Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-01-23
TROUBLE IN
BRAZIL OVER
GE R NJ 4 n 6
German Propaganda of Pro-
noting Strikes Meets With
Hostile Demonstration by
Loyal Residents


RIO GRANDE DO SUI. Brazil, Jan.
23.-Promptcd by the belief that Ger.
man residents have fomcntcd and sup.
ported railway strikes and other labor
troubles in southern Brazil, the Brazil.
ian government has prepared to take
severe steps TO prevent any further
! German inspired disturbances.
Large forces of troops now are quar-
tered in southern Brazil and custom
houses at Porto Allegro and Rio Grande
are filled with artillery, which can be
transported quickly to any other
points in the southern part OF the
country.
BY suppressing newspapers printed
in the German language and by clos.
ing German schools and removing
German priests from Catholic schools.
the government has succeeded in
blocking 4 large part of the German
4 propaganda and a strict censorship
prevents the spreading Of news regard.
| ing German unrest or the govern.
ment's steps for overcoming it.
There is general talk however,
throughout southern Brazil. even by
/ Brazilian officials. to the effect that
the Germans have not given up their
attempt to harrass the brazilian gov
! ernmcnt and embarrass its shipments
TO the entente allies. Municipal Off
GERS in one OF the principal towns of
the western part OF the state of Rio
Grandc do Sui told me that their in
ycstigatiions had led them to believe
that German support was largely re-
sponsiblc for the success and long
duration Of the recent railroad strikes
and that they also were convinced that
tho strikes were part of a revolution.
airy plan which has not been entirely
{ crushed
on several occasions Brazilian pc6-
pie have set fire to the property Of
/ Germans as 4 protest against their
attitude which has been considered
defiant and disrcspectmi toward the
. Brazilian government.
OF Tn" IS3S.2IO people living in the
state Of Rio Grandc do Sui. it Is csti-
mated that 10000 are of German birth
or first generation descendants Of Cor
mans ana it has been officially re.
ported that there are 10000 German
rcscrvists in the German rife clubs
of this state alone. These Germans
have practically controlled the COM
mercial enterprises in this part OF
Brazil
Even after Brazil broke diplomatic
/ relations with Germany the campaign
Of the Germans was kept up and Ger
/ man business houses i'm Rio Grande
1 do Sui and Porto Allegro flew the Ger
man flag from their windows without
/ the customary courtesy of flying the
/ Brazilian flag with It. The Brazilians
were denied membership in the Ger.
man clubs and the German shooting
! ranges.
Finally. soon after the declaration
Of war, the Austrian consul in Ria
I Grandc do Sui attempted to smuggle
( several intcrncd German sailors out
Of the city and to one of the German
colonies in the state of Santa Cath.
. arina whence they could have found
their way into Paraguay or Argentina.
The fugitive sai.-..s were rccapiured
but the consul succeeded in reaching
| Paraguay.
As soon as the people became aware
Of this they formed into n mob and
marched through the streets burning
I German goods and stoning German
buildings as was done i'm Bucnos
Aires. The German club I'm Rio
Grandc was burned and bonfrcs were
built In the streets into which wore
thrown the merchandise that was
thrown out Of German shops.