Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-26
APPALLING COST or MILIrAR1sM

Clyde Hambright in I.eslic's Wcekly.)
Practically, the modern fghting-ma-
chimes have evolved in the last four
decades. In that time the cost of main
tanning and equipping armies in time OF
Icacc has doubled. while the naval OK
renditurcs have tripled. So great, in
deed. have been the aggregate exrendi-
lures of the eight powers that tho real
magnitude Of the figures representing
them is almost beyond comprehension.
For nearly seventy Thousand millions of
dollars $3.50, 100, n0. 0NO have been required
to foot the bills for armies, navies. and
wars since ISIS.
Some idea of the magnitude of this
sum may he gained from the fact that
ii is about six times the amount OF the
worlds entire stock of actual money
81. 800. Wc. O00, according to the last report
of the department of commerce and labor
-%including coir. silver and gold bullion.
and secured bank notes. 1t is also twice
the entire national debts of the whole
world 1886, 900. 0OO. 0o0.) Put astonishing as
these figures may be. they pale before
the gigantic outlay which will be requir-
cd to continue the naval and military
" |" h''ohAN " E't y
the average ratio for the last Eve years.
between nincty-two and one hundred bill
lions of dollars will lie expended by
America. England. France. Germany.
Russia. Austria. Italy. and Japa, in
time of peace. In other words. these ma
tlons will pay. for armies. navies. and
debts. an amount equal to the entire
wealth Of America.-thc END ard every.
thing on it. from shocstrings to sky.
scrapers.
Perhaps the most striking example Oi
how formidable militarisln has become III
a financial way is furnished by France
According tn Mulhall. all the wars oi
Napoleon cost only Sl.l25. coo. ono. while
France expended. in the last FIVE years
G5.o25,M for her army and navy. and
81. 1S5. 49,. 900 As interest on her national
debt. In three years, therefore,. france
spent more on armaments and debt thar
the cost Of all NapoleCn's wars. Further
more. the French naval expansion pro.
ann calls Cor 500, NN. 900 by 1911. This
means that France will annually cxpeni
in tho next thirteen years Si32. go. 600 or
her army, navy. and interest charges, ar
aggregate sun of $500 $4,000. whicl
practically duplicates her present debt
and means an average contribution o.
s5is for the head of every French family
In Franco these burdens arc heavily felt
in America they ara not. For this coun
try affords the solitary example o.
financing It's military expenditures WITH
cut hardship to its citizens. Further
more. il is impossible fNr onr ration
without hardship to its citizens. Furtt
crrnnrc. it is impossible for on" nation
without great risk to itself. to allow it
self to ba placed at the mercy Of hostil,
ha,tlc-ships. Rut. nevertheless the pro
srcctive military expenditures Of Amer
lea for the next forty years are not plea
: SAINT to contemplate. SO far the Amer
lean navy has cost about s3ot so. Nl
When tho huilding programme is cor.
plctcd. it's maintenance VIII he from SIC.
ora. I'M to 800. oaO,n oo per ann,im. TIL
army is now costing $lon, on. 1000 n ycai
and it's EXPENSES are no; likely Ia fal
below that. In forty wears the hill 10
the army and navy will reach eight bill
lions. AT present the pensions total sli5.
WC go yearly. and the interest on tn
national debt is s23, 5000. While the pen
sions md interest together carno
amount to less than two or three billion
in the forty years.