The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-09-21
WHOLE NUMBER SO3.
Who WIN Foot the BilIsf

In all the talk about responsibilities in
Egypt, so far nothing has been said in
regard to the payment of the bills that
must accrue from the disciplinipg OF
Arab and his rebel army. The credits
demanded by Gladstone above tho ordi-
nary budget of the year, which is S425,-
600, 900, do not exceed S15, 900, 900. AS the
British army and naval forces already in
Egypt, on the way thither or ill prepara-
ton for departure exceed 10000, the
sum of $15,000,000 appears to be but .
small part of the sum total that will be
required, even for one campaign, should
the Egyptians make a good fight. The
average yearly cost of the whole British
army in time of peace for the past ten
years NAV be stated at $50, 900, 900; of
the navy, $55, 900, 900; making grand
total of $135, 100000 year. But an
army in motion and an army at rest are
different things in reckoning the ex-
pense. In the American Revolutionary
war England never at any time had
more than 1000 men in this, country;
yet the expense of that war for the
seven years of its continuance amount
ed to $610,000,000, or an aver.
age of SS7, 100000 year. Our
war with Mexico, lasting two years, cost
us round 300, 100000. We did not
average more than $4,000 men in Mexico
on every line of advance. The cost per
man was $4,000 year. The cost per
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 be,
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 81, 800 per man for one
year is the lowest estimate that can be
made of the cost of this war with safety.
1t will sum up 100000. 1t will cost
as much per month as the Crimean war,
| and probably more, for England's con-
| tingent in that war was not as much as
| 10000 men. When the Crimean war
began the debt of England was $780,
100000 in round numbers. When the
war bills had all been audited the debt
was, placing it in round numbers,
S4, 100000, 900. But this by no means
represents the whole cost of the war, for
the yearly budget was increased more
than S80,OOO,O 900, The Crimean war
did not cost England less than $3.50, ,000,-
O0O If Arab fights his way stub
bornly back from the Nile delta to Cairo
and makes a resolute stand there, the
Egyptian war will cost at 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 hand in the contest
but Turkey; and it will cost England as
much to watch the Turkish army and
keep it from fraternizing with the enemy
as to fight Arab. If, then, England is
compelled to supply the army and navy
at her own cost, the Powers represented
in the Conference refusing to share the
expenses, it is certain that England will
seek indemnity in some shape or other.
This is what the London Times insinu-
l-etes-when it's says England's resolve il
not to retire from the country until she
has 'smade sure that the difficulty shall
not again recur - adding that, "when
it becomes necessary to seek the sane.
ton of other Powers for this result, the
concert of Europe will be invoked in &
sense very different from that with
which we have lately been familiar u
That is, England, having borne all the
expenses of the war, will hold as much
ground in Egypt as will repay her, and
if the Powers protest, they will be tolo
that they must either share the costs OF
the war and the additional cost of forti.
ficatiOns to secure the future safety ot
the canal, or hold their peace.
It's at this point of the business tha
the most serious difficulties will be en-
countered, threatening general Eu
ropean war. France and Russia viii
protest against sharing the expenses of :
war which they say England has forced
for exclusive advantage to herself But
as long as the British party is backed VI
by Germany and Austria, French ant
Russian growls will be harmless. The
one thing of the future that may b'
counted ON with answering confidence
is that England, being master oi
Egypt by means of her military and ma
val power. and at her sole expense, viii
not surrender her position without ex
acting territorial indemnity.-Sa'a Fran
cisco Chronicle.