THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1916. THE DECISION OF PORTUGAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16310, 17 August 1916, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 1916. THE DECISION OF PORTUGAL.

The recent decision of Portugal t( take an active part in the war maj appear at first sight to be a matte: of no great importance, yet wher considered it will be found to havt a definite influence on the cours< of events. The Portuguese arm} ordinarily consists of 279,000 troop: and 144 guns, while upon '<. ten per cent. basis of hei population the little republic car increase her forces to 600. troops. Here is a factor which maj have considerable effect in lighten ing the burden of the Allies. Whili the army of Portugal remainec inactive it seemed to be a breach o the principle of economy of forc< to bring troops across the seas fron Canada, New Zealand, and Aus tralia to fight in Europe ; but nov that the Portuguese are called oi to play their part that anomaly i 1 abolished, and the determination o the Allies to prosecute the war witl increased vigour is made manifest More important still is the exampli which Portugal's action affords t< the smaller neutrals who hold back reluctant to throw in their lot wit] the cause which stands for freedon and the- existence of small nations of these Holland, Greece and Rou mania possess together forces whicl total one million troopsThe alliance of Portugal witl Britain has existed for centuries In accordance with that alliance, a the time of Napoleon's occupatioi of the Iberian Peninsula, Britaii went to the rescue of Portugal, am freed that country and Spain fron the dominion of the conqueror. Ii the Peninsular War the Portuguese troops fought side by side with th< British under Wellington, and con tributed materially not only to th< liberation of their own country, bu also to the redemption of Spain. I is true that the Portuguese armie were usually led by British officers the chief of whom was Marsha Beresford, but it is equally true tha their discipline and bravery wer< such as to make them worthy allie of the British troops who gaine< undying fame under the Iron Duke At Busaco the little artillery whicl was used by the allies was nearl; all Portuguese and, we are assure* by the historian of that victory, " i was exceedingly well served." Ii his despatches relating to tha battle, Wellington says :—" Tbi movement has brought the Portu guese levies into action with th< ; enemy for the first time in an advan tageous situation; and they hav proved that the trouble which ha been taken with them has not beei thrown away, and that they an worthy of contending in the sami ranks with British troops in thi interesting cause, which they affon the best hope of- saving." A Albuera several brigades of Portu guese troops contributed materiall; to the attainment of victory. I was so also at Barrosa, Salamanca Vittoria, Orthez, where the Portu guese under De Costa displayed ex ceptional bravery, Toulouse, anc many another battle. If the Portu guese in the present war sustaii the reputation which they woi under Wellington, they will be o distinct service to the cause of tin Allies. It is impossible to surmise and perhaps, improper to inquire, hov the troops of Portugal will now b< employed. Since Spain is a neutra country it is evident that they wil have to be conveyed by sea to thi seat of war, and the nearest poin to which they can be conveniently transported would appear to b< Bordeaux. They may thus b< sent to assist France in her titanii struggle. There is, however nothing to prevent Portuguese troops from landing in Italy or a Salonika. In any case, to place Portugal's service at .he lowes estimate, a-quarter of a million o her troops may be regarded as a' the disposal of the Allied military command for use either in the fielc or on important lines of communi

cation. It is of the greatest significance that at the present time, when at Vienna, Leipsic, Constanti- i nople and other important centres. of our "enemies, there are loud demands for the termination of the war, the Powers of the Great Alliance augment their strength by reason of the active participation j of a state such as Portugal- That ! country's action proves conclusively I the difference between the outlook I of the Central Powers and that of : ! the Great Alliance—the one full of foreboding and evil portent, the other bright with the expectation ;of ultimate victory. Probably the [ troops of Portugal will be again called upon to fight side by side with their British allies of a century ago. : That would be a fitting consummation to an ancient alliance which . i has endured, through war and peace, i through revolutions and reactions, ' i amid all the change and tumult of ; ; national and international affairs, 1' since Portugal asserted her indepen- ■ ■ dence of Spanish influence and was .' finally recognised as a free Euro--3 j pean state. This alliance of cenj turies is visible proof that the marij time strength of Britain has never | been exerted to crush the weaker , 1 states or to plunder them of rich i colonial possessions. I ____________ !