The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-13

Two dispatches were received by the
state department. They were in cipher,
and when translated read as follows:
RIO DE JANEIRo, March IL, 1894.
Gresham, Washington:
Ia CANA today. through the senior Portu-
guese naval commander, offered 10 surrender
TO the President of Brazil providing he and
his followers were guaranteed protection
against punishment. THOMPSON.
RIO DE JANEIRo, March L. 1894
Gresham, Washington:
Da CANA has gone aboard Portuguese
man-of-war for asylum. THOMPSON.
Secretary Gresham believes that this
marks the end of the Brazilian war.
Diplomats Surprised.
There is considerable surprise expressed
here by those interested in the affairs at
Rio, that the offer of surrender should
have been made through the Portuguese
commander, who up TO this time has not
shown any particular disposition to take
hand in the conflict.
1t Is not thought. however, that the
action OF the Portuguese in receiving Da
CANA is necessarily an act of sympathy
with the insurgents. The Portuguese are
said to recognize principle of interna-
5ional law, now observed, by which right
of asylum, as it is called, is granted tenn
porarily by q neutral power to defeated
6elligerent.
This right Of asylum Is not recognized
OF late years by most nations, except in
cases of half civilized peoples, and more
over the Brazilian insurgents have never
been recogniz ed by any body as bellig-
erents. There is, therefore, some specu-
}ation as to the exact meaning Of the ac-
sion of the Portuguese commander.
Minister Mendonca admitted that he
had received news of the surrender, but
was unwilling to give any information
concerning the exact terms of Da Gama's
offer of surrender or discuss the proba BILE
action of the Brazilian government. He
said, however, that he had no doubt that
final settlement had been made by the
time he was speaking or would certainly
be made today.
Possibly as good a comment as can be
made consists of the following summary,
furnished by Senor Mendonca of the
forces engaged i'm the naval maneuvers in
She harbor at Rio:
How They Line Up.
The rebel forces consist of the gunboat
tiberdade, Da Gama's flagship; cruiser
Da Mendare, gunboat Trajano. transport
of war Purus, armed merchantmen Jupi-
ter, Martel, Piereis da Cunha and Adolphe
ae Barros and four torpedo boats, two of
which are in good condition and the other
swo half disabled. The force of men on
the rebel ships and in rebel fortresses ag-
yregate about 700. Outside the harbor,
whereabouts unknown" the rebel war
ships Aquidaban ind Repu blica are cruis-
ing about
The array of government ships, lying on
the south side of the entrance to the bay
under the batteries off ort st. j ohm, il
somewhat more formidable. The forces
consist OF the dynamite cruiser Nictheroy,
iron clad Bahaira, cruiser Tiradenties,
torpedo boats Auroa, Pirating, Javelin
Fysen, armed torpedo boat Moxoto, five
torpedo boats recently purchased i'm Ger
many. Cruising outside are the cruiser
America and Parhaniba. The loyal force
81 men aggregated about $4,000.
Notice of the intention of the Brazilian
seet to begin an active attack on the i'm.
surgent feet had been given Sunday noon
to neutral forces in the harbor. This no.
sice was given AZ hours before the firing
was TO begin. According TO this arrange
ment firing could not begin until Tues
day noon. Da Gama's offer of surrender
was made therefore fully "a hours before
an attack was TO be expected. The offer
OF surrender, in fact. followed the first
actual show of determined force on the
part OF the Brazilian government.
Da CANA Was Scared.
The circumstances which led TO Admiral
da Gama's offer were no doubt the pre-
parations for decisive fight which had
been made by President Peixoto.
After dispatching his message, CON
tanning the terms on which he was will
ing to surrender, Admiral da CANA
sought safety He requested an asylum
on board the Portuguese man-of-war
Nindello, which Is in the harbor. The
Portuguese commander received him, and
The rebel admiral is now on board that
vessel.
After getting on board her he modified
his terms somewhat and asked that him
self and his officers be permitted to leave
She country, and that the lives Of the
privates be spared.
Nothing has been heard Of Admiral
Mello with the Aquidaban an. Republics
since he successfully ran past the forts.
1t is thought he is now in the south,
probably off Santa Cathsrina ex Para