Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-11-24
THE Cost OF Military Operations.

In estimating this element the length Of the
ls of supremacy important. What. then. are the
possibilities Of the duration of the present war?
In 1877 Motke wrote I'VE admit that there
will he renewal Of the thirty years nor OF the
years Nevertheless, when millions of men
shall line up to face one another and shall wage
desperate against each other for their national
existence Il Is hard believe that the matter will he
solved by a few victories"
Leer a German general. considered that this war
would last from TO two years. and NJ. Jean de
Bloch in his work entitled La Guerre" considered
the time limit mentioned by the German general as
minimum.
When we estimate that the war will last six
months, think within rather than beyond
the limits Of probability.
1t Is evident that the bellgerents expect the war
to cost enormous even IL waged for only this
short period.
In Germany the Reichstag authorized extraordinary
expenditures amounting to 81 OOOOOOO to proceed from
loan. and s75OOOOOO from the gold and silver stock
of the empire.
The mobilization OF the Austrian army since the
end of 1912 has drained its budget do know how
great a loan the Austrian government can place
The French government obtained authorization, on
August for special credit OF seOOoNOO and further
authorization open by decree all credits that might
become necessary.
The British government obtained credit Of
S0OOOOOO0 This is added to the credits already voted
for the army and navy.
II Is very difficult TO know. even from the official
statements, exactly how many men are at the front
in France. England Belgium. Germany. Austria
Military Review OF the German army staff, Captain
Henk states a provision:
Soldiers Soldiers.
Austria sSCSOS Russia ..... 100000
100000
To these must be added 100000 Engshmen whom
the German officer had not counted upon. And it is
we'll known that the English soldier is expensive
as he Is worthy. But let that be- We will keep the
figure at l2.OOOOOO
What is the cost OF soldier in campaign?
Herr Riehi estimates the price between
10 and 10 marks $3.50 to 50 day. The estimates
made i'm Great Britain and France between these
two figures Twelve million at $3.50 make 10000 0o
day If the lasts six months. the figure will be
$500 100000.
Now, what the amounts Of capital available IN
each country
The report OF the English census of production of
1907 drawn up by w. F1ux, estimates that during this
year between 81 600 900 900 and 1000 600 served
provide additions to stocks of durable goods for
personal enjoyment and for capital investments
at home and abroad
This added the estimates for France
$500 OO0 and Germany-sl 200 O0O0OO results in
minimum figure of $500 10000.
So four months of warfare would suffice to exhaust
the available annual capital of Great Britain. France
and Germany If the lasted six months, the three
nations wou dbe deprived OF available cash for
year and a half
And TO the daily expenditure for men and horses
must be added the consumption OF ammunition. the
wear and tear of clothing cannons. the destruc
thing and produces nothing. f- Is. ~
We have spoken only Of the land armies. But the
vessels the devcur mountains of coal and
their machines. Heavy deteriorate rapidly
after a certain limited number Of shots.
To the above estimates must be added the more
less entire destruction OF forts, entrenched
camps etc
(Conolusion Tomorrow)