Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-08
Premier Asquith Estimates the
Daily Cost of War at
Five Millions
TBy Latest Mail

IBy Latest Mail
LONDON, Eng.-The meetings OF
the House of Commons today was en-
tirely devoted To war measures and
without partisan politics.
Premier Asquith requested a vote OF
81, 125. 000, 900 and another for 1000
900 soldiers, both OF which the House
granted without a dissenting voice.
The sum voted today with $500, 600
600 granted IN August Is equivalent to
an increase of more than 80 per cent
OF the national debt.
The Prime Minister characterizes
the crisis as the greatest emergency
in which the country has ever been
placed" He said there were already
under arms 1,20O,vJO men: that the
war was costing nearly $4,000, 900 a
day and that the government proposed
to lend Belgium $50 900 and Ser
via 100000, without interest until
the end of the war
$500, 600 Geo Already Spent.
The Premier said that the largest
portion of the $500, G0V 900 already had
been expended in the conduct of mill
tary operations, loans to the allies and
disbursements TO secure food supplies
for this country.
The expenditure for sugar which has
been exceptionally large, the Premier
said, wonld be recouped ultimately to
the excehquer. A considerable sum
has been spent to obtain control of
the railroads to the government, and
the expenditure included provisions
for the refugees.
With regard to the purpose Of the
new credit, the far greater bulk of
this would be for army and navy ex-
penditiires, MIR. Asquith said. The
civil expenditures we're inconsiderahle,
and they would be largely for the pur-
pose Of securing food supplies end for
further commodities necessary for the
British. the use of which must be made
Impossible for the enemy. Another
large item was made up Of the loans
of money to others, amounting to
943, 080, 900 l$215 100000 The prin-
cipal items In this list were to the Bel
CLAN and Servian governments. Other
loans to the selfgoverning dominiens
of Canada South Africa, Australia, and
New Zealand, which under ordinary
would be compelled to
borrow In the London market. would
account for 6 30,250,000 (S151,250,0 00)
Of the new credit, for the reason that
the government has undertaken the
responsibility of raising loans for these
Gives Daily Cost Figures.
Regarding the cost of the war Pre-
mier Asquith said that up to the last
Saturday the actual additional aexpen-
ditures falling upon the iexchequei
10, betweens 100000 pounds
lS4. 09Q. 00Ol, land 100000 pounds
Csc, DOC, 0Q0l a gay. Having regard for
the enormous scale of the operations
and other considerations, this sum, the
Premier said, did not exceed the es,
innate of expenditures that might reas
enable have been expected.
The Premier added that he could
hold out no hope that these expendi
lures were likely to be diminished
The present measure carries proVi
sions to March 81, which would not
only satisfy the calculations based or
experience. but would leave in hand
reasonable margin. !. ..- |
: The proposition of granting loans |
% Belgium and Servia was Endorsed
5y Timothy Healy, Irish Nationalist
Rl1o said that the money should be |
given them. -
John Hodge, the Labor member for
lancashire, indorsed the proposal with |
he suggestion, Later we can collect
t from the German Emperor."
Reginald Mcnenna, secretary for
lone Affairs, informed the House that
here were 14,500 alien enemies in the
camps In the British
sizes, and 29,00J at large. |
Walter Hume Long, Unionist, said
hat the country Is not likely to BIZ
aced with the stupendous, problems
1 unemployment which might natural
' havesbeen expecse ed, and he believ-
d all the men needed would be forth
ming because. the spirit of the country
Tas so magnificent. " ~ I
He congratulated the government
n behalf Of the opposition, on it
determination to carry the
,ar to q successful conclusion"
Mr.. Long, Mr. Healy and LorL
h lrles Beresford discussed the ques
ION of publicity and urged that the
ouatry should be given fuller details
{ the achievement of the troops IL
be field. ~'a