Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-03-05
Mlistellaneuus &sading.
WHAT WAR WITH SPAIN WOULD COST.
New York Herald.

WHAT WAN With Or AIN WUUuD OVol'
New York Herald.
1t would cost the United States
5000, 100000 to 60 10 war with Spain,
and $500, 100000 to main the war six
months.
1t would cost Spain thousand mil
lion pesetas-a peseta equals about ~
cents-to go to war with the United
States, and fifteen hundred million Pc
setas to maintain the war six months.
These are conservative estimates
made after talking to those in a posi-
ton to best judge the cost of con-
flict between the two countries. AT
best the estimates of the cost of a war
must be in the most general terms as
all depends upon the scale of prepara-
ton, the aggressiveness of the con-
tending parties, and particular theatre
of the war-whetber on land or wa
ter. And yet the essential require
ments in waging war are readily de-
termined by those familiar with mill
tary science, and with this goes the
experience of our last war, which cost
the stupendous sum of three thousand
million dollars.
There are veterans in the public
service here, such as General Hawley,
chairman of the senate committee on
military affairs; Senator Morrill,, who
framed the Morrill, tariff, which gave
the sinews of war in 1861, as well AS
many army and navy bureau chiefs
skilled in the detailed cost of ordi-
nance, equipment, transportation,
quartermasters' supplies, and the COM
missariat, who know the cost of war
in all its forms. They are naturally
loath to discuss all hypothesis OF
coming war, and yet it was from men
of the character that the basis of these
estimates was drawn. With view to
getting also the cost from the Spanish
standpoint eminent Spanish authori-
ties were consulted.
"War is the coslliest thing in the
world" said General Hawley, vete-
ran both of the field and of public
life, when asked what it cost us to 60
to war with Spain. "But that is about
the only certain element in it. 1t is
cost so enormous as to be almost be-
you'd comprehension. But when 1t
comes to enumerating the items OF
cost, or stating in advance what a
given conflict will cost, that cannot be
done with any degree of accuracy.
In the first place it depends upon how
many men are TO be called into service,
and then the kind of service they will
have to perform. With that much
known, the thing to do is to consult
the heads of the several bureaus of the
war and navy departments. There is
fixed cost of rations, another cost OF
equipment, another of clothing, etc.
By learning all these separate items OF
cost some adequate idea might be
formed of the cost of going to war,
but until I knew the number of men
to be brought into service and the
scope of preparation, would hesitate
in making even rough estimate OF
cost. 1t is like asking how long is a
piece of string. 1t depends. All that
I can say is that the cost of war is
enormous the greatest one item OF
cost known"
General Hawley mentioned the ex-
perience which the last war gave IN
the measure of the cost of war, and
many other military authorities base
their ideas on the practical experience
which that conflict afforded to our own
people. 1t was a lesson not only in
the assembling of men and supplies,
but in the best methods to be followed
in raising great sums of money for
emergencies.
OUR EXPERIENCE IN 1861.
When President Lincoln called on
congress for 100000 men, he also asked
for $4OO, 100000. This is at the rate
of 81 900 for every man called into
service. His message to congress
stated also that the sum asked was
"less than one-twenty-third part OF
the money value owned by men who
seemed ready to devote their whole. "
This gives another percentage-one-
twenty -third-as basis of calculating
what amount of the wealth of coun-