The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-24
SEATTLE, SATURDAY. MARCH "a.
Cost OF the War.

Ou no suUJect MAS tDefe DceH ~ HaHch
and such reckless exaxgeration as on
the cost Of the war In the Philippines.
Various stories have been going the
rounds Of the newspapers In which
millions have been handled with
the reckless abandon OF typical
Popuiistic stump speaker. who relies
upon his imagination for his facts.
The exact figures are. however. now
on hand. having been furnished by
the war department in response to the
resolution which passed congress on
January 3d. The entire cost for all the
military operations In the Philippines
ffom May 1. 1898. the day OF Dewey's
battle, up to November 1. 1899. was
s4s,s.s. oeoss
OF this amount considerably over one
half wac expended by the auartsrmas-
ter's department.. seventeen millions GO
Ing for the item OF transportation. THIS
and also OF animals. wagons. ambu-
lances and sets OF harness which were
purchased and used In the war with
Spain, and subsequently sent 20 the
Philippines. on the heavy expenditures
for transport very large amount, II
viii be seen. is represented hy the pur-
chase OF vessels and other property
which remain on hand and which have
good market value. should the govern
msnt desire 10 sell them. The army
transports now owned and operated by
the war department are twenty In num-
bar.
The signal Office has expended in the
Philippines the sum OF 1855. a73Ts and
with this amount there has been CON-
piete rehabilitation of the telegraph sys-
tenn OF the island of Luson. AZ well as
an extension Of the system TO points not
heretofore reached. This 10 aside from
the temporary military lines laid and
rslayed. The work Of tho signal service
during the war In the Philippines has
been the admiration OF all European
war critics. and is recognised as a model
for all other countries TO follow. The
total expenditures OF the medical de-
partmsnt have been but N.s0s.l3I. an
amount surprisingly small when IL ia
considered bow eBicien, the work Of
this department has been In the Phil
ipplnss. and wha, +, has been called
upcn 60 perform.
In considering these expenditures par.
ticula,iy the large item for transport
sscrvfce. II should be remembered that
during the period covered by this re-.
port the United States did something
absolutely unprecedented In military an.
mails, IN shipping two armies 20 the
Philippines ard transporting one home.
l, not only c4ulpred and forwarded %
the Fsslippines Que army which bore
the brunt q all Of the heaviest fighting.
bat &, recruited drilled and equipped
another army, discharged that already
IN the Geld. ami substituted for u the
new one The cost OF transportation
WAS probably twice a. great as ., would
have beer had the army which Was or
isinally s-r, 20 the Philippine been
asArssie &C. nrisA the work whirh it
haa eou'~sne~d s. spienitdly ana car
rsed out 50 successfully darling i,s period
Of military eervtce
A similar statement rentfred tv the
navy department. covering the same
rertcc elbows that The entire cnsi 81
the naval fsrve In the Philippines vaa
slightly more than ak million dollars
Ircsuacd IN ,his amount arr taa cost
81 ere rvfr4Ec rss.ng supply sh,p Cujsos
with her carso q trcsh pv1vislons AM
coal, end ,ha repairs sna oGtnts foF IN.
srau'sn gunsue,s eank VA Manila bay
eurins puwVy's asht aua subsequently,
raised and aadvd to the United state,
naval tercc Many stories have been tolt
Of tie enormous cost - aramuniHon ~
naval srtnlsry. come declaring that mil
Hons could he nrsd sway IN sinS,'
naval enga~ srnsnt, The actual eNpendl
lures By the navy m the philippines To-
ordnance material and ammunition. IN
Guiding nil that was used IN the battl'
az Manila bay. was 500 90. OF the na
val expenditures St should llkeaIse b
remembered that by far the greater par