had been Complaint that our
nlIoWed 70 go to The wsaryes Of o de o Jans sso
and discharge their cargoes, u was necessary
had any authority other than that of force.
which allowed him to say that the vessels
It quickly apparent that he possessed no such
lawful authority. Had he or anybody whom
ept tie case would have been otherwI.e IL
being clear. therefore that his only authority
was assumed. his attempt to exercise 1t by
force was resisted by force whereupon he col
II Is SAID that previously Admiral Ben.
lean vessels must ue allowed to go to and from
any part OF the harbor without being fred
merchandise would he protected; and that
forty eight hours notice must be given OF q
bombardment in order that foreign merchant
The folly OF Admiral da Cana is apparent
from tho fact that the American merchant
cannot materially have Injured his cause.
1t may be that, he supposed that their car
But so far as is announced. hey carried no arms
or ammunition. They consisted OF the barks
timore. and The schooner Mile j. ii. from New
York. This last vessel carried flour and stores.
and 1t is said that Admiral da CANA objected
sidered contraband. Wholly apart from the
fact that he has no recognized authority as a
coal at Rio must DO Of minor consequence, al |
though II relxoto had tleet or any vessels
Indeed, with port ntter mort Of brazil open.
and in tho hands OF PeiXoto. ami communtca-
ton With the CAPITAL by I'll easy i Is evident
the latter by blockade or cutting of supplies.
SO that they had less excuse for antagonl2ing
II Will he served that neither Admiral Ben
ham nor Minister THOMPSON says anything
ahont desire nt Admiral % CANA to sur
render TO BenhHm.
The curious theory had been started that
trouhis with our beet in order to end with a
flourish his attempt at carrying on war: and |
ms view was sunported,, by an alleged dsriTs,
sisted, to surrender to Admiral EenhHm after |
Commander Browning had put his shot into
tho GuanahATs. and also by HIS subsequent |
remark that II would bs better to surrender to |
a foreign power than to PelXoto. Perhaps II !
might be better. since such a course would |
probably secure him aud his officers and men |
from any punishment through the offices OF |
our Government. But IL seems sufficient to |
suppose that he wanted TO 20 as far as possible |
In showing his command Of the hArbor. Per- |
haps. also. he thought that American mer- |
chantmen, going 10 the wharyes might in |
some way be used by the Peixoto Government. |
But the curious surrender story finds no sup |
mort in the Official hAsnAI chas.