Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-02

O1lo Hdll III the IlTSI year VI tIIc wal,
and asserted a conservative estimate
was that Germany had much nearer
100000 than 100000 men perma-
nently out of the field. Estimates of
the total casualties run from 100000
to 100000 with the former figure
probably conservative.
The cost in money runs to SINH
larly huge total. Great Britain Is
now spending about $15,oO0,0OO a day
on the war. according to Premier AS
quith. Albert Metin, general budget
reporter Of the French Chamber Of
Deputies. calculates the war is cost
ing France $4,000 a minute, or $14,-
100000 a day. William Michaelis re-
Gently estimated the daily cost to
Germany at $8.250,0oO, saying forty
days of this war cost as much as the
whole Franco Prussian war Of 1901.
In March DR.. Karl Helfferich, Secre-
tary Of the Imperial Treasury of Ger
many. said the war was costing all
belligerents $375.000.O0O week.
On the basis Of DR.. Helfferichs es-
innate, the first year of the war cost
the stupendous sum of $11.50O, 000.O0
Mr.. Michaelis puts the figure at Is
billions .of dollars, not including
Italy's expenditures; sum more than
80 per cent. greater than the gold
production Of the world during the
last 500 years. Other estimates run
still higher to 20 billion dollars or
more.
In addition to the money expended
directly on the war, the loss in des-
truction of property on land and sea
has run high into the millions. Great
losses are being occassioned by the
cessation or curtailment of many
forms Of productive industry. The
energies of the world have been large
~ diverted to making war Factories
Of all sorts have been turned over to
the making of war munitions, men
taken from mill and field, to be re-
placed by women. old men and chill
dren. Economists assert that for
generations to come the world, will
fee, the effect of the huge losses. In
the burden of taxation and otherwise,
and sociologists make conflicting pre-
dictions as to it's moral. physical and
psychological effect or generations
living and to come.
Neutrals as we'll as belligerents
have been affected. The financial
stringency which followed the out
break of war was worldwide. The
United States, in common with other
reutrals, has been confronted with
the threatened abridgement of it's
rights, particularly at sea. and has
sent notes of remOnstrance to Eng
land and Germany, the complications
with the latter country following the
sinking of the Lusitania giving es-
pecial concern.
The war has been attended with
many unexpected features, one of
which is it's protraction. 1t had been
believed that such a struggle would
be Of comparatively short duration,
on account Of the cost and loss of life
it would entail. At the outset it was
commonly said that within less than
year the nations involved would be
compelled to seek peace through
financial exhaustion, if for no other
reason. While each side has won its
victories, no final results have been
reached in any Of the campaigns, with
a few minor exceptions Of the lesser
operations in distant colonies. Over
the greater part Of the Franco-Bel-
eian front the opposing millions are
facing each other in the same posi-
tfons as last September. Movements
but with no signs of an approaching
decision. t,rtt ~
The German plan is generally as
suued to have been to deal, f1rst with
France IN the early weeks Of the war
before tlie Russian army, slower to
mobilize, was able to present seri-
GUS menace; and then to turn on
Russia The fierce resistance Of Bel
gium add the Unexpectedly quick
mobilization of both the French and
Russian armies prevented the full
fruition of this plan. Nevertheless
Germany has been able to hold her
own on both the eastern and western
fronts.
In reality the struggle Of the eleven
nations Is divided into q number OF
separate wars, related to each other
In only general way. The whole
field Of military operaticnD may be
summarized as follows:
n France and Belgium Germany IL
batAltne with Great Britain, France and
Belgium. In August Germany invaded
BAljatm ana France, pushing southwark
almost to the gates Of Paris. Following
the battle Of the Marine. perhaps the
most important contest of the war thus
lar, the Germans were compelled to re-
treat and have since held an entrenched
line from the Belgian coast to Alsace, re-
tanning possession Of northwestern
France and most Of Belgium. In this
theatre the war has been so even that
the capture Of group Of houses or
few yards Of trenches has been consid-
cred a victory worthy Of mention in the
oficial reports. The German attempt to
break through to the English channel:
the British victory at Neuve Chaupelle.
the German triumph at scissors, while
calling forth supreme efforts, did not ma
terially change the relative positions of
the antagonists along the front Of nearly
800 miles.
On the eastern front Russia faces Ger
many and Austria-Hungary. Russian
armies invaded Galicia and Bukowina,
capturing most Of the former province.
but last the greater nart Of this territory
a ! result oe Field lGxsAAl ven Mack
snsen's ereat dx4ve re- CEacow. The
Germans invaAe1 esfan ReaAnd. and
~ astasgts + eege.lEe Matsex IA,
32f 44 r.