Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-04-20
BRAZIL CAN PUT
BIG ARMY IN FIELD
Has Reserve Force of More
Than 100000 Men.
READY FOR QUICK ACTION

Republic Has Available ~unorganized
Military Strength of 4,3oo,ooo-After
Severing Relations With Germany
She May Decide to Enter War.
Because of the tenseness of the inter-
national situation and the report that
Brazil and other South American cOun-
tries may follow the United States into
the war, the National Geographical so
ciety of Washington has issued a state
ment about the military and naval
strength Of Brazil. The southern re-
public's reserves and regular army con-
stitute, it is said, a fighting force half
as large as the total war strength OF
all the other South American countries
combined.
SHOULD Brazil, like the United
States, be forced into wal with Ger
many, her peace times nucleus of an
army $4,000 mem, will be supplement-
ed by a well organized and thoroughly
trained police force of 10000 men
equipped for military SERVICE" reads
the statement. 1.-THE strength Of the
South American republics reserve
army is in excess of 100000 men, while
the total available unorganized strength
of the nation is 100000 from a popu-
lation slightly less than a fourth as
large as that of the United States.
."For nine years Brazil has had in
force a universal military service law,
every Brazilian between the ages OF
twenty-one and forty-iye being affect
ed. The terms of service under this
4. law require two years In the ranks,
followed by seven years in the army
reserve, seven years In the territorial
army and eight years in the national
guard.
Annual Training.
"Reservists are called up for four
weeks training annually and are given
rifle practice once a month. The terri
torial army's training varies from two
to four weeks a year.
1.-THE total available unorganized
military strength Of Brazil exceeds by
6OO, 900 men the total organized mill
tary strength of Italy at the time the
latter country entered the world war.
The war strength of the country is
twice as great as that of Portugal, five
times greater than that of Norway, ex-
ceeds that of Greece, of Servia n OF
Bulgaria. It's reserves and regular
army constitute a fighting force half
as large as the total war strength Of
all the other countries of South Ameri-
ca combined.
"Of the South American republics
only three A B g powers have navies
of appreciate strength. The personnel,
officers and men of Brazil is equal to
the combined strength of Chile and Ar
gentina. The pride of the Brazilian
navy are her two modern ~dreadnaughts
of 10000 tons displacement and with an
armament of twelve twelve-inch guns
each. Contracts were under considera-
ton for the building of a ~superdread-
naught with fifteen inch guns at the
time the European wal began, and the
naval construction yards of all the bel
ligerent powers found their hands full
supplying the needs Of their w gov
ernments.
6razi's Fighting Ships.
'Two old battleships, laid dow In
1898. and two protected cruisers or
$500 tons displacement each comprise
the remainder of Brazil's major fight
ing ships, supplemented by five tor
pedo gunboats, ten Yarrow d~estroyers,
-four first class torpedo boats, four de-
s~troyers, a mine ship and three subma-
rines.
"The country has three naval ar
senals-at Rio de Janeiro, Para and La
dario de Matte Crosse, the last named
a river arsenal.
1.-THE infantry is equipped with Maui
ser rifles, while the field and horse ar
tillery use a Krupp gun. The mill
tary budget for 1915 amounted to
$4,000, 900.
"If Brazil should be drawn into the
war it would mark the entry into the
lists against autocracy of the third
largest republic In the world, for in ex-
tent of territory the South American
nation is exceeded only by Russia and
the United States, already engaged In
the conflict. The republic of China,
which is fourth In area mongolia and
Tibet not included, has already sew
cred diplomatic relations with the i'm
perial German government
''In studying the trend Of events In
Brazil it is interesting to note that one
of the most significant movements dur
ing 1916 was the organization of the
League In Favor Of the Allies, formed
by many of the leading men Of the ma
ton to express sympathy with France
and har alias Az tho o1oea OP tho year
there was agitation for the taking over
OF all the German shipping In Brazil
ian ports"
The Nations Blind.