The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-15
STARTLING COST OF WAR.
War with Spain VIII BE Most Costly
of Modern Times.
Philadelnhia Times


Few outside of military, naval and other
official circles, have any just conception
of the appalling cost of modern warfare, es-
pecially when large naval operations are in
volved. Our civil war cost the Nation about
four millions per day during the last year
of the conflict, but we had million men
in the army and navy, or nearly ten times
as many as will be employed in the present
war with Spain, and our money was depre-
ciated an average of 40 per cent.
The cost of a firSt-cass modern war YES
sci is 100000 in round numbers but the
cost of equipping and using such a vessel
IN warfare surpasses all general calcula-
tons. single twelve-inch gun costs about
$4,000 when placed on the ship ready for
action. The maximum capacity of this i'm
mense war engine is eighty shots; the min
lmum 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
10 eighty rounds are fired from it, after
winch 1t is valuable only as old steel The
cost in wear and tear in firing these guns
may be safely estimated at $1,000 for every
In addition to the cost of 81, 900 for every
round fired from these guns in wear and
tear, the powder and steel pointed missile
eminent 81 200 every time the gun is fired.
1t is safe estimate to say that every time
about $500. -
Our. war vessels and cruisers are each
supplied with ,torpedoes and pneumatic
against an enemy They are effective 1a'e at
about 800 yards, and the torpedo with which
the air gun is charged is one of the most
oellcate and complicated machines of mod
ern times. 1t is constructed with a reyoly-
ing attachment at the rear. not only to
guide 1t on its deadly mission through the
water, but to accelerate it's movement, and
1T is exploded by conclusion. One of these
torpedoes striking the biggest ship in any
navy would entirely destroy the vessel
These torpedoes cost 81, 500 each.
The cost of ammunition for our land
forces has also been increased probably ten
fold. one pound of lead costing only a few
cents: would make sixteen cartridges for
the rifle used in our civil war. To-day the
carriages used by our infantry cost little
II any less than 10 cents each. With a
modern gun these little missiles carry three
miles. and at a range of a mile they will
go clear through three men. and probably
by boring clean holes through bones of fhe
human anatomy. They are much lighter
than the old cartridge. 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
rlfieman in action now would be about 81
As the war with Spain is likely to be
chiefly naval war, it is we'll worth con-
s1dering 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 4-per-cents
sell at about rs; Spanish 4-per cents sell
at about SO, or one-third less than their
face.
Thus while it will cost our government
A,O0OOO to construct and equip a battleship
and $3.50 for every round fired from one
of our large guns, and $500 for every tor
pedo we hurl against the enemy, the cost
to Spain is just three times the amount
of the cost of the same to the United States
Vessels and munitions of war can be OBJ
tained only on the gold basis, and every
round fired from the Spanish twelve-inch
gun must cost that government not less
than $780, and every torpedo sent on It's
mission of death from a Spanish boat must
cost like sum. Spain is now ENJOYING the
luxury OF cheap money that is demanded
by many demagoguea in our own country.
and she pays for the luxury in trebling the
cost of every shot she fires against her foe.
most costly war of any one. However brief
it may be. our comprehensive preparations
lions, and If ii shall continue for a year, its
aggregate cost will probably not be less
than 81 ,oOO 100000 and may be more. In short,
modern warfare is the most costly savagery
in the history of the world