Arizona republican., 1904-03-09

ever, the ability of Japan to increase this army greatly by drawing upon
 her population of 45.OO0. 900. MT. Greet man figures that the cost of landing
 this force of 400, GOO soldiers upon the coast of CoIea or Manchuria. exclusive
 of artillery and horses, will be a the
 rate of s10 per man, or $4,000,000 M.
 Roche believes that the cost of main
 taining the Japanese forces will net be
 greater than S1.25 per day for each man, including clothing, equipment food. transportation and munitions. The French statesman estimates the cost of war Co Japan, including the navy, at s1,OOO,C5O a day, and Mr. Creel- man points out that if this be a fair valuation of Japan's fighting expenses it will take the entire earnings of mere than S,OO0,OGO Japanese toilers to support the war, at the average wage rate Of F cents a day. This out 0f total population of about 45,GOOOGO. In other words, more than one-third of the male population of Japan can barely earn the daily cost of the strug- gle. Nor is the loss to Japanese com me-ce included in the estimate.
 Tn the Turko-Russian war it cost Russia about F cents a day to support each soldier in the field. But that was In a densely populated, fertile county. with comparatively inexpensive trans portation.
 It is different in Manchuria. All sup plies must be drawn from a great dis tance. Clothing, transportation and food are dear. Besides, before the Rus sian troops can take the hcld-aside from the 15O,OCO said to be in Manchu- ria now-they must be carried more than 5000 miles by rail. Putting the naked cost of transportation at one cent per mile for each soldier. the cost of carrying 100000 trOops-excludIlg ar tillery, horses and supplIes-would be at least s5,OOO,COO.
 Mir. Roche believes that when Russia has got over the first expense of her war with Japan her army and navy will cost her from S1.5OO,OCO to s1, 1,75O. GOO a day so long as sine has to fight only in the far east. Assuming the larger figures to be correct, it will take the wages of 7,OoO,OOO Russian laborers to meet the expenses of the war
 All this relates to the war of Russia and Japan in Asia But if the conflict should spread to Europe. if the great powers should take the field against each other, the estimated cost of the struggle under modern conditions is staggering.
 Official figures show that in 1871 i. cost France more than 5000, 900 a day to keep an army of C9O,OC0 men in the field against the Germans But toda. France claims 10 be able to mobilize within forty-eight hours about 2.OOO. GOO men and 60O,00O horses and mules. Ger many can put 2.55OOOO men in the field. Austria 1,SCo,COO and Italy 1.20O.GG0. Schaffie. the Austrian economist de- clared in 1896 that var involving the European continental powers would cost France S510o.OOo a day, Russia s5,60ooOO day. Germany S5OCOoCO day and Austria s6,oOOCO0 a day.
 According to Nj. Roche a conflict be- tween the European powers today would cost for the first two months. in cluding the initial outlay the immense sum of s4OO,O00,COO and if S,CO0.0oo sol iiers should take the field the daily cost would amount to S6,O0O,COO.
 With these estimates in sight. even though they are mere approximations. t is not hard to understand why the statesmen of Europe are straininC heir wits and e-srgies to confine tl.e ! present war to Asia.
 If it takes the wages of 15.OC0.CG0 men O pay the daily cost of the war be- Ween Japan and Russia-a war con | lined within radius of ,OOO miles | what would a general conflict mean to | he cVertaXed population of Europe? !