Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-30
Costof War

1t may be Of interest, at this moment, tO
state the cost Of the war in the Crimea, in or.
DER 10 snow that our own expenditure is by no
means as great as some persons represent.
Inc war was virtually commenced on July 3,
1898, by the late Cars sending an army across
the Pruth, to occupy the Principalties of Wal.
lachia and Moldavia. But it was not until
February, 1854. that the Allied Powers actual.
ly commenced hostilities-these Powers being
France and England Though Prussia main,
tanned an armed neutrality, Austria, DECLINING
to take an active part in the strife, materially
injured the Russians, by occupying Wallachis
and Moldavia, which threw the war ont OF
turkey and into the Black Sea and the Crmea,
Sardinia did not join the alliance against Rus
sia, until January, 1855, and Victor Emmanuel's g
taking that decided stroke was Cavour's mas
ter'stroke, which elevated Sardinia in the scale
OF nations, and paved the way for the establish
ment OF the present Kingdom of Italy. The
war was ended in December, 1656-having oc
cupied about two years
Before mentioning the cost, it is necessary to
oraW attention to one important fact The
nve foWers engaged in the war entered into il
win large armies, considerable naval force,
ana all the instruments and munitions of war.
Moreover, their force, military and naval, was
notimprovised, as ours had to be. to an immense
extent Their soldiers and sailors were we'll
disciplined, and thoroughly masters of the art
of war, from no small practice. more esneciallv
the British. in India and the French in Aleiers.
On our side, this present national contest found
US unprepared. Our naval force was scattered
all over the world, and, even il collected, was
far inferior to the exigency of the occasion,
and our regular military force consisted of only
few thousand disciplined men. Moreover
the European combatants were not only in.
structed and seasoned men, but there was nc
outlay on account of the war for clothing, fire.
arms, horses, and all the other munitions oil
war But In this country we have had to create
vast army OF four hundred thousand men, and
not only to drill and discipline, but to clothe, "a
arm, and, when necessary, to mount them. All
this, when the Russian War commenced. the
European powers who fought had already cared
tor, as part OF their usual provision and expend.
iture. We have had to expend money 10 OBJ.
tain what is part of the general system in ali
European countries. The whole force engaged
in the Crimea-by Russia, France, ENGLAND
and Sardinia-does not numerically equal one
halt OF the force now under arms on the Union
side in the United States
| Austria, though not taking an'actiye part In
the war with Russia, expended $4,000, 900. =
france ulsDurse1, during the two years of the
contest, $2O0. .OOO, 900. Sardinia, including ths
loans from England, France and the Bank 81
Turin, paid at least 500, 100000 The sum O.
$oO,OOo ,OOO was granted by the British ParliA
ment Tor the war expenses, but the amount
spent was at least 5000 1000, ,00O The differ.
6 en6 states OF Germany borrowed some $40,
Uoo,VVo 70 increase their military force. Rus
sia cannot have expended less than $4OO 900 .OO(
on the war. She lost her army and feet
and was terribly reduced in her finances by the
war. H lE
Here, then, is a total OF 81 900 600, 900 for
the cost of the Russian War of 1886
This, be u noted, was expended simply in car
Tytng on the icar. II each belligerent had been
compelled to create vast army as we have done
TO olothe, arm, mount, and discipline them
the cost would have been at least thrice what
it was.