The chronicle=news., 1914-09-21
GREAT COST OF war
May SOON END IT

London, Sept. 21.--One of the most
day for the settlement OF the great
European war is the appalling cost OF
the titanic conflict. 1t can be only d
matter of time until every one Of the
warning powers is embarrassed fin
ancially. 1t IL not assuming too
much to say that each of the nations,
with its great armament. believed
that war. when it came. would be of
brief duration: that the stupendons
wrought by modern war machinery
would bring any conflict to quick
termination.
The European powers have not en-
tered upon this war without some
previous calculation as to the means
by which 1t must be carried out. In
addition to the great accumulation
Of gold in the central banks. plans
for new taxation and additional al
lowances for the army and navy have
been part of the fiscal program of all
the powers for many years.
The immense war appropriation OF
the cOmbatants, huge as they are,
would be only a mere bagatelle if the
war is prolonged. Germany at the
outset appropriated billion and
quarter of dollars: France on the
same day set aside more than a bill
lion and the British parliament vot
I'd 500 million. following this UP
subsequently with another appropria-
ton of the same amount. Russia has
not made known what she appro-
i'riatinn of the same amount. Rus
sia has not made known what she ap-
! ropriated. but 1t is safe to say that
The grand total OF the European war
finds voted By all the belligerents is
7 ear four billion dollars.
Several European experts in such
matters have estimated that the war
is now costing the combatants $780,
C00.0G0 day. Some Frenchman
lave calculated that 1t is costing
Trance alone $2O.O00,OOO daily.
How is this tremendous burden of
war outlay to be met? That is the
problem with which the financiers in
the European cabinets are graphing
while the taciticians are PLANNING
new army moves. 1t is obvious even
to the layman that the productive
power of a country at war is great
l. reduced II not absolutely para
lived. Industry of every sort is hard
hit by the withdrawal of thousands,
and in this war, millions of men, who
are taken from the fields, shops and
factories and placed In uniform for
the purpose of blowing away powder
in shooting each other.
Such producing power as remains
is utilized in making the materials
Of war. arms. ammunition, clothing
and food for the armies.
In France the official estimate of
the rental value of private structures,
homes. stores. mills, hotels and the.
like is about s7S6. 100000 annual
ly. If, therefore. 100000. 900 day
is required for the French army now
of the nation for a whole year was
licked mp in Sc days. It is already
gone. This is just one item to illus
trate and bring home to the average
man. the effect of war. Who will
say that under any form of taxation,
such burdens will not react directly
uron the rental of the humble labor
err and indirectly through the en-
hanced rental of stores and shops,
upon the price of what he buys?
This is only one of the many forms
in which the financial burden of the
war will fall upon the masses in all
the countries involved in the strug-
gle and in the form of increased debt
and interest charges upon their chill