BITTER CIVIL WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 13

BITTER CIVIL WAR.

BRAZILIAN RISING. rebels take two cities. STATE GOVERNORS FLEE. jSANGUINARY FIGHTING. ARMY MOBILISATION.' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received October 8. 7.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON*. Oct. 7. Reports from the disaffected States in Brazil show that tho revolution in that Republic is becoming increasingly sanguinary. Leading observers fear that one of the bitterest wars in tho history of South America is developing in Brazil.

Lata reports issued at Porto Alegre, in iho State of Bahia, and from tho State of Rio Grande do Sul, assert that the rebels have captured Pcrnambuco and Natal. The Governors of the States of Pernambuco and "Rio Grande do Norte are reported to havo fled in a steamer, ,-which a rebel destroyer is chasing. Federal airmen bombed the city of Rello Horizonto, the capital of Minas Geraes. Their aeroplane was then shot down.

Tho Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, Senor Gurgel do Amaral. states that his Government will resort to bloodshed where necessary. Despatches from tho Brazilian frontier state that the vanguard of the insurgent army is advancing upon the great coffee exporting centre of Sao Paulo. It has crossed the border State of Parana into the State of Sao Paulo. Tho Brazilian Government has issued a call to the colours and instructed tho naval reserves and 10 Army classes, comprising 420,000 men, to mobilise immediately.

The Army reservists have already volunteered, and it is expected that the Federal Government will make its first vigorous stand in tho neighbourhood of Sao Paulo. The rebels there number 80,000 men, Tinder the leadership of a former Finance Minister, Senhor Vargas. It is believed that Federal naval forces are en route to Sao Paulo. Tho Brazilian Government intends to eend a force o? 100,000 soldiers into the field immediately.

Bio do Janeiro is facing both a Cabinet crisis and a shortage of food, as the Government has requisitioned the food supplies. All the banks have been closed, for "a holiday." Tho American Charge d'Affaires at Rio de Janeiro has reported to Washington that serious riots occurred at Bahia, where tho American tramways and other public services were attacked.

Sao Paulo, the second city in Brazil, T\ext to Rio do Janeiro, has a population of more than 1,000,000. It has many fine modern buildings, with huge skyscrapers and splendid gardens. It stands at ail elevation of 3000 ft. It is 260 miles south of Rio do Janeiro. Pernambuco is oil the coast, 1120 sea mile 3 norLli of Rio de Janeiro. It is an important port and has a population of more than 350,000. Natal, 200 miles north of Pernambuco, is on the coast, and is the first place reached by the airmen who have flown from Europe or West Africa across the South Atlantic. It is the capital of the State of Rio Grand do Norte and has about 30,000 inhabitants. Bello Horizorite is 376 miles north of Rio do Janeiro. It is tho capital of the State of Minas Geraes and is an important commercial centre, with about 65,000 inhabitants. * Dr. Washington Luis Pereira de bouza assumed office as President of Brazil in 1926. He was born in 1870 and became a lawyer at Batates, Sao Paulo, and was elected to tho Federal Chamber oi Deputies in 1912. He was elected President of tho Stato of Sao Paulo in 920 and while in offico did a great deal to develop the great coffee industry. Ho was chosen as tho Republican Conservative candidate for the Presidency and was elected in March, 1926, by a great majority arid took office in November. His work has been largely financial, to balance the Budget and stabilise the exchange, and strictly meet Brazil s foreign obligations. Her external debt is £106,968,000. .. . Tho standing Army of Brazil < about 40,270 men and tho Navy men. Tho value of the coffeo exported in 1923 was £70.335,987, mainly from Rao Paulo, of a total export trade ol £97,426,000.