Fair play., 1882-09-23
Who Will Foot the Bills J

Ill all ilit LII n III
Egypt. so far nothing has been said in
regard to the payment Of the bills that
must accrue from the disciplining of
Arab and his rebel army. The credits
iema nded by Gladstone above the ordi-
nary budget Of the year, which is S425.-
1000, do not exceed Sl5. 900, 900. As the
British army and naval forces already in
Egypt, on the way thither or in prepara-
ton for departure exceed 10000. the
sum Of Slj,O00.O.D appears to be but j
small part of the sum total that will DE
required. even for one campaign, should
the Egyptians make good fight. The
average yearly cost of the whole British
army in time of peace for the past ten
wears NAV be stated at $50. 900. 900; of
the navy, S:Ij. .O0D. 900: making grand
total of Sl35,O00.O00 year. But IN
army in motion and IN army at rest are
different things in reckoning the eX
pense. In the American Revolutionary
war England never at any time had
more than 2j,OOO men In this country:
Vet the expense Of that war for the
seven years of its continuance amount
ell to S8lO.00n.O00, or an aver
age of SS7.l00.0o0 year. Our
war with Mexico. lasting two years, cost
us round 800. 0.O00.00o. We did not
average more than 2.5.0p0 men in Mexico
on every line of advance. The cost PEI
man was $1,000 year. The cost pei
man to the British Government in the
seven years American war was still
more, owing TO the large fleets Of trans
ports and armed cruisers England had to
maintain. The Egyptian war will he.
in all respects, an expensive one. The
naval force must be kept up at the maxi
mum. and all supplies and munitions
will have to be transported from En-
gland, Malta. India and Gibraltar. An
extra expense Of $3.50 per man for one
wear is the lowest estimate that can be
made of the cost of this war with safety.
1t will sum up SsD.0oo.oo0. 1t will cost
rs much per month rs the Crimean war.
and probably more, for England's con-
tingent in that war was not rs much as
10000 men. When the Crimran war
began the debt of England was $3.50
OOO, 900 in round numbers. When the
war bills had all been audited the debt
was, placing it in round numbers.
$4,000, ,O00,OO0. But this by no means
represents the whole cost Of the war, for
the yearly budget was increased more
than D,000.0O0. The Crimean war
did not cost England less than $3.50, ,0o0.-
0Oo. II Arabi fights his way stub
bornly nack from the Nile delta 10 Cara
and makes 4 resOlute stand there. the
Egyptian war will cost n least half aS
much. even if the campaign is success
fully finished by next spring.
So far there is no sign that any other
Power will take 4 hand in the contest
but Turkey; and it will cost England As
much to watch the Turkish army and
keep it from fratcrnizing with the enemy
rs to fight Arabi. II. then, England is
compelled to supply the army and navy
1T her own cost. the Powers represented
in the Conference refusing to share the
expenses. il is certain that England will
seek indemnity in some shape or other.
This is what the London Times insinu-
ates when it SAYS England> resolve is
| not to retire from the country until she
has ..ma,le sure that the difficulty shall
not again recur : adding that, ''wllen
it becomes necessary To seek the sane
ton of other Powers for this result. the
concert Of Europe will he invoked in a
sense very different from that with
which we have lately been familiar y
That is. England. having borne all the
expenses Of the war. will hold rs much
ground in Egypt As will repay her. and
if the Powers protest, they will be told
that they must either share the costs of
the war and the additional cost of forti-
iications TO secure the future safety oi
the canal. or hold their peace.
1t is at this point of the business that
| the most serious difficulties will be en-
countcred. threatening a general E.u-
ropran war. France and Russia will
protest against sharing the expenses of !:
war which they say England has forced
| for exclusive advantage. I" herself. But
Is long rs the British party is backed ~
bv Germany and Austria, French am
Russian growls will be harmless. The
one thing OF the future that may be
counted ON with unSwcrving confidence
is that Englani. being master of
Egypt by means of her military and ma,
| val power. and at her sole expense. vii
not surrender her position without eN
acting territorial indemnity. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.