The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-18


======-=====
prisoners taken or each side the loss ana
damage suffered by the trade. commeree
and agriculture of the victorious country.
the extent of territory gained by or coded
to the victor, and the degree of culpability
on the part of the defeated power If the
aggressor. in bringing about the war.
Among the war indemnites exacted by
| Great Britain during the present reign are
| three resulting from our wars with China.
or these the most important was that de-
manded at the close of the opium war oe
/ 1904. 1t amounted to 1850, 900 In addi-
ton to fl25O,O0O on account of the opium
/ destroyed by the Chinese. Besides this
payment we also secured Hongkong, and
| obtained the opening OF the ports of Cam
| ton. Ning-Po, Annoy, Foo-Chow- Foo, and
| Shanghai to British trade, and the estab-
lishment of consuls In these ports The
wars Of l857-60 ended in China paying the
| expenses and conssnting to the reciprocal
| representation of the two countries by
ministers In London and Pekin. The
treaty of Tien-Tsin fixed the amount OF
the indemnity at 100000 taels, (l1, 200, 0O0,)
and provided that further sum of 100000
| taels 045,OO0) should be paid as compensa-
| ton TO the families of those murdered dur
| ing the disturbances and others who had
suffered injury or loss. Although not
strictly a war indemnity, that paid by this
the Alabama is of considerable interest az
| eXemplifying the extent to which claims
for compensation may be built up and
cut down. AS originally put forward,
| the American claims practically comprised
| every Item In the expense of the war from
the day on which the Alabama put to sea.
| The prolongation of the war was attribut-
ed entirely to her, and she was therefore
made responsible for this, as well as for
the loss suffered by American commerce
| through it's transference TO foreign vessels
and the increased rates of maritime in
surance. The Geneva Tribunal. however.
at once decided that such indirect results
of the Alabama's depredations could not
be seriously considered for moment, and
unanimously awarded an indemnity of
f3,175,0OO as an equivalent for the injury
actually done to America through the
fault or negligence of this country.
The war between China and Japan-the
most recent extra European war in which
a considerable money indemnity was paid
was terminated by the peace of Shimon-
oseki two years ago. by the treaty China
| agreed to pay japan a sum equivalent to
$4,000 900. In addition, she ceded the island
! of Formosa to her conquerors, recognized
| Korea as independent, and consented to
open four new treaty ports. The war be-
| tween Prussia and Austria In 1866 was one
In which a considerable amount of life was
| lost having regard TO its comparatively
short duration. At Sadowa the Prussian
loss was set down at 1850 killed and IA
500 wounded, while the Austrian CASUAL
ties we're estimated at 11,OOO killed and
1890 wounded. In addition to the terri
torial aggrandizement Of Prussia, and tho
exclusion OF Austria from the German
Bund, the treaty Of Prague, which ter
minated the war, provided for the pay
ment by Austria OF an indemnity of 49,
900 600 Prussian thalers, or 100000. From
this amount, however, deduction was
made of 100000 thalers, representing
Austrian claims on Schleswig- H lstein
and 100000 thalers as an equivalent for
the free maintenance Of the Prussian army
in Austria pending the conclusion OF
peace.
The heaviest war indemnity of modern
times was. OF course. that paid by France
at the close of the war with Germany. The
hostUities lasted over eight months. and
the total cost OF the war has been estlmat-
ed at 3l6 millions sterling and $4,000 men.
The German loss was set down at 5000
men, who were either killed In battle or
died OF wounds or sickness. Besides the
cession of Alsace and Lorraine. France
had to pay Germany milliards of francs
GOO millions sterling) In installments
which we're allowed TO extend over three
| years.
The original demand OF Germany was
| six miiards, or 100000 sterling more.
Theirs strove IN vain TO save Metz but Il
was to his exertions that the reduction IN
the amount OF the indemnity was due.
/ The cost OF the Russo Turkish war OF 1877
has been estimated at 100000 sterling
and $4,000 men on both sides. Between
the declaration OF war by Russia and the
treaty OF San Stefano, nearly II months
elapsed. BY this treaty the porte admit
ted itself indebted TO Russia I'm tho sum
Of t,ii0,O00O00 rubies about l45.000.000 ster-
ling as indemnity for the losses and ex-
penses Of the war. The items In the ac-
count we're as follows: Nine hundred mill
lion rubies (92.00OO0O sterlng) for war ex-
penses; 4OO.O0O0OO aiO0O,O0O sterling for
damage done to the south coast OF Rus
sia. her export commerce. industries ana
railways; 100000 Oi.0OO.O00 sterling) for
injuries caused by the invasion OF tho
Caucasus and 100000 100000 sterling)
for injuries suffered BY Russian subjects
and establishments In Turkey. In accord
ance with the sultans wishes. however,
and In consideration of the financial em-
barrassments OF the Ottoman empire. the
car magnanimously and wisely consented
20 accept IN substitution for about TOUR
nfths Of the total sum the various terri
toriai cessions sanctioned by the treaty
OF Berlin. This left balance Of 30Q000.-
900 ruhles due 20 Russia by Turkey, ana
with the exception OF some 100000 rublea
the indemnity Is owing still, the amount
IN October. 1889, being nearly Sloo,ooo
sterling. "