The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-13
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
The Inwardness of The IRA
quay Revolution.
A TWO GUN BOAT NAVY
Mr.. Allen Rae Writes of South Am. rican
Affairs. Gentle Spring Approaches
in September, Col. Swain Well
And Happy.
CoLoNIA, URUGUAY,
Sept Is, 1900
TWO GUN BOAT NAVY

DEAR FATHER
AS have some spare time this even
ing | will improve it by writing. We
are at this place at present, which is
just across the river from Buenas Aires
and about thirty miles distant from
there Our present location is due to-
the fact, that there is at present a
threatened revolution in Uruguay, and
this is the only place the United States
has consulate in Uruguay besides at
Montevideo. The difficulty at present
seems to grow out of the unstable con-
dition of the government. and violence
is generally the means they use here
to obtain change of administration.
The present trouble is supposed to be
brought on by agitators from Buenas
Aires, who wish to work in the inter-
est of that city by keeping this govern
ment employed in suppressing revolu-
tions and preventing them from con-
structing docks and breakwater at
Montevideo and otherwise improving
their harbor. Which improvements,
if made there, would draw large
amount of the shipping which at pre-
sent goes to Buenas Aires from that
port Several times in the past the
Uruguay government has made ar
rangements for these Improvements.
but each of the attempts were followed
| by a revolution and by the time
they had the revolution auelled they
were so badly in debt, that they had to
postpone their harbor Improvements.
They are now about to let the contract
for these works and are making great
efforts to prevent the revolution.
Their navy is at present pa.roling
the coast between Uruguay and Argen-
tine to prevent the introduction of
arms and ammunition. The navy is
not very large one as it consists of
but two small gun boats and two or
three tugs, which have been fitted up
| for service on short notice. Their
army. is however. a large one for such
a small country, and has irregular COM
plement of about ten thousand men.
Their main trouble, however. when an
outbreak does occur, is that they can
not depend very much on it, for gener-
ally more or less of it deserts the gov
eminent and joins the revolutionary
forces.
/ Colonia appears to be quaint old
1 place, and looks as though 1t might
have quite an interesting history as
there are many old ruins in the place
1t has perhaps only few thousand in
habitants and looks for all the world
as if it were the last place where one
would expect an outbreak of any kind
The country as we see it from here is
very pretty indeed and looks as though
it were splendid place for farming
At present everything is green, that is
excepting many of the fields which
have been freshly plowed. You see
spring is just coming on here which
accounts for the greeness of things.
The land seems to be nice and rolling,
though not hilly, just rolling enough
for good drainage.
Everything with US is the same as
ever on board, only we have been quite
a while without mail now and conse-
quently are behind the times now
nearly two months, which is indeed a
very long time.
saw Mr.. Swain few minutes, a
week ago Saturday. He seemed to be
as iovial as ever. and he is man that
a few minutes talk with does one
good.
/ hope that everything at home is
going on well and. that you are all en-
J joying your usual good health. Will
now close. Yours affectionately,
ALLAN RAE.
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