Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-09-30
HIGH COST OF WAR
Fifty Million Dollars a Day Is a
Low Estimate.
Peace Advocates In Washington Think
Its Price, In Money and Lives.
Will Make This Last
Armed Conflict.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.


Washington.-Statis here have
been doing some figuring in order
TO arrive at comparative estimates OF
the cost OF armament and OF war to
the different countries OF the world.
The United States is not a warlike ma.
ton, and yet until the outbreak OF
hostilities In Europe this country was
spending more In proportion to its in
come Tor war purposes and to pay the
price OF past wars than any other
country on earth.
IL has been estimated that the daily
cost OF the war operations I'm Europe
day amount to fifty million dollars.
and good many people think that
tnis is away under the proper figure.
When peace is declared the daily
costs. OF course. will diminish. but
then the warning countries must face
the problem OF paying for the rehabil-
itatlon or their forts and their cities.
and OF providing pensions for the in
jured and the widows and orphans.
Washington statisticians seem to
think that the war bills which the
european countries must pay after the
war Is over Will be greater in propor-
ton to income than are the present
day expenses OF the United States.
which as has been said. are heavier
proportionately than those OF any 9TH
er country on earth.
The official figures compiled here
show that for the last fiscal year
which ended June 30. 1914, the ex-
penditures OF the United States for
war purposes, and on account OF wars.
were 6S.O7 per cent of the govern
ments entire revenue. The money
was spent to keep up our small army
ana our comparatively small navy and
to pay the pensioners OF our wars.
Great Britain during the same
period spent only 37S5 per cent OF
her total revenue to maintain her mil.
itary and navy establishments and in
pensions for her soldiers. and her wild.
ows and orphans. Germany, despite
the enormous size OF It's army. the
Washington statisticans say. spent
during the same year only $3.50 per
cent or her revenues in preparations
FOR war and In pensions. which is
something more than IL per cent less
Than the United States paid. although
our standing army is only 10000 men.
while that of Germany Is much more
than ten times greater.
France in the last year spent only
3J.O7 per cent OF her revenues in get
Ing ready for the trouble that is now
IN. and in maintaining her land and
ga forces and in paying the pension
ars Of previous wars. Japan spent As
per cent Of her income In like manner
and for like reasons The Washington
statisticians say that returns for Aus
tria-Hungary are not available.
Peace advocates in Washington are
Just as busy as ever they were. They
seem TO have taken spirit from the
TACT that war is on. Apparently they
believe that because OF the terrible
nature OF the present conflict, war
actually may conquer war" In other
words. they seem 70 think that the
very horrors which attend the present
cause may move the people OF all
countries OF the world to demand dis.
armament and the enthroning OF
peace
II seems TO be the belief OF the
peace men In Washington that when
the European war is over the presi.
dent Of the United States may with
reason be expected TO ask that the
great powers agree to some plan by
which the expenditures for war prep
arations will be reduced and by which
continued peace may be secured.
President Wilson rendered his good
Offices at the outset of the war TO
bring about a conference with a view
70 avert the thing which Is now hap
pening In Europe or course the pres.
ldent realized that affairs probably
had gone too far TO admit OF consid-
Grafton OF his tender. but he made the
effort and thereby probably laid a
foundation for future action. when the
time Is suspicious.