Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-06-24
SPOILS OF WAR.
DEMANDS UPON CONQUERED NATIONS
IN RECENT YEARS.
x-ATrACHE RECALLS FACTS FOR
UNCLE SANS CONsIDER ATOM.

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Enormous Indemnity Paid by France TO
Victorious Germany-Wh the United
States May Expect of Vanquished
Spain While II lis a Poor Nation,
Its People at Large Are
Rich.
New York, June Hidden away in
the most secret recesses of that omInOus-
looking building at Berlin which is
known rs the headquarters of the staff
department of the German army there
are elaborate reports drawn mp, con-
corning not only the military and naval
resources of each one of the civitized
countries of the world, but likewise ON
che subject of their financial resources,
with a special view of the rating of me
amount of the indemnity which they
should be called upon 10 pay ID the
event of an unsuc, essful war OF their
part with Germany. The United States,
Great Britain, Russia and Spain all are
carefully discussed with regard to this
matter and not only are the reasons set
forth at length, but even the financial
capabilities of each important city and
town are set down to serve as a guide
in the case of war reduisItions being
made upon them by victorious German
commander
1t would be Of great advantage were
the United States authorities accorded
glimpse Of one of these reports, which
concern Spain, Tor considerable diff
ference of opinion appears to prevail IN
this country rs to the amount of in
deninity in money and in land that
should be exacted by America from the
unfortunate Hidalgos. a brief sketch
of the war indemnites that have been
exacted by the victors of international
conflicts in recent times may, therefore,
not only prove of timely interest at the
present junctnre. but can likewise serve
as some sort of an indication as to the
manner in which these pecuuiary dam
ages from the defeated powers are rated,
all the more as the eXactlOn of war in
IDENTITIES may be regarded as practice
of relatively modern origin, the victors
IN former times having contented them
selves with the Surrender of territory
oa the part of the defeated foe.
BILLION-DOLLAR INDEMNITY.
Perhaps the most onerops terms ever
imposed by conqueror upon his de-
feate foe were those to which Germany
subjected France in 1871. at the close
of the historic conflict that eliminated
in the capitulaton of Paris. They con-
sisted in the cession of the maiorportion
of Alsace and Lorraine, including the
great fortresses OF Strassburg and Metz,
and the payment of war indemnity
10 the colossal sum of
81 900, 900, 10000. The entire civilized
world was startled by the magnitude of
this amount and very widespread doubts
were expressed as TO whether poor
France, apparently crushed beyond,
recovery, would ever be able TO pay it.
But these approximations proved to be
and the billion of dollars
was paid with such rapidity and with
so little apparent effort that Prince
Bismarck and the German authorities,
past and present, have never ceased to
lament that they did not stand out for
double the sum.
This indemnity is worthy OF special
notice, for the reason that it greatly
exceeded the actual expense to which
Germany was put by the war, and was,
therefore, punitive, or "moral and
damage" indemnity, to
some extent, such as President Kruger
demanded from England for the Jane
son raid. In the war of 1901 the
time was twenty-eight weeks from the
entrance of German troops into French
territory 10 the surrender of Belfort.
The German troops engaged may be
taken for practical purposes as an even