The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-13
The WAR ~ BRAZIL.
Minister Meudoaea Charaete crises ss Sheer
Nonsense the News OF Rebel 6sis..

Nonsense the news OF hebei estus.
WASHINGTON. Feh. 12.-Minister Mendonca
vehemently characteriZes as sheer nonsense
the latest dispatches from Buenos Ayres and
Montevideo. indicating insurgent gains in the
southern States OF Brazil. and declares with
great emphasis that the Government is every
where stronger than ever. In an interview
with representative OF the United Press this
evening he said that the absurdity OF insur-
gent claims to any real strength near Rio
Janelro would be convincing to any ono
who considered even for a moment the
fact that the Government had . garri-
son OF 500 infantry at Nlctheroy and 1900
In the city OF Rio while the total rebel strength
in the neighborhood was only $1,000 men.
almost exhausted. No one acquainted with
these conditions could think that the nation al
election on March would be interru pied. nor
could any ono be deceived by the foolish mani
festoes OF Barbosa. issued hundreds OF miles
from the scene OF operations
Senior Mendonca attributes the recent I'M
usual activity OF the insurgsnt agents TO
the concerted effort commenced a week ago
in all European capitals. as we'll as in Wash
ington. to secure recognition as belligerents
Although this has sGnslly failed In every in
stance a circumstance which is itself signif-
cant as indicative OF the view all the great
powers take OF the affair. the rumors
are circulated Win Increased persist
ency. 1t is incredible to Senior Msndonea
that the Government which always keeps
him thoroughly Informed should have omitted
TO let him know OF such important events as
the alleged progress OF an insurgent column
through the loyal States OF Santa CathaT!na
ami PAranA. having for its object a land as
sault ON Rio JGneiro. ana o! tho cities said to
have been captured IN Rio GTands DO sui For
ts G5s foree II rSEsas nni na' sss1s
tary of War Moura. IN the state OF
Mo GTante Do sui. and the insurgents
have been kept almost constantly across
the border in lruEuay. The Legislature Of
Iuption. ths Governor has never been mo-
Tested. and the Minister deems it beyond possi-
bility that such gains could be made By the
iGsl2nlncant number, ~ poorly organ
guAyan frontier. But the statement that any
army has arched as FAR as Parana on It's way
10 l.io Is. In his opinion. utterly pTeposteTous
lie said; conceive an army OF lnOn Cana;
States marching through New FORK And Penn
sylVaua and menAcinR Washington That 10
tho very claim that BArbosa puts forward.
The States OF saR FaulO and Minas GerAss are
We have a population Of six millioHs, and they
are thoroughly loyal IL Is Ridiculous TO think
that an offensive army could exist within their
borders. Nobody who knows as | DO the
thing so nOnsensicAi as that claim, Besides.
~ the insuTKent iaTcss were CON posed eNelu-
siYely Of cavalry they could not have advanced
50 far in SO short time. Tor they were re
only rebel victory in the past two months was
that at laranggua. which NAV nave occurred.
but has not been deemed Of sufficient i'm
portanee for the rebels to publish until max ing
lEeTents. Even that WAS more 81 a narrow es-
cape from destruction than victory"