The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-05
BRAZIL FACES
 PRODL EM IN BIC
 AXIS COLONIES
BY LAWRENCE s. HAAS Y,.atnya xa...... ' .Aev. A...n~aaa.. rrag3n,

WX LAWRENCE 5. HAAS
 United Press Latin American Editor
 New oYrk, Sept. s. (UPl -Brazil's entry into the war against Germany and Italy on the side of the democ- racies has brought into the conflict one of the worlds largest countries, with c source of great potential man power that may be tapped from It's estimated population of 45,OO0,oOO.
 The war declaration followed logically after German submarines had torpedoed and sunk six Brazil- ian coastwise vessels, with loss of about 600 lives. Between February and August 13 other ships, ocean, going steamers, totalling 60,00O tons, had been sunk by submarine action.
 The declaration was the final step in Brazils consistent policy, which was highlighted at Rio de Janeiro last January, when Presi- dent Getulio Vargas government took the lead in furnishing close cooperation with the United States by securing adoption of resolutions for severance of relations with the Axis at the conference of American foreign ministers, and by taking other action against the Axis both politically and economically.
 Brazils alignment with the United Nations caused little surprise. Ob- servers are generally agreed that Germany deliberately provoked Brazil into declaring war, perhaps with the hope of causing 8 further important diversion of United States naval and air forces to South Amer lea for the purpose of aiding in the defense of the 600O-mile Brazilian coastline.
 Army and Navy Small
 The anger that the Brazilian people have shown against the Axis and the evidences of fighting spirit, demonstrated by her naval and air forces in the anti-submarine cam paign on her coasts, have shown the nations determination to carry througuh to bitter-end fight.
 However, Brazil is scarcely pre- pared for large-scale modern war fare. Her standing army now num- bers 100000 men, with about 3OO,-- 900 organized reserves; her naval establishment consists of two out dated capital ships, cruisers, less than Q dozen destroyers built or building, and a few submarines. Her air force, although efficient, IS small, and the military equipment furnished by the United States under lend-lease arrangement, has still to reach appreciable volume.
 One of the most serious problems Brazil faces as @ belligerent IS M- ternal and border policing. AXIS colonies, with hundreds ot thou sands of Germans, mostly in the south, an even greater, though less menacing. Italian colony, and im- nnense Japanese settlements are cer- tain to divert much of Brazils mili- tary establishment to the task oI watchful guard duty against. active fifth column inspired subversive up- risings.
 months, has been rounding up lead- ere of German and other AXIS esnionare. sabotage and fifth col- umn groups, and interning them umn groups, and interning them In a concentration camp on an island and in Rio de Janeiros Guanabara Bay, but even With tile known leaders out of the way the menace still prevails.
 Thouands of Nazis have con" eerted areas of the southern State Inf Rio Crane do Sul into trans ulanaed bits of Germany.
 But l,SOO Miles to Dakar
 Immediately after the war decla- ration, many German fled Brazilian territory. crossing the border into the northeastern Argentine territory If Misiones, where there are large German centers, and where, many Argentines have charged,a hotbed or Nazi intrigue exists.
 Argentine gendarmerie Cmlltary oolice) were immediately strength ened in the territory to prevent continuance of such illegal entry.
 Brazil. on the north, borders French Guiana, which officials or Dutch Guiana have recently held forth as a live peril to the United Nations, perhaps as base for Ger man submarine and air operations should the military situation at any time permit an attack to be launched from such West Coast African points as Vichy y-controiieo Dakar.
 The potential Dakar danger IS two-way proposition, however, ana military observers have pointed out that BraziIs northern bulge, lying less than i,7O0 miles across the South Atlantic from Dakar, could be used as a hopping-off place for limited Nations operations against