Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-01
WAR INDEMNTTTES
STAGGERING PRICE
LOSING NATIONS PAY
Bismarck's Seizure of AL
sace-Lorraine Startled the
World = Penalties I'm
posed in Recent Wars.

When Erasmus described war as "the
malady of Princes" he was not so accu-
rate as would at first appear. 1t may
be the Princes who are ILL but IL is the
people who suffer the consequences and
foot the bills, says the New York
Tribune. The cost of the present war
has been estimated many times, but
when It is over the losers will face a
further stupendous outlay in the ndem-
mites Of money and land which will be
exacted from them
At the end of the Franco-Prusslan
war, in 1871 Bismarck demanded an in
demnity which staggered the world.
Nothing of the sort had been dreamed
of before. Not only did France lose
Alsace and Lorraine, two of her best
provinces but she had to pay in cash
the stupendous sum Of 5000, 100000 francs,
or $1,0OO0OO,OOO. This vast sum of money
was obtained only by the loyalty of the
French people, who in thousands of
cases gave up their jewelry and silver
ware to help make UP the amount. The
| lost territory and hardships caused by
the huge levy have never been forgot
ten. and the defeat of the Kaiser will
| mean that France will ask for return
of both Should she ask for interest on
| the $1,000, 100000 for IA years 1t would
make an almost impossible sum.
The exacting of tribute In money or
land, or both. from a defeated enemy Ia
as old as war itself and there are
number of interesting examples in recent
tiDnau ho Apparirnn Colonies
achieved their independence they won the
ownership of their own territory as the
result Of military success.
U. S. ANNEXEs TERRITORY.
The biggest indemnity ever obtained by
the United States, however, was that fol-
lowing the war with Mexico, in 1s4T. The
decisive victory won by the United States
resulted in Mexico giving UP all claims
to territory north of the Rio Grande.
No cash indemnity was obtained from
Spain after the Spanish-American war,
but besides the freedom of Cuba this
country obtained Porto Rico ard Guam
outright and the right to buy the Philip
pine Islands for $50, 900.
The American Civil War brought about
strange condition in the matter of war
ndemnties. AS q result Of the naval
activities Of the South, England, a nation
which had had no part in the war; was
compelled to pay an indemnity of over
$40, 900 900 to the United States This was
because of an indirect participation In
the destruction of the American merchant
marine.
Prussia, since her rise to power, has
always insisted on a course of unrelent-
ing punishment for the victims of her
arms. This was shown in the Franco
Prussian War by the terrible tax men
toned above, as we'll as in other con-
ficts. In the Seven Weeks War OF 1866 |
Prussia took the field against her pres
ent ally, Austria Prussia was then the |
greatest of the German states outside OF |
Austria and had ambitions to become the |
ruling power among the Teutonic people. |
The smaller German states, realizing that |
the defeat of Austria would mean the |
loss of their independence, took sides |
with the Hapsburgs.
PRUSSIAS HEAVY DEMANDS,
After brief campaign Austria was
entirely subdued. BY way of indemnity
Prussia annexed Hanover, the Elbe duchies
and the celebrates of Hesse, Nassau
and Frankfort. The old North German
was also broken up and a
new one organized, with Prussia actually
i'm control. This great addition of terri
tory made possible the present German
Empire, as proclaimed at Versailles after
the fall of Paris.
Closely following the establishment of
the German Empire came the Russo
Turkish War of 1871 Russia won
rather doubtful victory over the Sultan.
but the indemnity did not go to the
Czar himself However, 1t meant a de-
cided blow to Turkey. The treaty Of
Berlin which followed the Russian-Turk-
sh trouble, recognized the independence
of Rumania Servia and Montenegro, en-
Iarged Bulgaria and created the autOn-
omous state of Eastern Rumelia. Three
small provinces We're Ceded directly to
Russia by the Porte Though Russla's
territorial gain was small, she had ac-
her purpose of weakening the
sultan.
Eight years later Bulgaria annexed
Eastern Rumelia. Servia became jealous
and started Il war of aggression. Bull
;arla was victorious No cash indemnity
was exacted but Servia was compelled
10 give up all her claims to any interest
n the annexed state
The Far East was the seat of the next
wo important wars Japan defeated
nina in 1895, and compelled the latter
% hand over the rich island Of For
nosa, as we'll as part of the LiaO-Tung
peninsula. Japan was again victorious
n 1905, when she fought Russia. The
reaty OF Portsmouth provided for the
'eding OF Port Arthur to Japan, but | ,
allied for no cash indemnity. ;