The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04

tent authorities at the outset at 1000 ,000 900
pesetas. The basis for the estimate Is the
cost of the Cuban conflict 10 the present
time. The war budget for 1865 was 40
O@O0 pesetas regular and 100000 pesetas
extraordinary. This has been mounting up
ever since, until the cost Of the war up 10
this time is estimated at $3.50 100000. or $50
0OCO00 a year With the increases requisite
Tor conflict with the United States. the
cost would be more than double that of
holding Cuba and by most conservative
estimate, the total of i.O00 000,0 600 pesetas, or
Saee.og,09 was made by one wen lifted Tor
an intelligent view of the subject.
EXPENSES FOR SIX MONTHS.
Many interesting details are developed in
the course of the estimate for maintaining
the war for six months. For instance, the
item of new guns for the United States
troops would be Ii large element of cost dur
ing the first stages Of the wax. AT present
the kragJorgensep gun is being put into
use as fast as Ii can be manufactured. But
there are not more than 5000 of these guns
available. There are some 100000 old Spring
field rifles, but In q war with SpaiI-her
men handling one of the most deadly OF
modern arms-the United states would
hardy expect to place Springnelds in the
hands of its soldiers. the new rifle costs
from ST TO $50, and TO arm 100000 men the
cost OF TINS one Item of riiies would be
Inc estimate included ratior allowances
OF 10 cents a day, which, for 2OO.JUO men,
Another detail in reaching the total esti
mate for six months was the cost of uni
forms, two suits at IS each being allowed,
This, for 2V5,0Ju men, would be about S5-
100000. In the item OF ammunition. the es-
timate contemplated ~ ROUNDS for eacii
man in six months. Five dollars would
for 100000 men would be about $i,9JJ0oo
Wlth the modern use or machine guns,
every company or infantry worie r qouo, COST
about 81, 800 each, making another item Oh
about 00V. Ihese details OF equipment
are almost infinite, and with force OF
10000 the cost in every instance runs into
the millions. Aside from the first costs
there is the additional cost of transporting
vast supplies OF food and clothing, AFTER
1t is once purchased.
The same scale of elaborate expense runs
through all branches OF naval equipment,
limited, however, by the fact that a navy
cannot be expanded in weeks or months as
an army can be formed. Although war
between the United States and spain would
be essentially a marine. struggle, both OF
the parties would have much difficulty at
the outset in increasing the number or
their ships. From the moment war was
declared every port in the world would be
closed against us in any effort 10 buy ships.
While free to buy of the Armstrong; or
any other foreign firms at the present,
these markets would be closed to us the
moment hostilities began.
Not only would foreign governments oc-
cupying the position OF neutrals, be unable
to aid us with ships, but 1t would be inn
possible for us to buy of private parties
without making the foreign government re-
sponslble, according TO the rigid ruling of
the Alabama award The same restrictions
would be placed upon Spain and only by
forming alliances could the navies of either
country be materially augmented at the
outset This, of necessity, would keep down
the element of naval cost, for, being un-
able to buy boats, the countries would have
to do their lighting with such forces as
they had, augmented by the merchant
marine.
The arming of merchant ships would be a
costly operation, for they would be drawn
from their regrAar service, and the govern
ment would have to pay literally for their
use. AT such times war profits" are ex-
pected and exacted, and there would be no
recourse from it, And aside from the first
cost to the government of taking these mer-
chant ships from the eoasting trade, the
transatlantic, the transatlantic, the West
Indian and the South American trade, there
would be the second cost of mounting guns
and giving them such armament as would
fit them for war service.
The financing of the civil war stu
pendous operation. as may be judged from
the fact that to-day the. government Is
slowly paying off the bonds roated at thai
time, and is maintaining am issue of $780,
coo, 600 greenbacks issued on the faith Of
the government to tide over the demand
for funds.