BRAZIL AT WAR .

Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 5

BRAZIL AT WAR .

URUGUAY LIKELY TO FOLLOW (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 22. The Brazilian Embassy in a statement said Brazil had declared war on Germany and Italy in defence of her dignity and sovereignty after the torpedoing of five coastal passenger ships and a 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-, Senor Albertoz Buani, in a statement issued in Montevideo, said Uruguay was “absolutely accompanying Brazil.” The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, cabled the Foreign Minister, Senator Oswaldo Aranha, as follows: “The Axis aggression against Brazil emphasizes the basic principle that an attack against any American republics is an attack on all. Today each of the 21 republics is equally in danger.” The Brazilian Ambassador, Senor Carlos Martins, said the declaration of war did not include Japan “because we have suffered no aggression by Japan.’ BRAZIL’S ARMED FORCES 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 has shipped to Brazil undisclosed quantities of Lease-Lend materials recently, but the Brazilian Army*"probably does not conform in either size or equipment to European standards. The Navy is composed of two battleships two cruisers, 11 destroyers and four submarines, all dating back before the last war. Little information is available concerning the Air Force, but - its total personnel, 3675, indicates that at present it is incapable of waging an offensive war. However, the United States 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-opera-tion with the United States armed forces. 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 announced that 169 army officers and men were lost in the Baependy, Itagiba and Araragara sinkings. Eighteen are known to have been saved.