Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-12
Seizure of Ships Permits Great
Britain to Render Promised
Assistance to Italy.
SUPPLIES CAN BE SENT
TO KING VICTOR'S REALM
Economic Situation There Has
Stirred Keenest Dissatisfaction
Among the People.
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
Portugal has kept her promise to Eng
land and today finds herself in a state
OF war with Germany: the great battle
of Nerdun. in which hundreds of thou
sands of men are reported to have fall
en-. continues, with no decision yet in
sight: the powerful German armada
has defied the British war vessels. VEN
tured into the North sea and after sew
eral days scouting returned to it's base
without encountering the enemy: the
Russians have extended their gains
in Persia and Turkish Armenia to the
point that both Bagdad and Trebizond
face early capitulation, while along the
northern end of the eastern battle front
there has been renewed activity on the
part of both the Germans and the Rus
slams.
These are the events marking the
progress of the European struggle of
the past week. events which not only
have been important in themselves. but
significant as we'll.
Portugal is the thirteenth nation to
enter the great struggle. which. as days
go by, gives no indication OF abat1ng.
to Lisbon on the day war was declared,
asserted the Portuguese nation by It's
actions had announced to the world that
IL was but the vaSSal of England, but
whatever the view of the central pow
ers may be, Portugal has lived up to
q promise made to England almost at
the outbreak of the war, in which she
declared that when the time came TO
take decisive action on behalf OF the
allies she would do so. promising at the
very first to send a force of 10000 men.
As time has gone on Teutonic nations
have made several tenders to the Por-
tuguese nation to gain, at least. con-
tinued neutrality. but that these all
were futile became definitely known on
February -, when large number OF
German and Austrian merchant vessels
in home and colonial ports were seized
by the Portuguese government and the
war flag run up. Germany considered
this action an affront and the LISBON
government at once began preparations
for eventualities, fully realizing just
what the future would hold. That ex-
uectationS were correct was 1uiIy
proven on Wednesday. when the Ger
man government presented its decree
Of war to the Portuguese government
Though Portugal was at any time
expected to render assistance to Eng
land in firm
Shin Seizure Now fashion once the
proper moment
Is maoe clear. arrived, the exact
purpose of Selling all German ships in
Portuguese ports was not thoroughly
made clear until later in the week.
when it was announced that Portugal
through special charter TO large LIS
bon shipping firm. had placed the Teu-
tonic vessels in the hands of England
for the transportation of supplies to
Italy and Saloniki. This assistance
may be discounted by some, but it is
an established fact that the amount of
supplies forwarded to Italy in recent
weeks has been curtailed to the point
where the government at Rome mas
been forced to ask greater assistance
OF the allies in relieving the economic
situation in that country Conditions
have grown so acute that there is Keen
Observation-Disclosures the Italian peo-
lie over the conduct of the war and
the burdens thrust upon them owing
TO the conflict The German submarine
campaign may be discounted to large
measure in allied capitals, but the fact
nevertheless remains that the greater
part of the vessels which heretofore
have been operating in Mediterranean
ports have fallen victim to the dread
torpedOes of German and Austrian
underseas craft. England has been I'M
able to render the full need of as
sistance promised to Italy when that
nation entered the war on the side of
the allies, and particularly so since the
Inauguration OF the Saloniki expedi-
ton, owing L the necessity of using
large tonnage for the sole purpose of
transporting troops With the seizure
OF the vast amount of German tonnage
IN Portuguese ports and its consequent
transference to British registry Eng
land will now be able to relieve Italy's
dire need materially. Thus il may be
seen that Portugal has in reality
rendered England great assistance and
has stepped into the breach when her
services really were needed.
s. There has been much speculation as to
just what Portugal may be able to do
from military
Possible Strength of standpoint, The
Portuguese Army. c esui@r q, 81 m oo y
men. with $4,000 reserves Portugal is
credited with a total available military
strength of $4,000. A force of 10000
well trained 6ffectives. it may be said,
would be the height of her power on
md The Portuguese naval strength is
OF negligible character There are several
courses open TO Portugal. the following
OF any one of which would render
invaluable assistance to the allies She
might send a large force TO the Suez canal
10 assist the British at that point might
dispatch a great force of reserves to the
western battle line of France. or. on the
Other hand, place a large force of eff
fectives at the disposal of the French and
British at SaIoniki.
At the first glance il would seem tina,
the open declaration OF war by Germany
against Portugal will react decidedly in
the allies favor. for the Germans, only
by eventual victory in the European war
or by defeat of the British fleet, thereby
freeing her mighty armada for general
coastal operations. will be able TO iniure
the Portuguese, owing to their compare
1--we isolation from the main battle arenas
On the other hand. the Portuguese are
now able to assist the allies in numerous
ways. already having rendered yeoman
service.
L tt.N..