New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-24
Actual Declaration Of Hos
tilities Said To Be Only
a Matter of Hours
To Follow u. S. Lead
President Braz Urges and Con-
gress May Accept Early Rev
ocation of Neutrality

Washington, May 23.-The press OF
Brazil is insistent not only upon dec
laration of war against Germany put
that 100000 troops be sent to france
according to advices received mere NO
doubt is entertained that the Brazil
ian Congress will revoke the decree OF
neutrality as between the United States
and Germany. which step has been rec
commended by President Braz. Brazil 5
actual declaration Of war, 1t IS sara
here. is a matter of hours.
Brazil was quick to follow the ex-
annie of the United States in seyering
relations with Germany, and early 'ooA
the precaution to intern the forty-sN
German merchant vessels in Brazilian
waters
Brazil would be a valuable asset to
the cause of the Entente nations, ana
bv Joining the United States would at
the same time perform the most nota-
BILE act in the history of the Pan-Amer-
lean movement, furthering the solldar-
itv of this hemisphere. A war decla-
ration by Brazil would be counted upon
to induce practically all the Latln-Amer-
lean countries which have not already
done so to sever relations with Ger
many. and might be the cause of more
associating themselves in the war with
The Strength OF Brazil
The following statement Of facts OF
interest concerning Brazil, prepared
after it became probable that Brazil
would enter the war. was written by a
high Brazilian consular officer:
1.-The Republic of Brazil has popu-
lation of about 25,OOO,OOO, composed
mainly Of Immigrants from all parts
Of the world, but mostly from Portu-
gal and Italy.
"Her army on peace footing consists
of $4,000 regulars and 10000 first re-
serves. The police also are semi-mlll-
tary in character. A law passed IN l'V'
decreed that all citizens from twenty
one 70 forty-four years of age would be
liable to serve. the term being two
wears on active service and seven IN the
first reserve. -,
"Brazil is divided into thirteen mill
tary districts, and every municipality
has its national guard Most cities nave
their riiie clubs, with uniform ana
M ilitary training.
"Her navy is manned by SOME $4,000
men and boasts of some of the most
up-to-date vessels of the super-dread-
nought tyne. The largest of these
was the Rio de Janeiro, which has oeen
sold to another government since the
war started. She carries crew OF
LOO officers and men and cost about
st5.0 900. Her displacement is 1900
tons. and the main armament was four
teen Pinch guns, all Of them being so
placed that they could fire in one broad
side. An order for two other battle
ships of the super dreadnought class,
even larger than the Rio de Janeiro,
was placed in England, and they were
being completed at the outset of the
European war. These, however, have
been requis.ioned for service by the
British authorities. The San Paulo and
the Minas Geraes, of 81 900 tons each,
are the two other battleships in the
navy.
More Merchant Ships
"The mercantile marine has of late
wears increased 10 a total of about
200 900 tons, which, now reinforced by
the interned German ships. will bring
the aggregate available to 500,000 tons.
"The shipping movements in Brazil
ian ports for the year 1912 were 6,272
foreign ships and 1861 domestic YES
sells with displacement of 26,505, SSf
tons.
"The total area Of Brazil is 5,39i,Sif
square miles, which makes her the
fourth largest country in the world,
and larger than China or the United
States without Alaska.
1.-THE encouragement of immigration
attracted "A large number of Germans
into the country, and in 1859 Germany
passed law prohibiting its subjects
from emigrating to Brazil
at is estimated that about 10000
Germans and Austrisns reached Brazil
between 1920 and 1906, and over $4,000
from 1907 TO 1914. The Teutonic
colonies are exclusively in Southern
Brazil. in Santa Catharina and Rio
Grande do Sui, these states having an
entire population Of l,753000. Some
towns there are entirely German the
Mayor. councillors, police, National
Guards. otc.-eyen the colored ser
wants being obliged 10 learn German.
German investments in Brazil amount
n