The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-04-13

/ "The expenses of war are the NOR
+ al check which 1t has pleased the AL
| mighty to impose upon the ambition
and lust of conquest that are inherent
in so many nations. There is pomp and
circumstance, there is glory and excite
| ment about war, which notwithstand-
ing the miseries it entails, invests 1t
with charms in the eyes of the commu-
nifty, and tends TO blinds men to those
evils to a fearful and dangerous de-
gree. The necessity Of meeting from
! year to year the expenditure which 1t
entails is n salutary and wholesome
check, making them feel what they are
about, and making them measure the
cost of the benefit upon which they
may calculate"
The conflict between Russia and Jap
! an must soon demonstrate the sound
ness of Mr.. Gladstone's view of the in
creasing cost of war as an influence for
peace.
There can be no doubt in the minds
of those familiar with the subject that
the comparatively small expense at
tending the war of 1894, in which Jap
an not only vanquished China but won
her footing in the family of nations,
had much to do with the llght-hearted
enthusiasm in Japan for war against
Russia which preceded the night at
tack on Port Arthur. The military
glory won by the Japanese in that
short and one-slded war, not to speak
of the enormous money indemnity and
the cession of the rich island of For
mosa, were stupendous rewards for
such tri1ing outlay of money and
sacrifice of blood.
For ten years, therefore, japanese
policy has been more or less blind to
the financial devastation involved in
modern war on n large scale. With
less than $4,000 men she drove the
Chinese from Korea, invaded Man
churia, captured Port Arthur and Wei
Hai-Wei, smashed the Chinese navy
and compelled the oldest and most
populous empire in the world to sue
for peace-all within seven months. AS
a business investment-from n Pagan
point of view-the war with China was
a paying business investment for
Japan.
But the present war in Asia is a
different thing. Russia must send her
reinforcements more than 5000 miles
by rail. Japan must carry all her
troops across the seas. Hundreds of
thousands of men must be put in the
field on each side. All this aside from
the cost of maintaining and operating
warships.
1t is estimated that Japan's avail
able army at the present time aggre-
gates about 100000 soldiers. The cost
Of landing this force on the Korean or
Manchurian coast at the rate OF, say,
$40 per man, exclusive Of horses, ar
tillery and supplies, would be $4,000
900. Mr.. Roche, formerly minister of
commerce Of Franco, believes that
the cost of maintaining the Japanese
forces will not be greater than S1.25
day for each man. including clothing,
equipment, food, transportation and
munitions. lie estimates the cost of
war to Japan, including the navy, at
about S1,000000 day. If this be a
/
penses, it will take the entire earn
ings of more than 100000 Japanese
toilers to support the war, at the aver
age wage rate of twelve cents a day.
This out OF total population of about
45,000,000. In other words, more than
one-third OF the male population of
Japan can barely earn the daily cost
| nf Str ,e,rin ie IN 10 To
anese commerce included in the esti-
mate.
In the Turko-Russian war It cost
Russia about sixteen cents a day to
support each soldier in the field. But
that was in densely populated, fer
tile country, with comparatively mex
pensive transportation.
1t is different in Manchuia. All sup
plies must be drawn from Il great dis
tance. Clothing, transportation and
food are dear. Besides, before the Rus
sian troops can take the fleld-aside
from the 100000 said to be in Man
churia nOw-they must be carried more
than 5000 miles by rail- Putting the
naked costof transportationa one cent
per mile for each soldier, the cost of
carrying 100000 troops-excluding ar
tillery, horses and supplies-would be
at least S5,O00OOO. o.
! Mr.. Roche believes that when Rus.
sia has got over the first expense of
her war with Japan her army and
navy will cost her from S1,500,00o to
S1,T50,000 day so long as she has to
fight only in the Far East. Assuming
the larger figure to be correct, it will
take the wages of 100000 Russian
laborers to meet the expenses Of the
| war.
, All this relates to the war of Rus
sia with Japan in Asia. But If the con-
! hict should spread TO Europe if the
, great powers should take tne field
against each other. the estimated cost
of the struggle under modern condl
tions Is staggering.
Official figures show that in 1871 II
cost France more than $2.000.000 q