THE BRAZILIAN NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18293, 9 January 1923, Page 7

THE BRAZILIAN NAVY.

. .->.-.,..—.— ;"', <a»— , '"■'■-. ■ ;'■'" V / OVERHAUL IN PROGRESS. AMERICA AS ADVISER.Brazil is overhauling -her.;- riayy. Ah interim credit of £1,000,000 has bejjn authorised for naval purposes, part;of which will be,devoted to : the- construction of a naval arsenal and; the establishment/ of five/ naval bases. On the fleet aide no announcement has -/yet ,-:/ been : 'made regarding any new construction, but /it appears certain > that a " considerable programme will be embarked upon eventually. The delay in this programme probably due to a desire. to afford-the United States Naval .Mission .to Brazil time' in which 'to examine ;the requuements of the Brazilian Navy. At s one:, time - the Brazilians: looked to •thelßritish Navy for guidance, and. obtained their Hvar vessels from British firm!. ? •-: Their x two ; s Dreadnoughts, the Minas ' Geraes and Sao Paulo,; together; with-' the two modem light cruisers arid all the effective destroyers 7 are British built, while the general; organisation of the navy was similar to that of the Royal Navy. , ' » . The waning of British naval prestige in Souith America- is largely due to^the withdrawal of our squadron from those waters. A south-east coast '-. of America squadron was re-established after the war. but was withdrawn about two years ago on j the ' score of • economy.; , The jeleventh- ■ hour decision to. send the battle-cruisfari*. Hood and Repulse to Rio de : Janeiro, for the opening /of the exhibition may hive done something toward:: restoring British prestige, but it was-; then - : too; late to affect the. decision arrived, at \ in regard i to Brazilian naval reorganisation. .These 'two fine ships made a great name for themselves, and impressed ; the local })eople as magnificent examples /of -the skill of British naval architects, .while their crews won the ': majority of J the sporting events'which were open to ships of the various navies present.; At a review; on shore before - the President,' it is reported that British crews received by far the greatest ovation oh accoittit: of - their .steadiness , on ; parade and fine )• physique.'- the :■; marines being" especially. I noteworthy. -v - *