The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-04

Philadelphia Times.
Few outside OF military, naval, and
other official circles, have any just. con-
ception Of the appalling cost Of modern
warfare, especially when large naval OPP
erations are involved. Our Civil War
cost the Nation abou, 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 a. many
a. viii be employed in the present war
with Spain. and our money was depreci-
aied an average Of forty per cent.
The cost Of a first-class modern war
vessel is $1,000 900 in round numbers. but
the cost Of equi2ping aud using such a
vessel in warfare surpasses all general
calculations. A single twelve-inch gun
costs about $4,000 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 hiring
more than fifty rounds. The intense heat
and strain are likely to make the gun use
less any time AFTER thirty to eighty rounds
are fred from it, after which it is vaIua-
Bile only rs cid steel. The cost in wear
and tear in firing these guns may be safely
estimated at 81. 600 for 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 mis-
sile with which the gun is loaded COS. the
Government s., 200 every time the gun is
fired. It is a safe estimate TO say that ev-
cry time a tweive-inch gun is fired in
war the cost is about s, 500.
Our war vessels and cruisers are each
supplied with torpedoes and pneumatic
tubes from which 10 discharge them
against an enemy. They are effective at
about eight hundred yards, and the tor
pedo with which the airgun is charged is
one of the most delicate and complicated
machines of modern times. II is con-
strncted with a revolving attachment at
the rear, not only TO guide it on its deadly
mission through the water, but to accel-
crate its movement, and it is exploded
by eoneussion. One of these torpedoes
striking the biggest ship in any navy
would entirely destroy the vessel. These
torpedoes cost 8, 800 each.
The cost of ammunition for cur land
forces has also been increased probably
tenfold. One pound Of lead costing only
a few cents, would make sixteen cart
ridges for the rifle used in our Civil War.
To- day the cartridges used by our infant
ry cost little if any less than ten cents
each. With modern gun these little
missiles carry three miles, and at a range
OF mile they will go clear through three
men, and probably more if they are not
too greatly obstructed by boring clean
holes through bones Of the human anat-
omy. 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 trried
forty. The cost of cartridges for an eff
cient riieman i'm action now would be
about 81 per minute.
As the war with Spain is likely 10 he
chiefly a naval war, it is well worth con
sidering how much the war will cost
Spain. The figures we have given as the
cost of constructing aud using vessels in
war are on a gold basis. American four
per-eents. sell at about 33 or one third
less than their face.
Thus, while it will cost our Govern
ment 100000 to construct and equip
bsttleship, and s., go for every round fired
from one of our large guns, and g, 500 for
every torpedo 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
obtained only on the gold basis, aud every
round fired from the Spanish twelve-inch
gun must cost that government NOT less
than $500, and every torpedo sent on its
mission OF death from a Spanish boat
must cost a like sum. Spain is now en-
jnying the luxury of cheap money that is
demanded by many demagogues in our
own country, and she pays for the luxury
in trebling the cost Of every shot she fires
against her foe.
The present war with Spain will be the
most costly war of any time. However
brief it may be, our comprehensive prep
arations for it will count up in the hund-
reds Of millions, and if it shall continue
for year its aggregate cost will probably
not be less than $1,000, ,OOO, 900, and may be
more. In short, modern warfare is the
most costly savagery in the history of the
world.