Battleship Mutiny.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 January 1911, Page 4

Battleship Mutiny.

Tin* mutiny on hoard the new Mrazilian Dreadnoughts ISLitias Geraes and Sao Paulo broke out 011 Tuesday ovening. Captain Neves, commanding the Minas Geraes, .had been dining on board the French cruiser Dugnay Trouin. Towards 10 o'clock ho returned to his ship, and as he stepped 011 board there was a great uproar mingled with the report of rifles. This was the lirst intimation of the mutiny. Captain Xeves and two officers, supported by a few blue,jackets, resisted their assailants, but were killed and another officer was fatally wounded. The crew shouted " Long live liberty!" This success was immediately followed by a mutiny 011 the other Dreadnought, Sao Paulo, and the scout Jiatliia. All the officers were put ashore, and a first-class seaman named .Juno Candido took command of the squadron. The ships were abundantly supplied with amm.unition and provisions, and they requisitioned coal from the private depot 011 Vianna 'Island. They also seized some barges carrying coals for the French mail steamer Atlantique and the British steamer Oronsa. The mutineers immediately sent a wireless* message to President riormcs da Fonseea formulating their demands, which included! the abolition of corporal punishment, more pay in accordance with the Bill recently submitted to Congress, and less work, the men having to work long hours owing to the crews being short-handed. The Government sent no reply, and after an interval a bombardment was 'begun, and kept up at intervals throughout the night. The mutinous ships, flying a red flag, proceeded to perform some evolutions in the bay. The loyal tor-podo-destroyers took up station at the end of the bay in readiness to torpedo tho .mutineers. At 7 o'clock the Minns Gcrars. San Paulo, Bafaia, and Floriano crossed tho bar and opened fire 011 the forts, which did not reply. As soon ?.'< they were over till© bar, the mutineers put about and re-entered the bay, taking up positions commanding the_ city and .firing their guns at various points. One shell of small calibre nenetrated a house 011 Castello Hill, in the centre of the city. Two ' children and a woman iin the street were killed.

During the day the naval arsenal formed a sp?Ha.l target for the mutineers. Towards 1 o'clock a boat flyin { l a white flag bailed the Sao Paulo. On board was a deputy and retired naval officer named Carvalho. He hoarded the Sao Paulo to convex the terms 011 wh.ieh the Government, would accept surrender.

The nmfc'ivors told him tb«v wo-i 1 ! not surrender until tlie National Congress had voted a ■general amnesty. Thev then steamed out of rano-e of fi'"> tornedo destroyers as on the previous night. and returned to-day at mid-day.