Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-01
BENnAM cONGRATUnArED
The French Commander Approved His
Course and the Austrian ships Were
Ready to Help Him.

Tho French Commander Approved His
Course and the Austrian ships Were
Ready to Help Him.
United Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
LONDON, Jan. 31.-A dispatch received
in this city from Rio Janeiro states that
the reason the American banks Good
News and Julia Rollins did not accept
the offer of protection made to them by
Rear-Admiral Benbam, commanding the
American squadron there, was that q.
NJ. Rollins, an American, who is acting
for the agent of an English firm that is
supplying the insurgent with money,
persuaded the captains of these vessels
not TO change tho position of their
vessels.
The dispatch adds that the French
naval commander has congratulated
Admiral Benham upon the vigorous
action he took to protect the American
vessels. The commander OF the Aus
TRAN warship in the bay, when he saw
that trouble was brewing, ordered his
vessel to be cleared for action, so that
he might be ready to give assistance to
the American vessels If 1t was neces-
airy.
The dispatch also says that the pro-
longed absence Of Admiral Mello from
Rio Janeiro has given rise to the report
that he is dead.
BENHAM's DISPATCHES KEPT SECRET.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-Earnest
efforts have been made to obtain the
text of Admiral Benham's dispatches to
Secretary Herbert, and as far as the
cabinet officers are concerned, before
whom they were laid in extenso yester-
day, it is said on good authority that
they saw no objection to their being
made public. The President, however,
it is understood, is of different opinion
and consequently the information in
these messages will remain state secret
for the present.
Some privileged Congressman who
have seen the story as told by Benham
are emphatic in the assertion that there
is no mention in the dispatches of any
surrender by Da Cana to Benham as
stated to be alleged in cable messages to
| the Rothschilds.
Their chief international import ap-
pears to lie in the fact that Admiral
Benham has refused to recognize Da
Gama's paper blockade and has forcibly
broken through 1t and has intimated
that he will use force to protect Ameri-
can commerce if need be against the
interference of the insurgent fleet.
The very decided border of sensa-
tionalism attached to the situation at
Rio Janeiro appears to have undergone
q change, and to-day statements made
by those in authority now bring matters
down to very commonplace plane.
Perhaps the most important feature of
the new phase, seemingly involving tn:
United States in international compli-
cations, is that nothing has been re-
ceived by Secretary Herbert from Rear
Admiral Benham since Monday night.
A United Press representative was
told by an authority that when Admiral
Benham's message is made public il
will be very disappointing to those who
looked for sensation of the first water.
The news that the Peixoto govern
ment had refused payment for the Erics-
son Destroyer is no surprise to the Navy
Department. When she was purchased
for the Brizilian government one of the
most distinguished naval experts said
she was more fit for a navy museum
than for any active service.