PATRIOTIC CROWDS CHANT "GIVE US GUNS"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 199, 24 August 1942, Page 4

PATRIOTIC CROWDS CHANT "GIVE US GUNS"

BRAZIL AT WAR

Outcome Of Recent Axis Attacks On Ships

t' P.A sind British Wireless -io. Washington, Aug. 23. .11 Brazilian Ambassador has ofßiha y h£ Sta,e De Partment nat his country is at war with Germany and Italy. The Brazilian Embassy later ? statement that Brazil had rf w r War on the Axis in defence thJ?V fllg ? l , ty anrl sovereignty after the torpedoing of five coastal pasK e «r.n P S With Ule loss of more trkin boo lives.

Embassy statement added hhA. 8 nkmg of these in wiazii waters was undoubtedly an act of direct aggression against B.azil by which the war had extended to South America. A message from Rio de Janeiro to tnc Associated Press says that sweeping searchlights over the harbour, shrieking police cars rounding up Axis nationals and patriotic crowds chanting "(Jive us guns." "Death to i.ermany," bore witness to Brazil's entry Into the war. while hundreds of Axis nationals tried all night to escape to Uruguay. The Uruguayan Government, however, which granted Brazil non-belligerent treatment and hinted that "further steps will probably bo taken," ordered the authorities to detain Axis refugees and to extradite them to Brazil.

Military officials are concentrating on ..stiffening the defences of Brazil's Atlantic bulge, which is only 1700 miles from Africa and therefore the continent's most vulnerable point. Thev will also pay close attention to Vichy-ruled French Guinea, which thwarts the Brazil-American communication line.

The British Ambassador in Rio de Janeiro has been instructed to convey to the Brazilian Governmerit the deep satisfaction of the British Government with the decision of the Brazilian Government to declare war on Germany and Italy. A United Press correspondent reports that there are strong indications that Uruguay will immediately follow Brazil into war. The Uruguay Foreign Minister, Senor Alberto Buant, has issued a statement in Montevideo that Uruguay was "absolutely accompanying Brazil."

Attitude to Japan

The Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Carlos Martins, states that Brazil's declaration of war does not include Japan, "because we have suffered no aggression by Japan."

The New York Times says the Brazilian Army consists of 100,000 trained troops, and In addition reserves of about 300,000 from a population of 44,000,000. The United States shipped to Brazil undisclosed quantities of lend-lease materials recently, but the Brazilian Army probably does not conform either in size or equipment to European standards.

The Brazilian 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 of 3675 indicates that it is at present incapable of waging an offensive war. However, the United States has sent naval and air missions to Brazil and strenuous efforts have been made to bring the services up-to-date. Following the Brazilian declaration of war against the Axis, a mesBagfe from Rio ,de Janeiro says that mobilisation will be the next step. The Brazilian fleet has already put to sea.