Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-01-24
BRAZIL TAKES
SEVERE STEPS
TO END RIOTS
ACTION OF GOVERNMENT PROMPTED
BY BELIEF THAT GERMAN RESI-
DENTS FOMENTED AND SUPPORT
Ed RECENT RAILWAY STRIKE.

Correspondence of the Associated PrcssD
RIO GRANDE Do SUI. Brazil JAN "a
Prompted by the belief that German res
Idents have tomented and supported rail
way strikes and other labor troubles in
Soutrern Brazil, the Brazilian government
has prepared to take severe steps To pre-
vent any further German inspired disturb
ances.
Large forces of troops now are quar-
tered i'm Southern Brazil and custom
houses at Porto Allegro and Rio Grande are
filled with artillery, which can be trans
ported quickly 10 any other points in the
southern part of the country
BY snppressing newspapers printed in
the German language and by closing Ger
man schools and removing German priests
from Catholic schools, the government has
succeed IN blocking large part of the
German propaganda and strict censor
ship prevents the spreading of news re-
Sarding German unrest or the govern
ments steps for overcoming it,
There i general talk. however. through
out Southern Brazil. even by Brazilian Of
ficials, TO the effect that the Germans
have not given up their attempt 10 harrass
the Brazilian government and embarrass
us shipments to the entente allies Num-
cipal officers IN one of the principal towns
oil The western part of the state of Rio
Grande do Sui told me that their invest
legations had led them to believe that Ger
man support was largely responsible for
the success and long duration OF the recent
railroad strikes and that they also were
convinced that the strikes were part of IA
revolutionary plan which has not been en-
tirely crushed.
On several occasions Brazilian people
have set fire to the property of Germans
n protest against their attitude which
has been considered defiant and disre-
spcctful toward the Brazilian government
OF the 1.s3s,2iO people living in the state
of Rio Grande do Sui, it j. estimated that
10000 are of German birth or first gen
GRAFTON descendants of Germans and il has
been officially reported that there are TO-
o0o German reservists in the German rifle
clubs of this state alone. These Germans
have practically controlled the commercial
enterprises IN this part of Brazil.
Even after Brazil broke diplomatic rcla-
tons with Germany the campaign of the
Germans was kept up and German business
houses IN Rio Grande Do Sui and Porto
Allegro fley the German flag from their
windows without the customary courtesy
Of flying Brazilian flag with it. The Bra
zllans were denied membership in the Ger
maa clubs and the German shooting
ranges.
nally. soon after the declaration of
War. the Austrian consul in Rio Grande do
Sui attempted to smuggle several interned
German sailors ont of the city and to one
of the German colonies in the state of
Santa Catharina. whence they could have
found their way To Paraguay. The fugi
tive sailors were recaptured but the con
sui succeeded in reaching Paraguay.
A. soon a. the people became aware of
this they formed a mob and marched
through the streets burning German good
and stonlng German buildings A. was done
in BuenoS Aires. The German club in Rio
Grande way burned and bondfires were
built in the streets into which were thrown
the merchandise that was thrown oui OF
German shops.