The sun., 1918-12-07
~PoRTUGAL,S SACRIFICES.
Gave Up Her Sons and Her Wealth
for Duty's Sake.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SCN-Sir: 1t
Is my privilege to express my slncerest
thanks for the reply printed in THE
SUN to the dlsparaging remarks concern
ing the Portuguese army which were
made by Mr.. Kent and which caused
such a feeling Of indignation among
the Portuguese living in America
Not always does the calumny leave
its traces, contrary to what Dom Bro
ziho says in The Barber OF Seville"
and this applies to the remarks in the
Baltimore Sun, which are now in the
past. With the opinion Of Marshal
Haig, who from near saw the brave
behavior of the Portuguese soldier on
the battlefield, and the opinion of Mr..
Kent, who vas only a far away spec
tator, 1t is reasonable to suppose that
simply the opinion Of the former will
live.
Portugal entered the war actuated
by an impulse which is unknown to
those who do not and cannot understand
wha Is dislnterestedness, loyalty and
the duty TO be performed merely for ito
sake. Between Portugal and Great
Britain there has existed an alliance,
stipulated in many treaties never re-
scinded. the first of which dates as
far back as 1853. 1t was the respect
to these treaties that led my country to
enter the war, spontaneously and en-
Enthusiastically. We could have prolonged
our neutrality, but did not. In Novem-
Der, 1914. we had already taken part
in the conflict now approaching the very
end.
While we were making the necessary
preparations we placed at the disposal
OF the Allies h greatest and best part
OF our supply of rifles and artillery, at
a moment when their scarcity was acute.
We also placed at the disposal of the
Allies all German ships, over sixty, in
termed In Portuguese ports. some after
ward being used for the transportation
OF American troops to France.
The troops we first could get ready
were sent to reinforce the garrisons In
Africa, where in cooperation with the
English and Beers we routed the enemy.
* large body of the best Portuguese
working men went to the allied coun-
tries to help in munition factories. and
his left the factories ut home extremely
handicapped, and while the German
ships we seized were carrying troops,
our colonial products, ready for trans
portation In docks and warehouses, were
left there TO perish. this causing an
increase OF the stringency of the imam
cial conditions In Portugal the effects
OF which will be felt for a long time.
Although the new form OF Govern
ment-the Portuguese Republic was es-
tablished in 19l0-required an accurate
process of stabilization. the more so In
view of the conditions created by the
war, the preparation OF our army went
on without any interruption, and we
eventually we're able to send to the
battle front in France a number OF troops
who, though not reaching into the mill
ions. were sue a percentage or the
population and meant such a financial
burden on the country as to be a fac
tor to take in consideration when the
general summing up OF the war is made,
l will not fail to mention also the
work done by the Portuguese Red Cross.
supported almost entirely by home con-
tri%butlons, work which found a vast
field in France, Africa and in Portugal.
l do not uppos Mr.. Kent is so ad-
verse 10 admitting the facts that being
apprised of the above he will not feel
inclined to think that his remarks were
inconsiderate and that it would have
been more advisable to respect the sor-
rows of a country for having lost most
OF her bravest sons, her only comfort
being that they gave their lives for her
everlasting glory.
ALFREDO DE MESQUITE,
Consul General of Portugal.
NEW York, December 6.