Was Welcome News

Washington, Mareh 15.- The following cablegram froni United States Minister Thompson, at Rio, was received at the departniont of state late Wednesday afternoon: Río, Mareh 14. oecretary of State, Washington: The operationa weredirected by the i deut from the marine arsenal ou the water ! front. At H::ii) o'clock yesterday afternoon flngs of truce weve hoisted on Enohadas islaad. 'J'he president sent fmmediately and ascertaineci that the whole forcé oC th'e msurgents were there with the exception ot the oíticers, who had taken refuge on the French-Portuguese and English men-ofwar. A surgeon alone remamed with the foices. Da Gama had lef t on the French About (i o'clock the government fleet enterad the bay, led Ity the Xictheroy, and ancbored in ftont of the city. The rebel war vessels and forte Villegaignong and Cabras Island had been abaiidoned by the rebels. Business has been resumed this [ niorning and everything is tranquil. (Signed) THOMPSON. The news of the surrender was very welcoino to Secretary Greshaia and to Secretary Herbert particularly. To tlie "first it served to relieve him from the ever present appre hension lest something should occur that niilit mvolve the United States governnient in a dispute vvith one of the combátante or perhaps with some foreign powers that havS so jealously watcned the course so flrmly and consistently pursued by this government. To Herbert the surrender meajas the ability to relieve most of the American sailors, who have sndured much hardship and exposure to yellow fever, from further services at Rio and to utilize the ships now there for duty in other yaces where they are much needed. It also means a considerable saving to the navy department, for the maintenance of the large fleet at Rio ñas rieen very extensive. Stores aud supplíes there are always dear and their cost has beeu enháueed by the war. Coal alone is a considerable item in the bill, the price at Rio being about 811. 50 per ton, and the consuinption of the nevv vessels is very large. Minister Thompson and Admiral Benham have both acquitted themselves of their delicate and responsible dnties to the perfect satisfacción of the president and their superior officers, Secretary Gresham Wednesday aftertioon said tha{ there was nothing for the United States to do now at Rio; we had acted with perfect fairness thxoughout and there was no occasion now for interference so long as American interest wem safe. Whether or not the French and British aud Portuguese naval comuianders have laid fhemselves liable to a charge of violation of neutrality in teceiving the fugitive rebel officera aboard their ships, is a matter in whieh the United States need feel no concern, practieally, as we are blauielees on that score. The naval officers here are well pleased that da Gama should have escaped, believing that he ís a man of sterling qualities and brave to a fault. It is surmised that he will be landed at Montevideo or sonie other neutral port and it is believed that he will have nothing more to do with the rebellion in Brazil. It is suspected by naval offieers that da Gama has been made a scapegoat by Mello, for it is now believed that when the latter sailed away from Rio with the Aquidaban and República he realized that the rebel cause at that place was ahsolutely hopeless. He had proved his ability to safely run past the forts with these two shins, but it was manifestly impossible for the other half-disabledand unprotected insurgent ships to run this gauntlet. It becarne a question of losing everything or escaping himself. He escaped, leaving da Gama to share the lost fortunes of his men. Nobody knows what Mello will do now. He may join the insurgents at Desterro, or he ïriay go to Uruguay or Argentine and surrender his ships. If he'scuttles the vessels he is Hable to punishment for barratry.