Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-19
PORTUGAL
By DR.. Frank Crane

BV Dr. FRANK N~IduC
Amid the struggle of the giants in the blood
and dust and smoke of war, we are forgetting our
little friend Portugal. Here is nation that also
has entered the war and done her bit gallanty, all
in the cause of civilization. She had not much
money to give but she gave all she had-the lives
of her young men.
The Portuguese troops have been in the very
forefront of the battle and have suffered desperate
w. They have come streaming back home now.
many of them ruined by the horrible German gases
others with tuberculosis from the harsh climate
others manned and wounded, and they have left
many of their dead upon the battlefield.
The Portuguese nation has had hard time OF
it, All together some seventy-fve German ships
that had been interened in the habors of Portugal
and her colonies have been seized since the begin
ming of the war Eighty per cent of the German
ships seized by Portugal were turned over to the
allies AS a result the people of Portugal are COM
PEELED to pay enormous freight rates and are liz
great straits to get food and supplies
Some of these ships, says Mr.. Jose Bensaude
Jr. a prominent Portuguese merchant of New
York have been leased to private companies at
very low rates, and Portuguese people and govern
ment are compelled to pay freightage as high as
two and three hundred dollars ton in these very
vessels Prices in Portugal have risen appallingly
Cotton purchased in the United States for 50
cents a pound costs 70 cents in Portugal.
The sardine and tunnyfsh industries are of
vital importance TO Portugal. Tin plate, which is
essential to this business, has been prohibited for
export to Portugal so that thousands of families
will be in want.
Barrel slaves pay such small freight rates that
the steamship companies are unwilling to carry
them, so that the wine growers are severely en-
barrassed in taking of their goods
Portugal has generously allowed America to
use the Azores laval base, and we are now
fortifying these islands. The little country seems
to have made every heroic gesture of sef-sacriice.
Private letters FROM Portugal indicate that the
care of the stricken soldiers there is oJCrwhelm-
ing. One lady writes that she is goamother to
seventy five blinded and wounded men, and finds
that their demands far beyond her ability to
supply them.
A DR. sect is now foot to raise money for the
wounded and crippled P 7rtuguese. This ought to
appeal not only to the general public, but especial
ly to those people in the United States of Portu-
guese extraction, and otherwise in sympathy with
this nation. They will surely be glad to contribute
to this fund, and means are to be devised to give
them an opportunity. Among the names of the
gentlemen mentioned in connection with this
terprise are the Portuguese ambassador, the
sul-general OF Portugal to the United States. DIR.
Pereira Mendes, rabbi of the oldest Portuguese
congregation in America; Mr.. Jose Bensaude, Jr,
and others.
Portuga! has nobly done her in paying
he price Of civilization, and should be oven
looked by appreciative gene costly
q Copyright, 1918, by Frank Crane)