Evening star., 1941-12-04

already have passed their compul-
sorry military training and are
available for call ct short notice.
The Brazilian Navy long has con-
sidered Belem as one of it's most i'm
portant bases. Recently plans were
completed for the construction of
one of the nations most modern and
efficient naval bases here. The new
base is being built at the present
marine arsenal, three miles below
here, and will include complete re-
pair shops and drydocks for deep
draught vessels.
The government Air Ministry Is
rushing plans for the construction
of a well organized and complete
military air base here. Pan Ameri-
| can AirWays is completing its new
Belem airplane and seaplane base,
one of the finest in South America,
boasting all necessary facilities and
| easily convertible to a military air
base if necessity demands.
Include Paved Runways.
New Panair facilities in Belem
include subterranean gas deposits,
paved runways capable of handling
the largest planes, powerful radio
equipment and repair shops. The
runWays give access to any possible
wind directions, and by their length
provide for takeof1s Of heavily load
ed planes.
| Belem is the terminus for the
stratoliners of Panair which fly from
Miami, crossing the Caribbean. 1t
| is one of Brazil's most important
air transport centers, for it serves
as switching point for all south
bound traffic.
From here diverge the two prin-
| cipal Atlantic Coast lines, one of
| which cuts straight across country
heading for Rio De Janeiro by way
of famed Barreiras Field, perched
atop an inaccessible plateau. The
other follows the long Brazilian
coastline, with seaplanes which stop
at all the key port cities.
Importance of the Panair estab-
liShments here may be judged from
the number Of employees maintained
| They now total more than 200.
Belem boasts a modern port, with
| two miles of stone wharves with deep
water alongside, and ample ware
| housing and transport facilities
Large coal and fuel oil deposits are
| maintained, so that ships can be
fueled as fast as so tons an hour.
100000 Persons in State.
The State of Para, of which Belem
| is the capital. has a population of
/ 1900 900. thinly scattered over its
( 525 900 square miles Belem. rapidly
undermining city of 300, 900 persons
claims 40 per cent Of its population
has a speaking knowledge of Eng
/ lish.
Situated less than 100 miles south
/ of the Equator, the city presents a
completely deserted aspect from II
m. to about pm. because of the
extreme heat the year around.
! The vast State of AmaZonas. which
| finds the only outlet for its products
by way Of the Amazon River
through Belem, has only about 400,-
900 inhabitants in its 100000 square
| miles.
Manaos, a city of 10000, capital Of
the State of Amazonas, is on a
branch of the Amazon.
This unusual inland harbor has,
in addition to dock space. area for
anchorage Of more than so large
vessels in depths Of 100 feet or more
in a lagoon free from river cur
rent In addition to water con-
nection with the outside world
| Manaos is visited weekly by a Pan
air do Brasil plane from Belem.
Defense Includes River Forts.
ManaoS is the center Of Amazon
Valley production, as yet virtually
untouched. Once the worlds rub
Der center, the Amazon Valley again
/ is being developed and may soon
rank as the chief Western Hemi-
/ sphere supplier. 1t is the only West
ern Hemisphere source of crude
rubber.