Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-09-17
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 B. CLARK.

shington.-Statisticia 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
tion. and yet until the outbreak Of
hostilities in Europe this country was
spending more in proportion to its in
come for war purposes and to pay the
price of past wars than any other
country on earth.
1t has been estimated that the daily
cost of the war operations In Europe
a day amount to fifty million dollars.
and a good many people think that
this 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-
itation Of 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 proper.
tion 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 80, 1914, the ex-
pendtures of the United States for
war purposes, and on account of wars,
were 6S07 per cent Of the govern
ment's entire revenue. The money
was spent to keep up our small army
and our comparatively small navy and
to pay the pensioners OF our wars.
Great Britain during the same
period spent only 1886 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 Its army, the
Washington statisticians say, spent
during the same year only $3.50 per
cent Of 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
35.07 per cent of her revenues in get
ting ready for the trouble that is now
sea forces and In paying the pension
ers 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
fact that war ia on. Apparently they
believe that because Of the terrible
nature Of the present conflict. war
actually may conquer war" In other
words, they seem to 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.
1t 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 conference with a view
to avert the thing which Is now hap
pening In Europe. OF course the pres
ident 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
foundation for future action, when the
time Is auspicious.