Evening star., 1940-08-18
Bv. Richard L. Stokes.


tary manpower of 1900 900, the National
Guard has membership of barely 5000
Judging from standard books of ref
erence, the equipment of Latin Amer
icas land forces is highly antiquated
1t appears that the chief infantry weap-
ons are American Remingtons of the
Spanish War epoch, ancient German
Mausers and a French rife. almost ex-
tinct, called the Gras. The cavalry
arms are lances and obsolete carbines
The principal field artillery weapon is
the 1895 Krupp quick-firer, with a
sprinkling of French 75-millimeter can
| non.
Eleven of the 20 republics possess mil
tary or naval air forces, to a total of
1,l84 planes, of all types and eras. The
largest force is that of Argentina, with
470 ships. of which 300 are rated as
second-line. In order come Brazil, with
2l4 ships; Chile and Mexico, 100 each;
Colombia, 90; Peru. 80: Uruguay, As:
Venezuela, 80; Bolivia, 20: Honduras, 10,
and Cuba. 16. Only small proportion
COllolSJS Ol SOIIlUdG u dll 1OSI dlc OU.
servation, training and transport ships.
Latin Americas aggregate navy is
comprised of five battleships. dating
from 1910, 1914 and 1915; II cruisers, of
which three are modern; Al destroyers
and 20 submarines. The most powerful
is Chile's Almirante Latorre formerly
the Canada of the British feet, which
was completed in 1915 and refitted in
1929-3l. 1t has a main armament OF
10 l4-inch guns, tonnage Of $4,000,
speed of 22.75 knots and belt armor 10
inches thick. But Argentina has the
strongest fleet, with two battleships,
three cruisers, 16 destroyers, of which
seven were completed in 1888, and three
submarines, completed in 1882 and 1888.
Brazil also has two battleships, with
two light cruisers. 13 destroyers built
five obsolete) and three building, and
completed in 1887.
Ships Built in United States.
Argentina's battleshipS, Rividavia and
Moreno, were built in the United States
and were completed respectively in De-
cember, 1914, and March, 1915. They
were refitted in 1924-25. Each has a
tonnage of 27,720, speed of 22.5 knots,
main armament of twelve 12-inch guns
and belt armor of 1l8 inches. Under
a proposed naval program of 10 years,
which began in 1926 and has not been
completed. with an appropriation of
nearly $75 900 900, Argentina built three
cruisers, IL destroyers and three sub
marines. Five destroyers are under con-
struction.
Brazils battleships, Minas Geraes and
Sac Paulo, were built in England, COM
pleted in 1910 and reconstructed and
modernized within the last six years.
Each has a tonnage of 19,200, speed Of
81 knots, main batteries of twelve IL
inch guns and belt armor of 96 inches.
In 1896 Brazil adopted naval program
calling for the construction Of two
cruisers, nine destroyers, eight subma-
rineS, six minelayers and three oil tank
ers. Since 1887 have been completed
three submarines, eight minelayers, three
oilers and five river gunboatS.
Chiles three cruisers date from 1894,
1898 and 1902. OF it's eight destroyers,
two were completed in 1914 and six IN
1929 Six of its nine submarines were
completed in 1915 and three in 1929. Its
most modern craft are two oilers and one
submarine depot ship, completed in 1880.
The construction of two new cruisers was
approved in 1889. Peru boasts two cruis-
ers of 1906, two destroyers and four sub
marines. Cubas two light cruisers were
rehabilitated in 1897 Colombia pos
sesses two modern destroyers 1932-33)
two seagoing gunboats, three coastguard
vessels and four river gunboats.
Potential Fifth Column.
According to well-informed sources,
Latin America has a potential fifth COL
umn of about 100000 Throughout the
region there are said to be 100000 resi-
dents born in Germany and 1850, 900 Of
German descent; 1000 900 born in Italy
and 5,250,000 of Italian descent; 325, 900
Japanese, mostly adults arriving since
the World War: and 350,000 Spaniards Of
both factions, who immigrated during
and after the Civil War.
Italians by birth or blood, to the num-
ber of about 100000, comprise more
than one-fourth of Argentina's popula-
ton. Brazil harbors 100000 Italians,
about 1000 900 Germans and about 270,-
900 japanese. Argentina and Chile con-
tain about 225,OO0 Germans each. OF
these groups the Germans are most
feared. Wherever numerous, they are
highly organized in so-called recreation,
cultural and commercial clubs. Their
semi-military associations have been
smashed, or at least driven under ground,