The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-25

the military chieftains to stop at nc
sacrifice, the stupendous waste in dol
lars involved almost surpasses com-
prehension.
One careful statistician, Prof.
Charles Richet, has figured hat TO-
600, 900 men will be directly involved
cost will be fully 5O,O00.O 900 per day.
Already the contest has been waged
for twenty days n apparently the
great struggle has only bes I'M. Thus
the cost has been ST. 900, 600, 900 and the
fray has only started.
He places the number Of those who
will be disabled through wounds and
disease. in case the war continues TO"
one year at 500, 000-this aside from
the fatalities. This feature alone pre-
sents a, sociological after-effect that
is almost repellant. But it is recalled
that in the recent strife in the Bal
kans, which furnishes the best data in
this respect, the casualties We're more
bLlolI - pSl SCIls Willie HC "a OlS1SOA .
figures are but one-tenth as large for
this greater struggle.
Another juggler Of figures m analyz-
ing the professors findings says he
is far too low in all of his estimates.
For instance, in the matter CT destruc-
ton of public and private property in
the Balkans campaign this item vas
placed at $4,000, 600 per day. Yet in
Belgium we are told that during two
fighting this loss has been
$500, 900, 900, and there were no large
cities involved.
The cost Of military operations rep
resent a small fraction Of the total
waste, and true appreciation Of the
enormous losses can be obtained only
by considering its effect on all phases
of national and individual existence,
which may be enumerated as follows:
First-Temporary or permanent
s~hrinkage of the wealth Of nations as
distinct from negotiable securities.
The total wealth of thu countries
involved is about $500, 900, 900. 900. AS
sumo only a moderate production of 10
per cent and p further that the
war should last from six to seven
months or about 200 days. as fore
casted by experts, then the daily
.shrinkage will amount to $150,OOO, 900.
Second-AlI losses, individual and
collective, caused by interference of
war with the wheelwOrk of manufac-
ture, industry and commerce. These
particularly on the market
value Of negotiable securities. which
constitute from 20 to 30 per cent of the
whole national wealth. For obvious
reasons they are apt to be very large
and the s%hrinkage may easily amount
for the above period to 800, OOO, 900
per day.
Third-Specifc losses due to de-
struction of existing private and pub
lie property, including implements and
materials Of war. These will greatly
depend on the circumstances, but may
be placed at from $50, 900, 900 to $751;
900, 600 per day.
Fourth-Loss Of life and disabling
through wounds and disease. Judging
from the data of the Balkan war, the
casualties cannot be taken al less than
Is per cent, making the total Of So
900, 900. Assuming an average of 81, 800
per individual, this waste will! be
nearly $4,000, 900 per day.
Fifth-Daily cost of military opera
tions. which may amount from $25,-
O00,O 600 to $50, 900, 900.
According to this rough estimate the
total waste cannot be much less than
so, 900, 000, 900, making almost rs per
cent of the total wealth of the coun-
tries in the world.
In the best circumstances it will
take from forty to fifty years to repair
the financial damage, not to speak of
the injury to the races and r~etardation
Of social progress in all directions.