New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-14
CONDITIONS.
copyr,gnt; 1894; By ne United Prear

Rio Janeiro March 13-The Government forces
began active operations against the insurgents
at noon to-day. the forty-eight hours notice
given by President PeixOto having expired.
The hilltop batteries opened fire at D. m. No
reply was made by the insurgents The Gov
ernment vessels entered the harbor at O'CLOCK
hut did not fire. They found Forts villegaignon
and Cobras abandoned by the insurgents. the
fleet was greeted with cheers from thousands OF
people on the htops and with salutes from all
the Government forts. The insurgent ships
meanwhile hid themselves among the merchant
vessels lying In the bay.
Admiral da Cana is reported to have fled
aboard a French warship.
MINISTER THOMPsoNs DISPATCH.
Washington. March 13-Secretary Gresham re-
ce,ved the following dispatch from Minister
Thompson this afternoon
"The forts loyal to the Government began mr.
ing on the insurgents to-day at noon. The in
surpents have not returned the fire The Gov
crnment has refused the terms of captulation
offered by Da Cana. and announces that 1t
will begin firing from the city batteries at )
O'Clock this afternoon The city of Rio Is
practically deserted"
Secretary Gresham and his advisers were
literally astounde1 by the information Al
though the dispatch received last night from
Minister Thompson suffered considerably In
transmission or else in putting 1t into the cipher
at Rio. enough was learned from those parts
which were decipherabe to justify the interpre-
tation placed on them that Da Cana had con-
sented to become exile and deliver up his
vessels on the sole condition that the lives OF
his followers should be spared 1t was not for
an instant doubted that these terms would
prove acceptable to Peixoto. and that he would
nf,,
considered so reasonable At the Cabinet meet
ing this morning very one present expressed
satisfaction that the end had been reached An
hour later a messenger from the State Depart
ment hurried over to the White House with the
latest news which upset all previous calcula-
tons
A BELATED REPORT FROM ADMIRAL BENIIAM.
The Navy Department. which had been an
noyeG at the failure of Admiral Benham to
confirm the pleasing news Of the day before.
had suggested the explanation that he was
probably too far down the bay 10 learn what
information was accessible to Minister Thomp-
son in the city, but confidence was expressed
that the necessity for maintaining the United
States fleet in its present proportions was nearly
NJ an end. and that the next dispatch from the
Admiral would In all likelihood announce the
cessation Of hostilltes and he would proceed down
the coast to watch Mello The officials were
surprised late in the afternoon by receiving
the following dispatch from Admiral Benham.
dated March 49,
that the bonbardng of the nsurgent ships
and forts commences at high noon March IL.
Insurgent Admiral reported has taken refuge
on board the Portuguese man-of-war. ON IN
duiry | find is not on board yet.
There is believed to be an error in the date
of this dispatch As 1t mentions the bomDard-
ment notice rs a novelty, and says that 1t was
to take effect at noon to-day. II Is thought that
Admiral Benham must certainly have sent the
dispatch yesterday
in the progress II affairs do not think 1t pos
sible that Da Cana has deserted his men in the
emergency but a.e strongly OF the opinion thd'
he will fall with them II they are 10 tail
pr1yoTos COURSE SEVERELY CRITICISED
II is remarkable how decided a revulsion OF
sentiment has been manifested in higher naval
circles at headquarters this evening IL Is de-
cIared that the strength PeiXoto gained by
securing the election of civilian President to
succeed himself will be more than Offset by MS
determination to pursue the insurgents beyond
all reasonable limits Of modern warfare, ana that
such Incorporate action cannot fall 10 add 10
no dissa tisfacton his career had already caused
The prediction is even ventured that Mellos al
herents in the southern states OF the Kepupnc
will be increased by recruits from the pest
cIaeses of citizens. who fear the ascendancy OF
a military despotsm
:. ,s ro renorted that the Brazilian rebel leader.
Coll
the YES ,el of the French Admiral instead oil TAX
inc refuge on board the Portuguese warshp. as at
first stated II the report be true, la CANA must
have been received as cordially by the frehch Au-
ulral as he would have been by the fortusueSe'
for Admiral de Lbran. the former. though having
remained loyally neutral between the brazilian
rebels and the Government is strong Cathohc
ike Da CANA a great admlrer of the late Dom
Pedro and - inwardy not too sympathetic to"atu
a new Republic, which is the offspring OF tne
positiyist IDEAS OF like Benjamin Constant
fThe French Admiral has his flag on the Arethuse
which took part with the Hussard. In the ColuHi-
o' Tb nueston is not to know under what foreign
flag the brazilian nsurgent leader mas sought re- h
nss nsst but Il wns1nf Stsms pfobaS!e that
have looked for an asylum board the American
sanadron' where he would have been received as
sindlv a. on board of any European vessel II ne
Saa Gone on an American vessel. many newspapers
on the other side Of the Atlantic would have founl
m.tnd H. states OF undue Interference in the affairs OF
south American countries These papers. are mis-
taken b w9Sn .9pathy shown by the tinted States for
razM int they Are DTGns nser @s Of 5
The United States cannot have any other motive
nous .' Elaine Mendonca treaty could be denounced
by the Government whichever Il might be. w@hlcn @
would succeed the present one or course, that
reaty has proved advantageous to Brazil and the
United States. and it has decreased more or less the
bet ween Europe and Brazil. but American sympa-
hes for the latter are due more esb6eea:Iy TO the
| fa
form OF government. now represented by President
Peixoto has been threatened by a rebelious move
mont having its head admiral OF open and pro-
nounced Imperia'ist opinions.
4 TALK WITH MINISTER MENDONCA.
pEIxoTo RESOLVED TO COMPEL THE IN
CONDITIONAL SURRENDER OF THE
REnrrs-TIIE MISSING MELIo.
Washington. March B-Senhor Mendonca. the
brazilian Minister here. said tonight speaking OF
the situation OF affairs at Rio. that he did not
why the refusal OF the Government 10 accept Da
Cama's surrender upon the terms he had proposed
should excite surprise.
while have no direct information on the sub
tect." he continued II believe. from my knowledge
Of the man that President Peixoto has II within
his power now TO crush the rebellion. and that he
intends to do so. and to compel an unconditional
surrender OF the insurgents Inc rres'oeht very