Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-07-15
Oar StrenCth IN War.

Nl-+'H INSTITUTES Il comparison 81 the
lighting strength oi the United States
AND ,thrr nations, Illustrated hy dia-
"ft..-. "'"rh g,Nr aur\cr' dinghy clear
d tine matter Presented, and it j.
r,IuIrhablr how iaynrally tins method
90; lrc-cniiu- statistical data shows
til, superiority 81 our great nation
great in :" many essential qualities
that TIM aggregate seems pvcrwhclm-
INK and the results that might follow
beyond question.
The first OF these diagrams illus
tr..tr> tine comparative size OF the ma
t."ia. quotas OF nine per cent. OF pop
uiati)n, ii called into service. Russia
l,Id- with 100000. The United
states follows with 100000 Ger
many has 100000; England $780,
600; Austria, 100000; France g.
10000 and Spain 100000. When
considered with regard to equipment
IN proportion to natural resources, the
figures stand: United States, 20,500,-
600; Russia, 100000; England, 49,
100000; Germany, l 1 100000; France.
100000; Austria, 100000; Spain,
$4,000. Another diagram changes
these figures still more iavorably
wherein relative equipment and eff
cheney are taken into consideration,
the figures standing: United States,
3j,OOO,0OO; England, 100000; Ger
many, l6,l00,O00; Russia, 100000 !;
France, l3,SO0,OOO; Austria, 8, $50, 600,
and Spain 100000. By relative
equipment is meant clothing, food,
shelter, requirements, and arma.
ment of both land and naval forces.
The main resources that are directly
subsidiary to establishing a war foot
ing are then given. Agricultural pro-
auctions afford the following COMPARE
son, in millions of dollars of value
United States, $3.50; Russia, 2,Sl5;
France, 1900; Germany. 2,l2O; Aus
tria, 1855; England, 1885, and Spain
500.
Meat production stands in pounds,
per capita, as follows: United States,
l52; France, 81; Spain, 60; England,
50; Germany, 81; Austria, "a, and
Russia Al. The value of livestock
(cattle, horses, sheep and swine), per
capita, is placed at: United States,
$40; Russia, $31.5; France $2S; Spain,
$27; Germany $27; England, $24 and
Austria SIS. Grain production, in
pounds, per capita, is given at: 1920
for the United States; 1,2OO for Rus
STA; LOO for Spain; 800 for France :;
$50 for Austria; 700 for Germany and
36O for England.
The raw cotton product of the world
in millions of pounds is given at:
United States, 1920; India, 1888;
Egypt, 290; South America, IS, and
the remainder of the world, 100.
The production of pig iron, in tons,
of the United States in 1870 is given
at 1000, 600, and in England at 6,OOO,-
600. The proportions had changed,
however, during the period from 1891
to 1897, to 100000 tons for the Unit
ed States to 100000 for England.
The area of the coal fields shows a
similar preponderance for our country.
The United States is accredited with
1874, 900 square miles; Russia, $1,000;
England 5000, and France, Germany
and Spain, $500. The value of iron
and steel manufactures aggregate for
the United States, $166, 100000; Eng
,and, 1874, 100000; Germany SIS, 3OO,-
600: France, 100000; Austria,
$l3,8OO,OO0; Russia, $l2,4OO,OOO, and
Spain, $3,700,0OO.
The percentage of public debt of
these nations, in proportion to their
wealth, is given at IL for the United
States; 6.S for Germany; IT, Eng
land; 1913, Spain; 14.7, France; 14.8,
Russia, and Is for Austria.
Popular intelligence and volume of
business transacted may in some de-
gree be inferred from the volume of
newspaper circulation and extent of
postoffice business. Our country's
monthly issue of newspapers is $780,
100000; England's 150,O0O,OOO, and
this proportion is graduated down
through the list to 100000 for
Spain. The United States pass
through the mails twice as many let
tiers and parcels annually as Great
Britain, thrice the number of France,
four times the number of Austria and
% times the number of Russia.
The article then endeavors to show,
by this kindergarten method, the rela-
tive strength of the United States and
Great Britain combined against the
five continental nations as allies. This
shows that, with other conditions the
same, the relative strength would be
about equal, but with the natural ad-
vantages possessed by the former in o
defensive conflict, the preponderance
would be largely in their favor. The
nation that crosses the ocean to fight
loses much of her effectiveness.
1t may be that some of the figures
given are not based upon official data,
but there is no question that they are
sufficiently accurate to arouse a very
comfortable feeling of probable re-
suits among thinking people, should
the pessimistic theory gain ground
L.. u