The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-18
Nothing Has Happened to War;
 ships Al Rio JaneirO
PEACEFUL SCENE IN HARBOR
Rumor Spread Over the United States That the Connecticut Was Sunk, But There Was Nothnq
 In the Report.

Rio Janeiro, January 1.-The Amer iean battleship fleet was joined today in the harbor at Rio Janeiro by the torpedo boat fotilla. The hotilla left Pernambuco on January 13 and met with good weather on the voyage to this port.
 Lieutenant Commander Cone reports the health of the men of the torpedo fot1lla as generally good. The vessels in his command will sail for Buenos Ayres after coaling, probably about January 21. The scene in the harbor today was picturesque one. Never before were many warships an- chored in this port at one time. Be- sides the great fleet of sixteen battle- ships swinging idly at anchor with their white sides shining in the bril- liant sunshine there was a fleet of Brazilian warships and finally came the American torpedo boat destroyers under Commander Cone to swell the great feet Scores. of small boats ran to and fro, between the warships and the shore, carrying thousands of the men who had been granted leave for the day, while the officers were still being entertained by the government. Nothing occurred to break the absolute peacefulness of the scene in the har- Dor and the enjoyment of the men ashore.
 There was considerable surprise and not q little amusement 7nopg the. or fcers of the battleship fleet as we as among the people of Rio Janeiro over numerous inquiries cabled here from the United States during the day asking for information regarding re- ported destruction to the battleship Connecticut. At first the inquiries were mystifying to those to whom they were addressed, as the rumor of mishap to the Connecticut did not originate here and at the time frenzed inquiries were being telegraphed from the United States, all the ships of the fleet were lying peacefully in the harbor in plain view of the shore. Finally 1t became clear that the rumor of an accident originated in the United States, and having been widely circulated, occa- stoned considerable alarm there. The torpedo destroyer Hopkins will go into dry dock to have a new pro- peller put in place. The collier Artheus which is due at Rio tomorrw will leave for Buenos Ayres ahead of the torpedo flotilla. It was said by Commander Cone today that the flotilla will remain at Buenos Ayres four days.
 The police arrested two men who said they were attempting to desert from one of the American colliers now in hon T stand the bad treatment they were be- ing subjected to. No importance IS attach ed to their claim of bad treat ment and they were sent back to their vessel.
 The above from Rio Janeiro tn or oughly establishes the falsity of ru- nor circulated in many American cities today as to a grave catastrophe to the American fleet. The rumors originat ing in interruptions quarters were sys- tematically distributed from Boston to San Francisco, a number of newspapers being misled into printing the report which was not only groundless but was calculated to excite the greatest alarm among the friends and relatives of the men aboard the ships.
 The surgeons of the American fleet to- Qpther With those ITOnl tIe NtliHdu Ciu ser Bremen and the Italian cruiser Pug da visited the principal hospitals of the city today and at one of the institu- tions witnessed a delicate operation by Brazilian surgeon. Afterward they were taken in automobiles to several places of interest and ended their excur- sion at a breakfast given aboard the steamship Ceara of the Brazilian Lloyd line, where there was a cordial exchange of toasts Tomorrow there will be race between barge crews from the Louisiana and the Minnesota, over mile course for a prize of several thou sand dollars.
 The bands from the Connecticut, the Georgia, the Minnesota and Alabama will come ashore on Monday, which is the anniversary of the founding of the city of Rio Janeiro, and play in the public squares and parks.
 The American ambassador, Irving B. Dudley, will present the admiral and captains of the fleet to Foreign Minister Baron Rio Branco.
 Jose Carlos Rodrigues, president of the Journal of Commerce, will tender ban ouet to the American newspaper men accompanying the fleet on Ja uary 2l.