Evening star., 1922-07-25
FORGERY CHARGED
IN BRAZIL ELECTION
Revolt of Fortress Laid to
Resentment Over Ber-
nardes Arrest.
REBELS SOON CRUSHED
National Flag Cut Into Pieces by
"Die-Hards" in Final Fight
With Federals.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
DIO DE JANEIRO, July 12.-The
series Of events in Rio de Janeiro within
the past week with all the thrills of a
motion picture film, and which was
reported throughout the world as a
revolution" was the product of in
tense feeling which had its inception
in the presidential election held on
March /.
For months after the election the
supporters of both presidential can
didates-Arthur' Bernardes and Milo
Pecanha-claimed victory. Even after
congress recognized the election OF
Bernardes the dissidencia, Pecanha' s
party, continued to be irreconcilable
During the campaign dissidencia
newspapers published letter alleged
to have been written by Bernardes
containing offensive references to
army officers. Bernardes claimed that
1t was forgery.
On July / the newspapers publish
ed a telegram from Marshal Hermes
da Fonseca, former president of the
republic. ranking officer of the army
and president of the military club.
Ihe telegram, sent to the commander
OF the Berrambuco garrison, was Of
fensive to the government. Marshal
Fonseca was arrested. The govern
ment closed the military club for six
months and removed several officers
from the general staff.
FOuseca Leaves City.
Marshal Fonseca was liberated on
July and Immediately disappeared
from the city.
At o'clock on the morning of July
the Copa Cabana fortress, at the
a 10 hoy hnr
fired several twelve-inch guns as a
signal of revolt. All the garrisons
of the federal district forts and some
naval forces were expected to join
the effort to. overthrow the govern
ment.
The government forces, however.
opened fire on the Copa Cabana fort
ress. and cavalry and infantry troops
established a line across the Copa
Cabana district, which is considered
one Of the most beautiful residential
districts in the world
An artillery duel between. the fort
ress of Santa Cruz and Vigia on the
one side and Copa Cabana on the
other continued all day. with the
loyal forces augmented by the dread
naughts Linas Geraes and Sac Paulo,
which raked the rebel fortress with
shots. Blasts of high explosive shells
from the heavy guns shook the whole
city. The rebels asked for the terms
of surrender and declared they would
fire on the city If they were not
given immunity. All of the 200 rebels
surrendered, except twenty-eight men
and officers, who decided to fight to
the last. Capt Euclydeo Fonseca
son of the marshal and commander
of the rebel fortress, escaped.
Three lieutenants and twenty five
men decided to abandon the fort and
attack the besieging lines.
Cutting the Brazilian flag into
twenty-eight pieces with swords
each one of the desperate group pin
ned a piece of it over his heart and
swore that he would die fighting
Loading themselves with all the am
munition they could carry and setz-
ing rifles and automatic pistols, the
twenty-eight started on their for
lorn march against the besieging reg
iments. Under cover of sand piles
along the beach. stone walls. house
corners and trees, they marched
through the district toward the city.
firing effectively at their opponents
as they advanced. gaining the wood
ed slopes along the district. Their
number dwindled as they progressed.
however and in less than an hour all
Of them were killed or seriously
wounded
The Escola Militar. which is Brazirs
military academy, on the morning of
July 5 started a march of 500 men
toward the Villa Militar, the federal
troop encampment. in the suburbs of
the city A brief battle ensued. in
which the cadets, Overwhelmingly
outnumbered, were defeated and cap
tured.