Point taken; but what could have been done in the available time to ease the situation of the displaced civilians, while not placing the military security in danger?
I don`t know the answer to that. It was plain that W did not believe himself to be strong enough to offer battle in the open, with viable chances of success.
I should add, that I tried ti find figures for Portuguese civilian casualties of this period, but without success.
I would dearly like verification of that statement.