The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-05-03
PARsONsW0MM EETIBRNL RESOURCES
CAN PUT FORMIDABLE ARMY AND
NAVY IN WAR.

4
Washington, ID. c., April 30-Th'
j possibility that Brazil may follow thu
i example of the United States and sew
er diplomatic relations with Germany
as indicated in recent cable dispatches
from South America, gives timely in
Iterest TO the following war geography
bulletin issued by the National Geo
graphic Society:
SHOULD Brazil, like the United
States, be forced into war with Ger
many her peace-times nucleus of an
army (25 900 mem will be supplement
ed by a well-organized and thoroughly
trained police force of 10000 mer
equipped for military service The
strength of the South American repub
lies reserve army is in excess of hall
million men; while the total avail
able unorganized strength of the ma
ton is 100000 from population
slightly less than one-fourth as large
as that of the United States.
For nine years Brazil has had q
universal military service law, every
Brazilian between the ages of 81 and
As being affected. The terms of ser
vice under this law requires two years
in the ranks, follow I'd by seven years
in the army reserve, seven years in
the territorial army and eight years
in the national guard. Reservists are
called up for four weeks training an
nually and are given rifle practice
once NINTH The territorial army's
training varies from two to four weeks
year.
THE total available unorganized
military strength of Brazil exceeds by
half a million men the total organized
military strength of Italy at the time
the latter country entered the world
war. The war strength of the country
it twice as great as that of Portugal,
five times greater than that of Greece,
of Serbia and of Bulgaria. Is reserves
and regular army constitute fight
ing force half as large as the total war
strength of all the other countries OF
South America combined
"Of the South American republics
only the three A b & powers have
nayies of appreciate strength. The
personnel. officers and men, of Brazil
is equal to the combined strength OF
Chile and Argentina. The pride of
the Brazilian navy are her two mod
ern dreadnaughts of $4,000 tons dis
placement and with an armament Of
twelve 12inch guns each. Contracts
were under consideration for the build
ing of superintendent with 10
inch guns at the time the European
war began and the naval construction
yeards of all the belligerent powers
found their hands full supplying the
needs of their own governments, Two
old battleships, laid dow in 1898, and
two protected cruisers, of $500 tons
displacement each, comprise the re-
mainder of BraziPs major fighting
ships, supplemented by five torpedo
gunboats, ten Yarrow destroyers, four
lirst-ciass torpedo boats, four destroy
ers, a mine ship, and three submarines.
The country has three naval arsen-
als-at Rio de JaneirO. Para and La
dario de Matte Crosse, the last named
river arsenal.
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 $780,
100000.
If Brazil should be drawn into the
war vortex it would mark the entry
into the lists against autocracy of the
third largest republic in the world,
for in extent of territory the South
American nation is exceeded only by
Russit 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 severed diplomatic rela
tons with the imperial German gov.
eminent.
In studying the trend of events in
Brazil ii is interesting to note that
one of the most significant movements
during 1916 was the organization OF
the League in Favor of the Allies
formed by many of the leading men
of the nation to express sympathy
with France and her Allies. At the
close of the year there was agitation
for the taking over of all the Ger
man shipping in Brazilian ports"