Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-15
PORTUGAL EAGER
TO TAKE UP ARMS
FOR ALLIES CAUSE
Congress Prepares for Mo-
bilization of 100000 War
Strength and Martial Law
Is Proclaimed in African
Colonies.
LISBON, Oct. Is.

LISBON, Oct. Is.
Lisbon is greatly excited by the belief
that soon the Republics army will be
fighting side by side with the French
and British in France, and that the
| Portuguese navy will join the patrol
Of the European coast with the British
and French warshps.
The President and the Cabinet have
called special session of Congress on
Friday for the purpose of authorizing
the complete mobilization of Portuguese
troops.
1t Is not likely there will be an actual
declaration of war until after Congress
! tion is considered here tantamount to
| declaration of war.
Portugal is unanimous In it's determina-
ton. The leaders of all parties have
been in conference with the President
and the Cabinet, and the decision to
call Congress was the result.
There is great enthusiasm for war in
the army and among the people.
Martial law has been declared in the
Portuguese Congo, which is bordered on
the south by German Southwest Africa,
according to dispatches received here
from Loanda. This is interpreted as
meaning that already there have been
clashes between the German and Portu-
guese forces there, perhaps similar to
that caused by the effects to spread re-
volt through the British Union of South
Africa.
The Portuguese possessions in western
Africa, known as the Portuguese Congo
and Portuguese West Africa, lie just
north of German Southwest Africa To
the north are the French Congo and the
Belgian Congo. and on the east is
Rhodesia, part of the British posses
sions. on the west is the Atlantic
Ocean.
German residents are already fleeing
from Lisbon, many of them having started
for Madrid in anticipation of a declara-
tion of war by Portugal against Germany,
The German Minister is prepared to leave
the capital at a moments notice.
Numerous British steamships have been
in the harbor for several weeks, to be
ready to move the Portuguese army when
war is declared, and it has been confident
ly expected that such a declaration would |
be made as soon as Portugal was thor |
oughy prepared. Portugal Is the ally
of Great Britain. the entity of the young |
republic being guaranteed by a treaty |
with Great Britain. England has been |
representing to Portugal the need of her
troops In the battle line of the Allies |
against Germany and has indicated that if |
Germany is the victor Portugal's national |
identity will be lost.
WAR FOOTING 10000
While the peace strength of the Portu-
guese army is less than 10000 men, provi-
sion Is made for an active army of 10000 |
at war strength. The country is divided
into eight military zones, from each of
which can be recruited one active divi-
sion and two brigades of reserve infantry
The islands form three special districts.
The annual conscription Is fixed at
1900 men. From the regular army are
taken the men of the Republican Guard
and the Fiscal Guard.
The active army consists of eight di-
visions, each containing four regiments
Of infantry of three battallons each; one
section of machine guns, one regiment
Of three battalions of field artillery, one
regiment of cavalry of four squadrons
DHe company OF engineers, with pontoon
train, and signal, sanitary and train
troops. Besides this there is an indie
pendent cavalry brigade of three regi-
nents of four squadrons each. with ma !
chine gun battery; one park of pontoons, |
4 battalion of field telegraph, a com |
7any of garrison telegraphers, one of
wireless telegraphers. one of aeronauts
and two railway companies. There also
are two regiments OF mountain artillery.
me battalion of horse artillery, two bat
aions of siege artillery and three extra
batteries OF mountain guns, besides bat
cries of machine guns and engineer and
ortress troops. For the islands there are
hree regiments of infantry