Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society.

| BraziPs Army and Navy-Brazirs break with Germany gives timely in- terest to the following war geography bulletin issued by the National Geo. l graphic Society from its headquarters in Washington.
 | Should Brazil like the United States, be forced into war with Ger many her ace-time nucleus of an army (25,oOo men) will be supp'e- mented by well-organized and thor 1 oughly trained police force of 10000 men equipped for military service. 1 The strength of the South American I republics reserve army is in excess | of half a million men, while the total | available unorganized strength of the nation is 4,300,0O0 from a population l slightly jess than one 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 ] 21 and 45 being affected. The terms ! of service under this 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. Reser- | vists are called up for four weeks | practice once a month. The territor- | ial army's training varies from two to 1 four weeks a year.
 The total available unorganized
 
 half million men the total organized military strength of Italy at the time the latter country entered the world war. The war strength of the coun- try is twice as great as that of Por tugal. five times greater than that of Norway, exceeds that of Greece. of Serbia, and of Bulgaria. It reserves and regular army constitute a 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 C powers have navies of appreciable strength. The personnel officers and men, of Bra gil is equal to the combined strength of Chile and Argentina The pride of the Brazilian navy are her two mod ern readnoughts of 19,0O0 tons dis placement and with an armament of twelve 12-inch guns each. Contracts were under consideration for the building of super-dreadnought with 15-inch guns at the time the European war began and the naval construction found their hands full supplying the needs of their own governments. Two old 'battlesfips, laid down in 1898. and two protected cruisers of $500 tons displacement each, comprise the remainder of BraziPs major fighting ships, supplemented by five torpedo gunboats. ten Yarrow destroyers, four f1rst-class torpedo boats, four destroy 0I B. d AIAHe SH1p, ana three SuDfna- rines.
 The country has three naval ar senals-at Rio de Janeiro, Para and Ladario de Matto Crosse, the last named river arsenal.
 The infantry is equipped with Mauser rifles while the field and horse artillery use Krupp gun. The military budget for 1915 amounted to $36. 900 .000
 "If Brazil should be drawrf into the war vortex it would mark the entry i1'to the lists against autocracy of the third largest republic in the world for in extent of territory the South Amer Ican nation is exceeded only by Rus sia and the United States already engaged in the conflict The republic of China. which is fourth in area. (Mongolia and Tibet not includedl has already served diplomatic rela- tions with the imperial German gov errnent.
 Tn studying the trend of events in Brazil it is interesting to note that one of the most significant movements during 19f6 was the orcaniza ton of She League in Favor of the Allies. formed by many of the leading men of tHe m ton to express sympathy with Farce and her allies. At the close oN +11a vaar 4here was agitation for the taking over of all the German ship ping in Brazilian ports