The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14
WAR REACHES AT LAST
TO PEACEFUL AZORES
Portugal Calls on Dreaming
Islands for Officers Of
Reserves.
Special Correspondence, 10 THr Sc,

ST MrcHAEL's. Azores. Feb s-war
has stretched its long arm to the Azores
and demanded consignment OF the
best officers from among these quiet.
peaceful residents Of the garden spot OF
the Atlantic. A few weeks ago war was
merely a matter OF brief cablegrams.
old newspapers and rumors TO-DAY
Portugal has called upon her provinces
for aid and war has become a real
thing
Before the ship had called FOR the first
allotment OF officers two families on this
island had received news Of the death
OF their sons, who already were leading
troops In Portuguese West Africa.
Official messages from Lisbon said they
had been killed by German troops from
the adjacent German colony.
When the Portuguese steamer Funchal
made Its last trip to Lisbon. Il carried
officers OF the Twenty-ffth Reserve
Regiment OF the island OF Terceira and
OF the Twenty sixth OF this island At
Lisbon they Joined the second relief ex-
pcd!;!on that has been sent 20 Angola
since the outbreak OF the European war
The officers boarded the Funchsl or
cold. gray afternoon while n fierce
southeast gale was blowing great bill
lows against the shore. Hundreds OF
civilians and soldiers had gathered AZ
the harbor front to bid Godspeed 20
their nelghbors and compatriots Those
Who sou:i Tot sle standing =oo:. a!oaS
the quays or sea wall braved the wind
and stood along the edges OF the bluffs
20 wave their flags
As the Funchai lifted her anchor and
began 10 steam SLOWLY through the
harbor brightly colored code fags crept
up the masts OF the ships she passed
and spelled messages Of good wishes
while sirens howled out their salutes
and tho red and green flag OF the
Portuguese republic waved from every
building IN sight Of the sea.
The officers stood at the rail- waving
farewell TO the crowds, and as tho
steamer passed each little group along
the bluffs her siren whlstled a salute in
response to the lusty cries OF Viva"
Finally the little white vessel passed
beyond the gray breakwater and began
tossing and rolling among the great
white waves, but the crowd stood silently
watching as long as a tiny speck could
be seen AGAINST the threatening. gray
clouds OF the east. Then little groups
climbed tho steep streets that led home
ward and night found another peace
loving community smarting under the
lash OF war.
The Portuguese Government has char
tered the steamships Britannia and We
nezia OF the Fabre Line TO carry troOps
20 Portuguese Africa to fight the Ger
mans OF German Southwest Africa. which
adjolns the Portuguese province.
Both these ships have been in the New
York Mediterranean passenger service.
Tho Britannia. with the Roma, has been
handling the trade of the Azores under
a charter from the Portuguese Govern
nent. Only the Roma will now be in
this service.
The chartering OF these ships was a
surprise In shipping circles here, as Por-
tugal has several large steamers avail
able for transport duty The opinion
prevails that the Government has taken
over the foreign vessels in order TO com
plete q more rapid movement of troops
than was at first contemplated.