BRAZIL IN THE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 24281, 24 August 1942, Page 3

BRAZIL IN THE WAR

SEQUEL TO TORPEDOIMGS

DECLARATIONS AGAINST GERMANY AND ITALY

WASHINGTON, August 22

The Brazilian Ambassador, Dr Carlos Martins, has officially notified the State Department that his country is at war with Germany and Italy. The Brazilian Embassy, in a statement, said that Brazil had declared war on Germany and Italy in defence of her dignity and sovereignty after the torpedoing of five coastal passenger ships and the loss of more than 600 lives. The Embassy added that the sinking of these vessels in Brazilian waters was undoubtedly an act of direct aggression against Brazil, by which the war was extended to South America. The United Press of America reports that there are strong indications that Uruguay will immediately follow Brazil into the war. The Foreign Minister, Dr Alberto Buani, in a statement issued in Motnevideo, said: “We are absolutely accompanying Brazil.”

The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, has cabled to the Brazilian Foreign Minister, Dr Oswald Aranha, stating* that Axis aggression against Brazil emphasised the basic principle that an attack against any' of the American republics is an attack on all. To-day each of the 21 republics, he added, was equally in danger. The Brazilian Ambassador, Dr Martins, said the declaration of war did not include Japan, because Brazil had suffered no aggression by Japan. The ‘ New York Times ’ says the Brazilian army consists of 100,000 trained troops, plus reserves totalling about 300,000, out of a population of 44,000.000. The United States shipped to Brazil undisclosed quantities of lease-lend materials recently, hut the Brazilian army probably does not conform either in size or equipment to European standards. The navy is composed of 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, 11 destroyers, and 4 submarines, all dating back before the last war. Little information is available concerning the air force, hut its total (pursonnel of 3.675 indicates that at present it is incapable of waging an offensive war. The United States, however, has naval and air missions in Brazil, and strenuous efforts have been made to bring the services up to date. It is believed the principal immediate effect of Brazil’s belligerency will be intensified co-operation witli the armed forces of the United States. Brazil is also expected to take sterner measures against her large German and Italian populations, which may constitute a serious problem. The Brazilian War Ministry has announced that 169 army officers and men were lost in the sinking of the Baepeudy, the Itagiba, and the Araragara. Eighteen were known to he saved.