The sun., 1918-12-12
The Premier Puts Teuton
Wealth Before War at GO
to 100 Billion.
MUST PAY TO CAPACITY
Compulsory Service for
Emergency Only, He Tells
Auditors in Bristol. -
SEA POWER WILL REMAIN
"Wherever Request Comes
From We Are Not Going to
Give Up Protection"
SEA POWER WILL REMAIN

By the Associated Press.
BRIsToI, Dec. 1.-THE war bill Of
the Allies against Germany is $780,
900, 100000 according to the British
Prime Minister. David Lloyd George.
who presented this and other inter-
esting facts before large gathering
here to-day. The cost of the war to
Great Britain was $4,000, 100000.
Before the war the estimated
wealth of Germany, said the Pre-
mier, was between 100000, 100000
and 100000, 100000. So If the whole
wealth of Germany were taken there
would not bS>enough to pay the ac-
count. Therefore he had used the
words: Germany should pay to the
utmost limit Of her capacity"
When the Prime Minister was ad-
dressing an overflow meeting he said
Great Britain would be guilty of a
great folly If she gave up her navy.
A voice interrupted: "Then watch
Wilson,
The Premier replied: We'll,
hope TO meet him In fortnight.
will tell him what you say.
wherever the request comes from
we are not going to give up the pro-
lection of the navy so far rs Great
Britain is concerned"
iConscription at an End.
Mr.. Lloyd George said the British
military service act was passed in
order TO meet n great emergency.
When that emergency was passed the
need was passed and the act would
lapse. He added there was no inten-
ton to renew it. Whether Great
Britain would require cOnscription in
the future in any shape or form, Mr..
Lloyd George said, depended not upon
the opinion which he now expressed,
but upon the peace terms which were
made. Continuing the Prime Minister
said:
the existence OF conscript armies on
the Continent that inevitably rushed
the world into war. They could not
have great military machines there
without tempting the men at the head
of them to try their luck with those
machines. Tho Germans always felt
there was nothing to resist their per-
feet military machine.
IF
you want to prevent the horrors Of
this war being repeated You must put
an end to Conscript armies on the
Continent OF Europe.
Navy n Defensive Weapon.
The FIRST thing to do is to prevent
the repetition of blunders OF the past
by making II impossible TO have those
great Conscript armies in the future.
We did not have the machinery for
an offensive war. oar navy is a de-
Iensivc weapon and not an offensive
one, and that is why we do not mean
TO give it up. We have kept these
islands free from invasion for CEN
turies and We mean to take no risk
in the future"
Mr.. LLOYD George said the decision
which would be taken in the next few
months in the peace conference was
going to leave mark upon the world.
The ages to come lie said would be
able to reap the fruits of it,
The Premier next dealt with the
question OF indemnity. He asserted
the war had cost Germany less than l.
lad cost Great Britain. Tho German
hill, he believed, was $50 600 900 900 or
So, 900, 100000, He conicnded it was
indefensiOle that the person who was
in the wrong and had lost should pay
less than the person who was declared
TO be in the right and had won.
GermRny's Ability 10 Pay.
The Premier said a British Imperial
Commission had been appointed to in
vestigate the capacity OF Germany (to
pay) and that he had received it's re-
port. lie summarized his remarks on
this point as follows:
Frst-As far as justice Is con-
ccrned We nave an absolute right TO
demand :he whole cost Of the war
from Germany.
Sccond-We propose to demand
the whole cost of the war from Ger.
many.
Third-When you come 10 the ex-
acting of 1t Hve must exact in such
way that il does not do moro harm
to the country that receives 1t than
the country that is paying II.
Fourth--Thc committee appointed
by the British Cabinet believes that
can be done.
Fifth--The Allies are In exactly
In the same boat. We shall put in