New Britain herald., 1916-04-22
New York AIm0sf As
 Large As Portugal

Washington, D. C. April 22.-"Port- drawn into the mad maelstrom of the European war was once part ot the ancient Roman province of Lus1- tania, from which the giant Cunard line steamer sunk by German tor pedo received it's name," says bull letin just issued by the National Geo. gra phic society, of Washington.
 With a population scarcely ex- ceeding the combin population of New York City, Jersey City and New ark, and an area in Europe less than the state of Indiana, Portugal has not played a major role in the politics Of Continental Europe in many years, not, in fact since Wellesly, afterward the Duke of Wellington, landed his English forces and, with the aid of native troops. defeated Soult and Massena, Napoleon's marshall, in the two peninsula campaigns.
 But the colonial empire of Portu- gal is out of all proportion to the importance of the home country. In fact, there were, at the beginning of the war, only three other countries in Europe-Great Britain, France, and Germany-whose flags floated over territory beyond the boundaries of the home country. The combined area of the New England and North Allan tic states would equal less than one fourth of the territory under the do minion of the tiny republic occupying the Western edge of the Iberian peninsula, whose navigators In the fifteenth and sixteenth cen tury were the wonders of the world. Yet all this vast territory is held by 5000 Colonial troops, supplemented by native armies.
 Tt would be difficult to estimate how much Portugal will be able to contribute to the strength of the Allies cause. It's peace strength is only 30,000 men, but there is a re- serve of 230,000, while the morgan ized military strength of the nation is as great as that of the Netherlands and more than third larger than was Serbia's total unorganized war strength before this war began.
 "A curious anomaly is to be found among the peasants of Portugal who are classified as among the most il- literate of Western Europe, yet are among the most intelligent. Many of the farmers-three-f fifths of the popu- lation is devoted to agricultural pur- suits-have a remarkable gift for yer sification. and many of the poems of the country are handed down from generation to generation without be- ing recorded. The peasants also are noted for their sobriety, and yet the annual production of wine exceeds 25 gallons for each inhabitant. So great, in fact, is the product of the vineyard that in the cities the various qualities of water arc discussed with keener interest than the grades of wine.
 While Portugals maritime glory is a thing of the past, a large number of Portuguese still follow the sea for a livelihood, and the fishing industry is important. The Portuguese sardines however, are preserved in Italian oil. although one fifteenth of the cul- tivated area of the nation is given over to olive groves, for the produc- tion of oils of a cheap grade.
 "The Portuguese peasant woman Is an important breadwinner. but she receives for her days labor of 16 hours in the field only a shilling or less, while the men get two shillings.
 "One of the profitable and ex- tremely popular Industries of the ru- ral population Is placid lying-in~w wait for tourists who attempt to motor through the country on the less ire quented and often impossible public roads With an OK team the peasant