New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04
THE COST OF THE WAR.
NO ESTIMATE LIKELY TO SATISFY THE
ADMINISTRATIONS OPPONENTS.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Washington, May 3.-The estimate of the cost
of the in the Philippines however precise
and conscientious the work of the War Depart
ment on the subject may be- is expected to provo
a prohtess undertaking. so far satisfying the
opponents of the administration is concerned.
for the simple reason that no two persons
likely TO agree on what items are properly
chargeable to the suppression of the insurrec-
ton in the archipelago, the maintenance of or
der there, and the proportion of these expenses
that would have fallen the United States
had Dewey left Manila Bay after sinking the
Spanish fleet Secretary Root. in his letter 10
the Senate. shows the puzzling question that
battles the supply departments Of the army in
their attempt TO distribute their expenditures
geographically.
In the navy such a distribution IS utterly out
Of the question any assumed basis OF division.
for ships. with their stores ammunition. cost
OF maintenance. pay of officers and men. and
repairs, are sent from station station around
the world, without any account being taken as
TO whether the display Of the flag costs more
in one quarter of the globe than in another. and
the case with the army is only less complicated
in degree in principle remaining the same. The
cost Of the naval participation in the Chinese
crisis two years ago is variously estimated by
officials anywhere from Sl,OOOOO0 to $1,000
900, and that Of the army as from S0,OUO,ODO TO
SIOOOOOO. But at least three fOurths. if not
the Boxer rising would have occurred had there
never been any siege at Picking for the ships
would have been cruising in and out of Chinese
ports anyhow, Just as TOT years the Aslatc
Station had been maintained for insuring re-
spect for the United States
one Of the chi f elements entering into the
calculations Of Philippine expenses although
many experienced officers think without iusti-
fication, is the size of the present regular army
The army composed of - 900 men in Jan
uary. 1898, and just before the war with Spain
began its authorized strength had been in
hi
of the regular establishment to-day But for
several years before the with Spain Gen
eral Miles and others had been urging larger
army, and Congress had recognized that in
creases should be made until the ratio of one
soldier to each 1000 of population obtained
which should have given a force Of 5000 in
1900 The troops at the present time in the
Philippines therefore less than half the force
that would have to be maintained in garrisons
al home as the nucleus for a suddenly expanded
military establishment to meet a national emer-
gency and the regular service to-day at home
and in the East is no larger than in
temptation by the authorities as the safe mini
mum for a permanent peace establishment in
1902, without any reference to the Philippines.
Another important element in the calculation
that is neglected by Senatorial Democrats and
other "scuttlers" is the matter Of supplies used
in the Philippines. When the volunteer army
OF 100000 men raised in 1898 supplies
purchased for a force of 100000 men, and in
pectation that the war might be prolonged enor-
nous quantities OF stores were contracted for
and accumulated. This was unavoidable
pense on account Of the determination free
Cuba and without the remotest idea that the
Philippines would enter the calculation. Mill
ions OF rounds OF ammunition, guns, tentage,
wagons, uniforms, clothing. shoes, animals,
staple foods and all the essentials Of a great
army were provided. To invade Cuba a
single item, for instance. 1000 mules. with their
harness etc. were bought. Santiago fell. and
more than 1000 Of these mules were sent the
Philippines. More than half the ammunition
and other articles also went either TO Manila or
Porto Rico China Alaska, the great camps
at Chickamauga, Montauk Meade, Lexington or
San Francisco. II their sale had been forced, 1t
is in1proba BILE that a considerable proportion of
their cost would have been realized. II they
charged to the cost Of the war in the Philip
mines the whole truth about them will not have
been told and those who charged with
rendering the estimate to the Senate think that
those stores which had to be bought for Cuba
ought to enter into the cost of the Philippine
war