THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 1, 7 September 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

BRAZIL'S IMPORTANCE TO ALLIED WAR EFFORT

Brazil's declaration of Avar oil Germany and Italy brings into prominence its strategical! situation in the battle of the Atlantic. At tits eastern extremity, the country is just over 1700 miles from tlie important African naval base of Dakar, at present under the control of Vichy France. The distance to Capetown from Rio; de Janicro is 3272 miles, and from Wellington to Rio, GD2O miles. From Para to London is a distance of 1150 miles, and from Para to New York is 2904 miles. To the strategic Madeira Islands in the eastern Atlantic is a distance of 2780 miles from Para. Brazil is the .most extensive state in South America. It is bounded oil the north by the Guianas, Colombia and Venezuela; on 'the west by Peru, Bolovia, Paraguay and Argentina: on the south by Uruguay. It has an area of 3,298.870 square miles, and Avith an estimated population of 40.000.000. .Its minerals are very considerable ami valuable, comprising gold r silver, iron, diamonds, topazes and other precious stones. The immense iron deposits have been scarcely toiu-hed. Manganese is exported and there are important deposits of monozite sand. Low grade coal dep (;s, t- s arc in the south. The ehief products of the country are coli'ee, maize, sugar, - raw cotton, hides ami skins, cucca, rubber and toba.'co. The peace elfectiA'e of the army is about 89,500 all ranks. The Navy consists of two battleships, two cruisers, seven destroyers, one tender, four submarines and one submarine depot ship.