The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-08-04
Cost of the War


On hundred billion dollars will be
the cost of the war il it lasts another
year, according to Jean Finot, who
makes an interesting comparative
study of this subject in an article in
the Paris Revue.
If this war lasts three years, he
says, the losses win reach total I'M
heard of in the past. They will
amount to one hundred billion dellars
or one hundred and twenty billion dol
lars. The losses occasioned by the
present conflict have no analogy in the
history of past times.
According to the calculations Of
economists and statisticians, armed
conflicts from Napoleon /. to our day,
all added together, have not caused
one-half the sums absorbed by the
present war. The Napoleonic wars,
properly so-called, which are consid-
cred as the most sanguinary in the
history Of past times, only cost about
$15,000,OO0,000. They lasted twenty
years.
The Crimean war cost the countries
taking part in it about eleven or
twelve billion dollars. The Civil war
in America did not cost more than
seven billion and six hundred thou
sand dollars. The war between Prus-
STA and Austria in 1865, only necessi-
tated an expense of about five hundred
million dollars.
According to the estimates of Mr..
Matthew Bodet, minister of finance in
he - a L
total sum of $2,49O,000,OO0. In this
figure are included the losses to the
state, to the departments, the COM
munes and individuals. The cost of
caring for German troops after the
conclusion Of peace and before the
complete evacuation, amounting to
$18,600, 900, is also included.
An English statistician puts the
direct expenses Of all belligerents
from Napoleon /. to the war of 1914
at $4,000, 100000 to $4,000, 900, 900.
Considering only the allied armies
in the present war, it may be noted
that the number of combatants on our
side now amounts to about 100000.
( we admit an average daily expense
of $4 day for each soldier, including
ammunition, we will have a total ex-
pense of 1,680,000000 a month, or
about $20,000,000, year.
For France alone the budget
amounts to $6,193, 100000 yearly, ac-
ording to Mr.. Almond, who recently
made a report to the French Senate
showing the following credits since
August 1, 1914:
Last 5 months of 1914, $1,317, $780, $50
FEAR 1915, .,,.t,,,,, 4,433, 319T0i
First half 1915, ...... 3,096, 506,S7(
Total since war began, $S,997, 713,42e
He calls special attention to the
constant increase in expenses:
For the year 1915, military and
other expenses, 4,483,319,702, anG
for the first and second quarters Of
1916, S3,096, 506,870.
At this rate the total expenses for
the year would be about $6,200,000,-
300, of which the army absorbs z,
Der cent and the debt also constantly
Increasing more than per cent. Civi
and other government expenses are
lbout 10 per cent, and the rest, some
hing under 1 per cent goes to buy
food for the destitute refugee popula-
ton.
Added to the above are the sums
paid to allied nations, Belgium, Ser.
bia and others, which raise the ex-
oenses to $18,000,00O day, $3.50, 000,.
300 a month, or $1,000, 900, 900 year
At the same time England's ex.
oenses have risen from $17,0O0,O00 6
lay to $22,000,000, and are soon lex.
oected to reach $25,000,000 daily, o.
s9,125,000,000 year. A British es.
Innate of the exclusively war ex.
oenses of the allies gives. Che follow.
ng up to June 80, 1917;