ARMAMENTS,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 8

ARMAMENTS,

BRAZIL DENIES MILITARISM. In discussing the subject of armaments In South America, some of the organs of the American Press have commented on the alleged “militarism” of Brazil, writes Senor Helio Lobo in “Current History.” Not every one has Brazil’s geographical situation clearly in mind. Brazil possesses approximately half the area and population of the South American continent. Her territory extends from S.lOdeg north latitude to 33.4Cdeg south latitude, and the length of her coasts along the Atlantic is greater than the distance between New York and Liverpool. Her inland frontier touches every republic of South America, save Chile, as well as the three colonial possessions hold by Franco, Great Britain, and Holland under the name of the Guianas. Such is the territorial extent of this immense country that one of her smallest States is about the size of Belgium, while the largest of them is three times as large as France. Though Brazil covers so large a part of the southern continent, she has never been able to meet the most elementary requirements for her defence. Eighteen of her 23 States are littoral, and in the event of foreign attack or internal revolution defence would be difficult owing to their iso lation. There are few railways or highways, and almost the only means of communication has been by coastwise navigation, which requires no less than 10 to 15', day from south to north. If the territory of Brazil were superimposed on that of the United States there would slid be room for a State larger than Texas. Nevertheless, the railway system of Brazil is barely equal to that of this American State. Furthermore, it is concentrated in the southern part. As compared with the 250,000 miles of railway in the United States, we have in Brazil but. 18,000. Tins shows that the fundamental problem of Brazil, especially in respect of military affairs, is the extension of her railways. Until this is accomplished (and not less than half a century will be necessary for the task) she will have to give attention to her land and naval forces, and especially to the latter, which will constitute the mobile defence of the littoral.