FILIBUSTERING IN BRAZIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 February 1908, Page 8

FILIBUSTERING IN BRAZIL.

;' BRITISH OFFICERS IMPLICATED,. ~ , An attempt to overthrow tho Government |of. .Minas. Gcraes, under tho leadership of Senhor Sebastian Magali, a native of the Srovince of Rio Grando do Sul,. aided by iritish, Candiaii,; and American: . filibusters,' has failed, . All were captured tlio day after tlio first. skirmish. ', Major Philip Davies of . the British Army,.' was killed,, and Second Lieutenant' Gcorgb Gordon, was -wounded;'-. , ; ' , Tho chief members of the party, Major .-Davie's, who was on the Retired List, and. til) recently a lr.embvr of. the ,United Service Club.. Second.-Lieutenant. Gebj'go Gordon, 'Herbert' Gfeorgo.)" Ricard and Cecil' Barker, \V. Wilson; ' 'Herbert Farnuecker, and : Jay Priced . ,There seem to liavo teen other, Americans and British belonging to 'the forcej'-'-but 'at present their names-aro unprocurable.... Their plan was', to overthrow Vtho! Govern-, ment of :Minas.,.Geraes,'and jthojmdriey was .raised.' in ( London and New York to the' amount,' it is , stated, of -/500,000 ('£100,000).' The force issued.a proclamation stating ..that it was thoir-.intention: to ■ seize the capital' Bello Horizont-e, overthrow Hhp Government, and.establish Senhor Magali as President. .It called tKeir 1 ' expedition ' tho "Army, of' Regeneration," and' threatened to. shoot any citizen resisting it by force. , The members of-tho force arrjyed; separately at Bahia and and proceeded to.tho-interior; arid'on November 24, part of thorn appeared in their own river steamer, as tradors, at Ilbeos, in tho Staito,of-Bahia, | their intention, boirig to liorsos.'

. PURSUIT AND CAPTURE. ". . . ' Tho vigilanco of tho .police ,was , aroused; and tho' men were requested 'to appear . and explain on tho following day;"-which th'oy did; fully armed, and attacked "the' State' forces,' but.j wero repulsed after a sharp light', ' leaving Major Dalies : killed • ana Lieutenant Gordon .woundod and prisoner. There were several casualties in tho National forces. •. '.. : >• '. ■ . ' Tho filibusters retreated.:in .the direction of the' sea, .cutting the telegraph; wiresen route. A strong forco was sent in pursuit, which surrounded and surprised by night"; thoir. bivouac. t The filibusters opened fire, and attenipte'd to mount arid flee, .but; the whole band were speedily taken prisoners. The leader refuses tho namos of.many persons implicated and all information regarding • reinforcements, . saying ho prefers death.• ; .

The Brazilian Foreign 'Office had been warned' by the Ambassador at "Washington of the expedition, but no suspicion had been aroused. 'by the separate landings; which: weret apparently, those of peaceful traders, at different ports, It is believed that the present'attempt,was premature, as the fight took place in ' the State of Bahia, whereas Minas Geraes. was the objective. ' ,■■■: .' Tho offenders await trial,., but this will probably take place at-a much later date, and be followed by imprisonment and subsequent deportation. . ■ .. Tho identity of tho Lieutenant Gordon mentioned in tho despatches is obscure. There is a Second Lieutenant George Gordon, of the Ist Battalion df the Hb.val .Irish Fusiliers, but it appears upon enquiry at his homo at Blaokheath, that lie is in England upon long furlough.