The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-04
COST OF THE CONFLICT
Brain Reels at the Estimate of the
Terrific Toll that Must be Paid
to BellOna

A daily expenditure OF $4,000
600,
That is the estimated cost of
armed conflict between France, Rus
STA, Germany and Austria Were
England and the Balkan nations in
Guided it would bring the total TO a
much higher sum.
At the time of the Russo-Japan-
csc conflict there was much discus
sion of a possible European war, al
tho no one accepted it seriously at
that time. Mr.. Jules Roche, the
famous French statistician, how
ever, studied the problem carefully
and estimated that a war involving
the four nations named would cost
$500, 100000 the first two months,
or $6,000,0O a day each.
Most of the conclusions arrived at
of expenditure of previous wars. He
allowed for the difference in cost
for modern warfare is much more
costly even than warfare at the time
of the Franco-Prussian war. His
calculations may be thus summar-
lied:
In January, 1871, the actual cost
per day to the French treasury, ac-
cording to the Boreau-Lajandie Of
fetal report, was 100000 francs.
Cor $3,20O,00O) this for 500, 700
men under arms. The actual cost
per day of every man under arms
during the entire period Of the war
was exactly 10 francs IS confines.
Into the cost of forage and of keep
of horses, which are usually figured
at the rate of say one dollar a day
But even with the figures for the
war of 1901, he admitted that it
was no easy matter to estimate the
financial expenditure of a great war
that might happen in our times. He
continued.
Conditions generally have con-
siderably changed within the last
thirty years, and warfare is now far
more expensive. To begin with, the
number of men under arms in
France, on declaration of war,
would be far greater than in 1870.
France then began by putting $780,
600 men into the field, but in the
next great war in which she may
be engaged, her military organiza-
ton is such that within forty-eight
hours she can mobolize, in round
figures, 100000 men and 600, 900
horses and mules. The first troops
to be called upon would be the thir-
teen classes of active and re
serve troops. Each class, num-
bers 100000 men, so that the actual
number of men to be mobolized at
once would be 100000. Against
this the Germans can pit 100000
men, the Austrians 100000 men,
and Italy 100000 men,"
Considering that France, Russia
Germany, Austria and Great Britain
where near 100000 men in the
armies alone, not to mention the
nayies of the Powers nor the armies
of Servia, Roumania, Montenegro
Greece and other smaller nations
either now involved or likely to be
come involved, it can be seen thai
IN. Roche's estimate i'm reality is &
conservative one as applied to the
present situation, since NJ. Roche dit
not figure on Great Britain or the
Balkan nations.
The estimates of NJ. Roche are
based on an outlay of $3.12 a day
for each man in each army. 1t ma,
be that NJ. Roche has far under es
timated the cost. DR.. Charles Rich
ct, a statisician of the Universit,
of Paris, published a very exhaus
Balkan war in which 100000 wa
the estimated daily expenditure
DR.. Richet estimates the expendi
lures as follows, if Germany, Eng
and Roumania were all engaged
Provisions of troops S12,5O0,0OO
feeding of horses 100000; pa,
S4,250, 000 wages arsenals and har
bors $1,00O,OO0; mobilization 50,
600, 900; transportation of foodstuff
and weapon, ETC., $4,000,000; ammu
milton for infantry $4,O00,OO0; artil
lery $3.50, 900; ship artillery 1915,
900; fitting out of army 100000
ambulance service 100000; move
ment of ships 100000; deficit i
taxes $10,O0O,OOO; support for popu
lation, without means, $3.50, 900
acquisitions, damages to towns, Bird
ges, ETC., 100000. Making a to
tai of $54, 1926 900.
/ IN =