Show brazil drazil 0 speeds C 1 construction of warships warships ar ships eleven new vessels launched recently RIO DE JANEIRO launching the eleventh warship within a few months brazil leads the parade oi of south american nations now rapidly arming for defense of the western hemisphere ghe h destroyer mariz imarie e baros ss was launched in the marine arsenal shipyards on isle of snakes at rio de janeiro amid wild enthuse 7 S X GETULIO VARGAS president of brazil aam of cheering brazilians Brazi lians americans and masses of spectators president getulio vargas personally officiated at the ceremonies then laid the keels of four other war vessels to be rushed to completion in brazils rearmament program to build 50 warships as rapidly as possible sister ship of the mighty destroyer marcilio dias launched last july the mariz e barros is of the class A type patterned after the U S destroyer mahan it is the most perfect in construction and striking force ever built in brazil with the trawler almirante guilhem and the eight mine layers recently built the mariz e barros is the eleventh warship to be launched by brazil in recent months all are planned to assist the U S atlantic fleet in protecting the long coastline of south america to make the western hemisphere safe for the democracies moc the new destroyer has a displacement of 1500 tons and a speed of fa knots delivered by its J 0 elower engines it is armed with rith five five inch guns four double antiaircraft anti aircraft machine guns and 12 torpedo tubes in three groups of four each the ship is larger than the other vessels recently launched by more than a hundred tons and has an extra cannon in her armament material from brazil ninety per cent of all materials used in the destroyer came originally from brazil it was built with the operation cooperation co of U S experts and technicians brazils tremendous importance is stressed in U S and pan american plans for the defense of the western hemisphere the proximity of her long coastline to enemy bases in west africa makes brazil the most vulnerable of all american nations the country has many excellent dg tors and sites for naval bases GA ri ch are being already strengthened against attack by warring europe and while the U S rushes construction of the chain of naval and oil bases to bridge the long ocean gap between the two arneri cas brazils president is extending this arm of steel down the long coastline of south america joint use of these naval bases to form a continuous all american for against attack is part of 0 the pan american defense plans U S borrowed naval and air bases in british guiana for example are very close to those of northern brazil while argentinas Argen tinas shorter coastline to the south is also being fortified with the ABC nations of south america argentina brazil and chife all re arming at high speed the security of the western hemisphere is assured expand Al merchant erchant fleet president vargas ppe peaking speaking aking at the launching of the mariz e barros made a strong plea for continental solida solidarity rity and warned brazilians Brazi lians that the moment called for preparedness in all phases of life in order to cope with what the future M might ight bring for the warring nations and for the americas we understand that the present moment is is pregnant with great apprehensions and uncertainties the security nand and sovereignty of the americas demand strict solidarity expansion of brazils merchant marine is also under way as part of the defense program while on his trip to the amazon region president vargas visited the shipyards of belem where 27 ships are under construction and repair including many new vessels old fashioned wood burning river boats long known on the amazon river are being rapidly replaced by the newer fuel burning steamers to speed up transportation of supplies trade and arms and fighting forces in case of war brazil has increased her army to men backed by a brazilian armament industry which is fast being augmented by factories and industrial plants brazils first airplane motor factory is no now W under construction and two airplane ane factories already working at high speed are rushing completion on 10 war planes ordered by president vargas for immediate deafen defense se brazils first parachute factory fa opened this year at present brazil has two battleships two flotilla leaders four submarines five fie destroyers eight mine layers two minesweepers mine milie sweepers six torpedo boats and about 20 auxiliary ships air forces include about planes to which more are being added as rapidly as possible extensive war maneuvers in brazil demonstrated the increased efficiency of all branches of her fighting forces A sham battle in the para hyba valley gave brazils armies 6 az W vf U pg s c IM IN 4 s A oaf ra 2 I 1 I 1 t As the destroyer mariz e barros is launched brazil forges a new link in its chain of floating boating steel fortresses it is rapidly constructing to defend it against aggressors the mariz e barros is one of 11 warships launched in the last few months by this south american republic navy and air fleets a chance to defend southern brazil from revolt or attack from the south where large german populations are concentrated as well as many italians recent visit of the military chieftains of brazil and other latin coun tries to the U S comprised an important step toward the unity of all american nations in defense of the western hemisphere during the tour the U S gave visiting officers a preview of the military displays and s spectacular p ecta cular war maneuvers for the primary purpose of giving them a clear picture of the tremendous program for defense now under way stress air defense at ft benning they were shown the american infantry battalions in action demonstrating also the crushing force of tank units and mechanized forces combined with fire power the air corps staged student combats to illustrate thoroughness ough ness of training pilots for actual war activities at ft knox they were shown the new armored kahle kable bombing for long distance fighting and saw the great distance strength of air bombers other excursions cur showed the visiting military staffs the methods of military training and how the U S builds up physical power and stamina ot of men importance of air defense is also stressed in brazil following the plan of pan american defense brazil is watching closely developments of an I 1 all plastic plane now under stiff experimental tests in the U S having in mind that future planes in brazil may be made at least in par part t from coffee plastics which are among the strongest and best plastics known the plants for making the coff coffee ee plastic powder will be opened very soon U S machinery is already being installed ready for rapid development of the cafe lite industry which may finally solve brazils defense needs also U S built bombers are now being delivered by mass flight to bra zil two groups of six planes each having arrived in rio recently the balance of 24 big bombing planes will be delivered as fast as completed in in california airplane factories possibility of a great U S bra dirigible line to be built by goodyear is also under discussion and it is planned to establish the line of dirigibles between miami and rio thus greatly strengthening continental tin air power at the same time the condor german sponsored air transport company will delay its installation of a transatlantic service as brazil feels them the time is not opportune for such an air service to be established making a strong plea pica for continental solidarity president vargas said recently we all feel that it if it should be necessary the american peoples as during their struggles for independence will unite their soldiers and their arms in the defense of their own sovereignty and of continental integrity released by western newspaper union |