The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-17
GER MANY OWES
ALLLESSUM0 OF
$1,000, 100000
London Banker Figures Gut Hun
War Debt, Il Restitution
..-+. Is Made -t f.
TWO BILLION TO FRANCE

London. Dec. 16.- Correspondence
Of The Associated Press One Lon
don banker estimates that Germany
will have to pay TO the allies for repair
alton and restitution abOut 81 100000
600. Calculated on a five per cent
lmsis, with ! per cent sinking fund
, this would mean an annual charge on
| the German revenue Of $450,OOO,OOO
He says there can be no question Of
! Gcrmany's ability to meet this demand.
It is impossible, he says, discussing
the subject in newspaper article, to
arrive at any Appropriated figure as
to damages and robberies in the in
vaded territory. "For Belgium" the
article continues, II would put the
amount of indemnity at 81 ,400,000,O 600
Of which sum levies on Belgian towns
! account for something like $5OO,OOO.-
| 600. l know of another estimate for
Belgium which is as high as $4,000
100000, and Belgian Of some author
| ity estimates the amount at $780,
100000"
With regard to France he says one
cannot reckon the loss suffered, but
considering that the war has been
waged for the most part on French
territory, and in the center Of her in.
dustrial area, we may put the figure
at 50 .0O0,000,O00." 49,:
Italy's damage is computed at $780,
100000. The same amount is set as
quantities of foodstuffs and damage
to Oil wells an4 other property. He
thinks that $5OOOO.0OO would cover
Serbia's loss, and a like sum probably
would reimburse England for da Images
caused by air raids and bombardments.
Shipping losses are then discussed.
II estimate" he says, "the loss Of ships
i'll figures Of tonnage at nine million,
and. taking the average value Of 5000
Il ton. this would figure out at 81 $780,
100000. Adding the total value of
cargoes at, say. $780, 100000. we have
the total of $27O0,OO0,0OO for Great
Britain alone. The shipping losses of
the allies l estimate at $5OO,0OO,OOO.
II have heard an estimate which
places the total of the bill against
Germany at $4,000, 100000 which, like
my own calculation, r. of course to
some extent necessarily hypothetical.
But I would put the figure myself at
$7,5OO,0O0,O0O. which does not. of
course, include any part Of the cost
of the war." ~~r.5: ,,o-.,
Regarding Germany's- finances, he
calls attention to the last prcwar bud
get presented to the Reichstag, which
showed a revenue of $S75.OO0.QOO.. The
estimate for the army was $500 800
; 600, and for the navy ~$1O7, SOC, 600
total $400O00,O00. . -,c>-..- ~..,...---.
Eliminating the expenditure for
ornaments" the article goes on, this
would allow Germany to pay approx
imately the interest and sinking fund
on the $7,50O,OO0,000 compensation
leaving the balance of revenue, what
ever it might be, to meet the cost of
conducting the empire and paying the
, interest on her loans, which amounted
early in the present year to $27 ,OOO,-
100000. a sum which has. of course,
been substantially increased since"
In order to meet the allies bill of
damages, the writer says, 'it may be
that Germany would have to suspend
payment Of interest OH her own war
leans-I don't say she would rep,ldiate
this obligation"