Evening star., 1894-01-30
NEWS IN THIS CITY.
What is Said at the Navy Departmen mt
and the Capitol.


What is Said at the Navy Department
and the Capitol.
The purpose Of the administration in con-
centrating a powerful fleet OF war ships at
Rio is believed to be clearly disclosed in
the determined action of Admiral Benham
in reopening the harbor of Rio to American
commerce. as stated In the latest press dis
catches from Rio. The American admiral
vas instructed to protect American in
terests," and he seems 10 have taken posi-
tive steps in that direction.
On the theory that these interests can
not be properly protected while the mer-
chant ships cannot load or unload their
cargoes without danger of destruction he
has undertaken. so the press dispatches
say. to remove the source of danger
Secretary Gresham's Statement.
Secretary Gresham gave out the following
statement last night:
THE American admiral" he said, has
no instructions to act in the capacity of
mediator between the government of Bra
zil and the insurgent forces. 1t is not be-
lieved here that he is acting in any such
capacity. If collision has occurred in the
bay between our warships and the insur-
gent warships We have not been informed
Of it,"
The Secretary added that IL vas quite
likely that a crisis was imminent and that
news might be expe-ted at any time
Secretary Herbert was seen this morning
but when asked to the present status of
affairs in the bay at Rio he replied. Il
cannot talk to you about that at present"
At the Navy Department.
A cable message mas been received at the
Navy Department onfrming the press
port of the action of Admiral Benham in
giving brief statement of the situation of
affairs.
Secretary Herbert refused to make IT pub
lie for the present. That 1t was of the ut
most importance is clearly indicated by the
fact that it caused him to hasten over to
the White House. before the cabinet met.
for the purpose Of submitting ii 70 the Pres
ident at once. 1t formed the principal topic
of discussion at the meeting of the Presi-
Gent and his advisers this afternoon
1t was said at the Navy Department to-
day that word had been received from Ad-
miral Benham announcing his purpose to
protect American vessels from insurgent
firing. Dispatches which were received to-
day. it is stated, fully confirm the Asso-
ciated Press dispatches from Rio. An off,
cial who made this statement added very
significantly: They (the press Gispatches)
don't go far enough" From this the in
ference is drawn that later developments
have been more serious
shots Were Exchanged.
There seems to be no room to doubt that
the Navy Department has news of a condi-
ton of affairs at Rio more infiammatory
in character than anything that has yet
been published regarding it. There is
manifest apprehension in that department
that important happenings are taking place
today and that there is no means of getting
the report Of them out of the city.
There is excellent authority for the asser-
ton heretofore made that shots were
changed between the United States ships
and the insurgent vessels while Admiral
Benham was conveying the American mer-
chant vessels yesterday. That seems TO be
about the last 1nforma ton received BY the
department. 1t is clearly implied that Adj
miral Benham had Instructions, at least
permission, to protect these ships. This
must, of course, have included authority to
attack Da Cana II he nterfered. Men in
Washington here who know Admiral Ben
ham well assert that IL the Brazilians fired
en- his ships there would be half way
method in the course he would pursue in
reply. This gives currency to an appre-
hension that there has been hot naval
engagement in Rio harbor-
The aggressive action of Admiral Ben
ham. IL II has the approval of the govern
ment, marks a notable departure from the
policy heretofore pursued in Brazil. Capt.
Picking. while he was in command of the
naval forces at Rio persisted in strongly
conservative course, and elected more than
one complaint from Americans. who urged
that their interests were suffering. 1t has
been practically asserted that the insur-
gents forces were not bound to preserve
any given portion of the harbor from the
line of fire. so long as they gave ample
warning to neutrals to avoid the line of
fire. This question came up some time ago
when all ships were notified to- O'vacate the
station usually assigned as the anchorage
for merchant vessels. as 1t came into
proposed line of fire. Earnest protests
against this were referred by Capt. Pick
ing to Washington. but 1t was decided that
IS did not lie within the province of the
government to interfere at that time
Opinions Mt the Capitol.
Thesnews of the exchange of shots be-
tween the American fleet in Rio harbor and
the Brazilian insurgents. under Admiral Da
CANA, proved a complete surprise to Sen
ators and members. Together with the ex-
citing events in Rio harbor yesterday, con-
tanned in the cable dispatches. all expressed
astonishment that such a situation should
have arisen, and that men circumstanced as
the insurgents are should have taken upon
themselves this new complication, but none
were prepared to quote precedent for the
situation or for the action of Admiral Ben
ham.
Senator Butler. who is the second men,
ber of both the Senate committee on foreign
relations and naval affairs. and in the alb
sence of Senator Mcpherson. chairman of
the latter committee, said that he would not
attempt at this time to say what Congress
could or would do under the circumstan ces,
and he thought that 1t would be left for
future developments. He had no doubt,
however. that if Admiral Benham took the
steps, which he seems to have taken solely
for the purpose Of protecting American in
terests. he would be fully sustained.
senator Frye, prominent republican
member OF the committee on forei.sn re-
lations, held views similar to those of Sem
ator Butler. He raid that a rule which
might apply to our relations with a strong
power would not always be applied to a
weaker one. and seemed to be of the opin-
lon that some such question as that might
be involved in this case He said explicitly
however. that he had no doubt that il
American interests were imperilad they
would be protected. and that IL Admiral
Benham had acted with that end in view
he would be sustained.
Senator Teller was of the opinion that the
incident would hasten the intervention Of
this government to bring the war between
the Brazilian government and the rebels
to a close, and repeated the opinions out
lined in his speech to this effect in the
Senate yesterday.
Senators Butler and Frye did not think
the United States could interfere in such a
matter unless requested TO do so by the
parties engaged in the war