Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-31
Wars Center Of Gravity Shifting


THE most remarkable fact that the his
tory of the war will record since Amer
lea entered the struggle is that the wars
center OF gravity is passing from England
to the United States. The nation that holds
the longest purse strings in n is that
wars center of gravity. Britain was the
center Of gravity in the Napoleonic wars the
| last preceding great world war, and she be-
came the center of gravity in the present
war by virtue Of her great money power
She has had to buttress this center of gravity
by her man power, she now having, perhaps
the most efficient army in the field.
But Britain has expended $4,000, 900 900
on her own account in the war, and in addi-
ton she has lent 100000, 900 to her allies
making in all $4,000, 100000. She has
taken from her treasury one-fourth of her
national wealth for war. She is daily ex-
pending $4,000, 600, and before the year is
out every day will cost her $40, 100000. Mr..
Mckenna, Bonar Laws predecessor as Chan
cellor of the Exchequer, warned his successor
In the House of Commons last week that
Britain is now very fast approaching the limits
of her financial capacity to spend for the war.
Mr.. Law plainly intimated that America was
financially. as well rs in man power, depended
upon to win the war.
Now 1t appears from estimates from the
Secretary Of the Treasury Mr. McAdoo and
from calculations Of Senator Smoot, of the
Senate Finance Committee, that America will
be called upon to spend from one-half to
two-thirds, and possibly three-fourths as much
money in the first year of the war as Britain
has spent in three years. America is now ex-
pected to furnish 100000 to the
entente allies this year, but the amount NAV
run higher. 1t is true that America to-day
has more national wealth than all the entente
group but 1t is also true that Britain and
France can make dollar go almost twice as
far in the war as we can
Every indication now points to Americas
having to assume the supreme burden of the
war In both money and man power if it should
last over next year. Russia may rally as a
stop-gap to Germany on the east Indeed, it
is just possible that she may have Japanese
assistance. France cannot add an iota' to
her present strength. Undoubtedly she ia
now on the down grade. Britain will by next
spring have put into the war, in both money
ana men, every ounce of strength she can
put in. If Germany can last and Germany is
IN this problem. the entente group does not
hope to do more than hold her at bay fiji
America can bring preponderating number
OF troops to the battle field with aircraft BY
that time the entente allies will have Dor
rowed at least S10.0OO,00O,0O and probably
S15. 1000, 900 900, from u.s.
me above Is no fantastic dream It Is
what America is headed for IL the war con-
times. But in the process America will not
only have become the great creditor nation of
the world, but the organizer and builder of
the world anew. There now looms beyond
lne DAY or peace-making the greatest oppor-
tunity that has ever come to any nation
president Wilson was fond Of pointing to tbis
opportunity for America If she remained out
OF the war, but the war will enlarge that
opportunity and augment the mower in her
hands to seize 1t.