Evening star., 1917-06-03

their power is negligible, and their
present condition is not an enviable
one. The chief problem of the goven-
ment will be to protect them rather
than to guard against them.
In commercial way. the German
hold on Brazil was a strong one. Ger
mans dominated the foreign trade. and
although their goods were not OF the
best, they gave the Brazilians SO many
facilities in matters of commerce and
studied local conditions 50 closely that
they were popular commercially.
Needless to say. the. present situa-
ton has done away with this state OF
affairs. and Germany's policy of ruth
lessness has lost her great trade as
set. The United States is the logical
successor to Germany's position in the
foreign trade of Brazil
Brazil's Power.
Whatever the financial and political
impediments that stand in the way OF
declaration of war. there are lengths
to which no nation with a due regard
for its honor can be driven. and the
South American republics. in spite Of
their weakness as world powers. have
always been particularly jealous of
considerations such as these. The world
is beginning to estimate the fighting
strength of Brazil
BraziTs geographical position is such
that she dominates the south Atlantic,
strategically. By preventing the estab-
lishment of submarine bases, by keep
ing a watch for raiders by searching
out and destroying secret wireless sta
tions. by preventing all shipments Of
contraband. she can do much for the
allied cause. By seizing the German
merchant fleet interned in her ports.
she can make valuable addition to the
allied TONNAGE Toward the patrol of
south Atlantic waters she can con-
tribute a navy of f1fty-two vessels. the
majority of them suitable for patrol
t1~. a1xy InVV, 10
stroyers OF capital ships she has five.
two of them modern dreadnaughts.
armed with twelve-fnch guns. One
superdreadnaught of the most modern
type of 2S,O0O tons burden, with four
teen twelve-inch guns. is still under
construction. Besides these vessels.
she has three submarines. and va
riety of older cruisers, gunboats, tor
pedo boats. and the necessary tenders.
The Brazilian army has an active
peace strength of 10000 men. In 1903
Brazil adopted the system of conscrip-
tion. All citizens are liable for serv-
ice. Men from twenty-one to thirty
form the first line. from thirty to
thirty-seven the second line and from
thirty-seven to forty-four the National
Guard The total strength of the re-
| serves is about $4,000 men A feature
of the Brazilian system are the numer-
GUS rifle clubs. of which there are over
| 200 in the republic. These are some-
what more intensive in method than
/ our rifle clubs; they form sort OF
light infantry. Arms. ammunition,
uniforms and Instructors are furnished
by the government. and the clubs are
organized into regiments.
Brazil's Armed Forces.
| The Brazilian army is armed with the
Mauser rifle of the 1908 model. All the
artillery. field and coast, was made by
Krupp The field artillery is the same
cal.ber as the famous French seventy
| lfiyes though not so modern in type.
dating back to the models of 1908. The
| cavalry carries lances and Mauser car
bines.
Both army and navy in Brazil have
seen service in the revolutions that
were not infrequent a few years ago.
and observers who saw them in action
are agreed that they fight exceeding
well. In the revolt of the navy in
1894. sailors made a landing in force
in the face of spirited resistance by
the army and were driven back finally
to their ships. The hottest kind OF
fighting took place in the open. and
both sides showed extreme bravery
and a high degree of military skill. IL
is said that popular sentiment In Bra
zil would support the sending of an ex.
peditionary force to Europe, and that
| such a force would be composed OF
! lrst-class fighting men.
| The present situat5on can hardly fail
| to be favorable to { closer understand
ing and commercial, union between
| Brazil and the Uni:,sd States. Such a
union is logical and Necessary. and Will
! he to the advantage of both parties.
German trade will never recover from
| the blows that the torpedoess are deal-
| ing it. The submarines are consoHoat.
| ing pan-Amer.ca-