The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-07
THE COST OF WAR.
Some Facts and Figures OF Peculiar In
terest just Now.

hit COS Ut WAX.
Some Facts and Figures of Peculiar In
terest just Now.
From the New York Herald.
AS to SPANS first cost in going to
war with the United States, it must be
borne in mind that Spain is now prac-
tically on a war footing, and has been
since the Cuban struggle became ser-
Gus. The war footing of Spain is 1892
men, and this footing has been reached,
II not exceeded, in Cuba alone. The
forces there have fiuctuated. but the
official figures a year ago gave 121, l36
men in Cuba. Adding the reserve force
in Spain and those in the Philippines
and Puerto Rico, the total Is fully up
to the war footing of Spain. The same
is true of SPANS navy. which is and
has been on war footing. This, then.
would give her the advantage of having
her organization of war in actual oper-
alton. whereas the United States would
be precipitated from a state of peace
into one of war. Doubtless war foot
ing of Spain capable of dealing with
Cuba would have to be very materially
enlarged in dealing with the United
States, but at least 1t would serve as a
nucleus-it would save that extraordi-
nary cost of first start Up to this
time, however. Spain has known no
need of a war footing beyond that
above given, which, in detail, is as fol-
lows:
Infantry. .1o2, 900 Engineers. ;. 11,O27
Cavalry. =. 7,156 Staff. ....... H. 40
Artillery. :. 1876 HospitI corps 4S3
Total. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1892
Spain's First Cost.
While this is the war footing of
Spain, yet provision has been made by
which, in an extraordinary emergency.
f0S3,575 men could be put in the field.
act ,1nt- in r.V
but II, 900 population, is phenomenal
in the annals of warfare. 1t is not con-
jectural, however, but is based on care
full estimates made by Spain as to her
utmost resources in case of need. 1t
contemplates the establishment of mil
itary depots in every Spanish district,
and making it the center of a regi
mental organization of recruits and re-
serves.
With these forces to draw from,
SPANS first cost would be in arming
and equipping those in addition to the
force now in Cuba and the Philippines
and disposing them in the army and
navy. What this cost would be has
been roughly estimated by competent
authorities at the outset at 1000. 600, 900
pesetas. The basis for the estimate is
the cost of the Cuban conflict to the
present time. The war budget for 1896
1896 was 140, 100000 peSetaS regular and
100000 pesetas extraordinary. This
has been mounting up ever since, until
the cost of the war up to this time is
estimated at $3.50, 900, 000 or $S5, 000, 900 a
year With the increases requisite for
a conflict with the United States, the
cost would be more than double that Of
holding Cuba, and, by a most conserv-
ative estimate, the total of 1000. 000, 600
pesetas, or 5000, 100000, was made by
one well fitted for an intelligent view
of the subject.
Expenses for Six Months.
Many interesting details are devel-
oped in the course of the estimate for
maintaining the war for six months.
For instance, the item of new guns for
the United States troops would be
large element of cost during the first
stages of the war. At present the
Krag Jorgensen gun is being put into
use as fast as it can be manufactured.
But there are not more than $4,000 of
these guns available. There are some
100000 old Springfield rifles, but in
war with Spain-her men handling one
of the most deadly of modern arms
the United States would hardly expect
to place Springfields in the hands of it's
soldiers. The new rifle costs from SIT
to 500, and to arm 200, 900 men the cost
of this one item of rifles would be
81, 100000.
The estimate included a ration allow
ance of 10 cents day. which, for 300
900 men, for six months. would be an
other "a, 900 900. Another detail in reach
ing the total estimate for six months
was the cost of uniforms. two suits at
IS each being allowed. This, for 100000
men, would be about $3,500000. In the
item of ammunition, the estimate con-
templated 200 rounds for each man in
six months. Five dollars would about
cover the cost of 500 rounds, which, for
200 600 men, would be about $1,000, 900.
With the modern use of machine
guns, every company of infantry
would doubtless have a gun of this
character. They cost about 81, 600 each
making another item of about $1,000
900. These details of equipment are al
most infinite, and with force of 100000,
the cost in every instance runs into the
millions. Aside from the first cost,
there is the additional cost of trans
porting vast supplies of food and cloth
ing, after it is once purchased.
Where to Got More Ships.
The same scale of elaborate expense
runs through all branches of naval
equipment limited, however. by the
fact that a navy cannot be expanded in
weeks or months as an army can be
formed. Although war between the
United States and Spain would be eS-
sentially marine struggle, both of the
parties would have much difficulty at
the outset in increasing the number of
their ships From the moment war was
declared every port in the world would
be closed against us in any effort to
buy ships. While free to buy of the
Armstrong; or any other foreign firms
at the present, these markets would be
closed to us the moment hostilities be-
gan.
Not only would foreign governments,
occupying the position of neutrals, be
unable to aid us with ships, but it
would be impossible for us to buy of
private parties without making the
| foreign governments responsible, ac-
cording to the rigid ruling of the Ala
| bama Inward. The same restrictions
would be placed upon Spain. and only
| by forming alliances could the navies
| of either country be materially aug
mented at the outset. This. of neces-
/ sity, would keep down the element of
| naNal cost for. being unable TO buy