The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-04-05

the beginning of 1917 places 1t ut q
little above $2OO,OOO,OOO,O A care
full estimate Of the cost 6f the war
down to the beginning of the spring
campaign Is $66O00,OOO,OOO.
In other words, almost exactly one
third of the total wealth Of the United
States, by far the richest country in
the world, has been swallowed in the
voracious nav of the war monster.
AS matter of fact, this does not
nearly represent the total cost Of the
war to the world. Aside from the ex-
penditures of Great Britain the de-
Tendencies representing the outlying
empire have all incurred tremendous
costs by their part In the war. The
United States added more than one
half to it's annual expenditures for the
fiscal Nkpr 1916-17, chiefly by reason
of the All over the world coun-
tries have been increasing their ex-
penditures in order to carry their part
Of the burden which the war has laid
upon the world, while the greater part
Of them have been suffering and are
more or less impoverished because Of
the dislocation Of economic processes.
And there is yet, by common con-
sent in all probability Mt least another
year of war ahead. If the struggle
continues to the spring OF 1918 it's
cost to belligerents and neutrals will
by that time probably he estimated as
high as $1OO.OOO. .OOO, 900.
Appalling Human Losses.
Along with this loss of substance
goes a frightful loss OF human re-
sources; millions of the best man.
hood Of the most highly developed and
productive countries.
1t Is impossible to realize the mean
Ing of the figures which attempt to
suggest what the war is costing.
Statesmen of Great Britain, France
and Germany have recently been warn
ing their peoples that after peace is
declared the war basis of expenditures
will have to go on for yet long
time.
1t will be impossible Immediately to
demObiliZe the armies and return them
to the business of production. The res
toration Of something like normal con-
, ditionS will probably require, in the
View of those authorities, as long a
time as the length of the war itself
OF course as the process of demobiliza.
tlon goes on and conditions are re-
stored more and more toward the nor
nal the extraordinary expenses will
be in progressively diminishing vol
: ume.
= The wiScst men, the ones in posses
sion of the fullest information on
2 which to base judgment, shy at every
attempt to lead them into discussion OF
the situation which the European
world will have to cope with after the
war.
: Bonar Laws Reinsurance.
BOnar Law, chancellor of the Brit
iSh eXchcquer and n cOOl-hoadcd man
OF affairs, who has no disposition what
ever to fall into panic, has repeatedly
admitted that Englands rate of ex-
penditure could by no means be car
ried on indefinitely, though he has al
ways coupled this with the rcnssur-
Ing inSiStcnce that Britain and her al
lies could stand the strain longer than
their enemies, and that therefore they
were bound to win.
At no former time In the worlds
history was war so much question
of economic power rs now. The one
justifiable and really worth while par
allel which history presents to the
present struggle IS Of course found in
the wars OF the French revolutionary
and Napoleonic periods.
Bonar Law has assured the British
nation that in the opinion Of himself
and his colleagues in the government
b. Al
dens OF the war as it did those i'm
posed by the Napolconic struggles. In
deed, the example which was fur
niShed by the NapOleonic struggles, of
how great nations absorbed over pc
rod of years the tremendous losses
caused In such a struggle, Is the one
thing which furnishes reinsurance
and encouragement to European
statesmen as they contemplate the bur-
den which they are piling up for the
.. future to bear.
England as Debt Reducer.
After the Napolconic wars England
pretty steadily reduced from year to
year the principal OF It's debt, and by
: successive reOrganiZatiOns was able
also greatly to reduce the rate Of In.
tcrest. The marvellous Increase OF
wealth, the expansion Of commerce
the great development OF the mercan'
tile marine, the profitable opportuni'
ties for foreign investment that were
Afforded by the development aii over
the world not only of British colonies
but of Independent countries provided
Britain with the opportunity to re-
habilitate itself.
But the experience OF France follow.
ing the NapOleOnic era was different
France did not possess II great over.
seas empire whose development gave
1t opportunities for great profit. Mel.
ther did France become great
industrial country during the era
Of the factory systems development to
anything like the extent England did
Finally, Franco did not apply itself In
the aBsiGdOus English fashion to wip.
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