Smyrna times., 1898-05-04
THE STARTLING COST OF WAR.

modern warfare, especially when large
naval operations are involved. Our
Civil war cost the nation about four
millions per day during the last year
of the conflict, but we had a million
men in the army and navy, or nearly
ten times as many as will be employed
in the war with Spain, and our money
was deprecated an average of 40 per
cent.
The cost of frst-class modern war
vessels is "a, 900, 900 in round numbers,
but the cost of equipping and using
such a vessel in warfare surpas-
ses all general calculations. A
single twelve-inch gun costs about
$50, 900 when placed on the ship ready
for action. The maximum capacity of
this immense war engine is eighty
shots; the minimum thirty. 1t is not
safe to count on these guns firing more
than fifty rounds. The intense heat
and strain are likely to make the gun
useless any time after thirty to eighty
rounds are fred from it, after which it
is valuable only as old steel. The cost
in wear and tear in firing these guns
may be safely estimated at 81, 900 or
every discharge.
In addition to the cost of $1,000 for
every round fired from these guns in
wear and tear, the powder and steel
pointed missile with which the gun is
loaded, costs the government 81, 200
every time the gun is fred. 1t is safe
estimate to say that every time twelve
inch gun is fred in war, the cost is
about So, 500.
Our war vessels and cruisers are
each supplied with torpedoes and pneu-
matte tubes from which to discharge
them against an enemy. They are eff
tective at about 800 yards, and the tor
pedo with the air gun is charged is one
of the most delicate and complicated
machines of modern times. It is con-
structed with a revolving attachment
at the rear, not only to guide it on its
deadly mission through the water, but
to accelerate its movement, and it is
exploded by concussion. One of these
torpedoes striking the biggest ship in
the navy, would entirely destroy the
vessel. These torpedoes cost So, 500
EACH
The cost of ammunition for our land
forces has also been increased proba-
bly, tenfold. One pound of lead cost
ing few cents, would make sixteen
cartridges for the rifle used in our
Civil war To-day the cartridges used
by our infantry costs little if anything
less than ten cents each. With mod
ern gun these little missiles carry
three miles, and at range of a mile
they will go clear through three men,
and probably more if they are not OBJ
structed by boring clean holes through
bones of the human anatomy. They
are much lighter than the old car
fridge, and the soldier will carry one
hundred rounds with the same ease
that the soldier of our Civil war carried
forty. The cost of cartridges for an
efficient rifeman in action now would
be about 81 per minute.
AS the war with Spain is likely to be
chiefly a naval war, it is well worth
considering how much the war will
cost Spain. The figures we have given
as the cost of constructing and using
vessels in war, are on the gold basis.
American four per cents sell at 118
Spanish four per cents sell at about
thirty three, or one-third less than
their face.
Thus while it will cost our govern
ment $4, OOO,OOO to construct and equiv
a battleship, and ST. for every
round fred from one of our large guns,
and $4,000 for every torpedo we hur
against the enemy, the coat to Spain ii
just three times the amount of the cost
of the same to the United States.
Vessels and munitions of war can be
obtained only on the gold basis, an(
every round fired from the Spanish
twelve-inch gun must cost that govern
ment not less than 81, and every
torpedo sent on its mission of death
from Spanish boat must cost lik'
sum. Spain is now enjoying the lux
ury of cheap money that is demanded
by many demagogues in our own coun
try, and she pays for the luxury il
trebling the cost of every shot she fire
agaist her foe.
The present war with Spain will b,
the most costly of any time. Howeve
brief it may be, our comprehensive prep
arati ons for it will count up in tn
hundreds of millions, aud if it shal
continue for year, its aggregate cos
will probably not be less than 81, 300,
900, 900 and maybe more. In short
modern warfare is the most savager,
in the world. philadelphia Times.