The Robesonian., 1918-11-25
THE COST OF DEFEAT.
War Debt Of Germans Will Present a
Staggering Figure.

War Debt of Germans Will Present a
Staggering Figure.
Greensboro Daily News.
just what sums Germany will be
called upon by the victorious allies to
pay as penalty for bringing on the
war and plunging the world into blood
shed is of course a matter to be deter
mined by the associated nations at the
peace conference. However, it is GER
tain that the war debt which the
Germans of today and their children
and children's children must bear for
100 years will present a staggering
figure. All of it, Of course, will not
be for PREPARATION and restitution"
Much of it is Germany's war debt ac-
cumulated during the four years
struggle. But the lsum total will
probably be the greatest under which
any nation in the worlds history ever
labored. 1t will be sufficient, regard
less of league Of nations, to keep
the Germans busy at home trying to
pay it,, it will keep them out Of world
mischief, i. will hardly be an incen-
tive to tlrther dreams of world DOM
ination.
An Associated Press dispatch from
Washing on this week re ferred to the
fact that q study o1 Ge.,:,.ny's finan-
cial situs .ion nas Leer u lde. taken by
gOverL..4Glt I. :. ehcles Wit {. view to
throwing light on the ability of the
German natic,. to pay Aig sums as
reparation for Gevastation oi invaded
countries" 1t is stated that unofficial
reports indicate that Germany's ma
tional debt, represented mainly by war
bonds held within the empire, is now
nearly $35,000,000,000. The national
wealth Of Germany is placed at $780,
OO0, 100000, the national debt there
fore is nearly two-fifths of the esti-
mated national wealth. That debt, of
course does not take into consideration
one Of the principles upon which per-
aration and restitution to be placed on
Germany. The Washington Post, in
commenting on the burden to be plac-
ed on Germany, under the caption,
'The Huns Debts" refers to the
claims which France, alone is expected
to present against Germany. "The
amount of the bill that eventually is
to be assessed against the enemy pow
ers as reparatio nfor damage" says
the Post, "has been the subject of
speculation since it was accepted as
one of the principles upon which per
manent peace is to be had. A promi-
nent newspaper of Paris has estimat-
ed the total claim. Of France at 34O,-
O00,000,000 francs, divided as fol
lows: Return of the indemnity of
1871, with interest $4,000, 900, 900
francs; expenses of the present war,
100000, 100000 francs; pensions, 49,
O00,O00,000 francs; reparation for
damages, 100000, 900 900. The total
translated into dollars amounts to
$68, ,00O, ,0OO,0 900.
at is not known that these figures
represest the French idea of the
amount of indemnity that. must be
paid, but if they do, it is Interesting
to note tha tthey make debt under
which the enemy would scarcely strug-
gle, even with the most favorable cir
cumstances. Figures culled from the
statistics for 1915 show that the total
revenue of the German empire, Aus.
tria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria
were 81, 3O,946, 900; their public dehi
amounted to S., ,301, SCI, 600 and Their
interest and annual charges wert
$437 $4,000 ~ s,,<
If the peace conference should
award France total of $68, ,000, 900,
600, allowing 100 years for full pay
ment, the interest charges at pei
cent. would amount to $2,720, 900 ,O0(
annually. One per cent. for the sink
ing fund would amount to $3.50, ,O0O, ,00(
a year, making the total annual chargt
against the enemy countries SO, 400,
100000. This is about three times a!
much as their normal revenues, ant
makes no allowance for the bill.
which the other allies will present
1t is not probable that France will
demand as much as is estimated b!
the newspaper mentioned, but thes'
figures serve to convey an idea of tn
tremendous account which the HUI
will have to settle when the final bal
ance is struck"
Should the French claims or tn
claims of all the allied nations, ex
cept the United States, which ask
nothinr.' rorge around sixty-eioht %
seventy billion dollars, that added t
the thlrty-tlve billion war debt woul
place upon Germany's shoulders 1
burden of more than one hundred bil
lion dollars, or sum greater tina
Ici Cotdl HdClOIidl wealth.. ne VIC
tOrious allies however, are not eA
pected to concern themselves great
with Germany's redemption of he
own national debt, since this is largel
internal. They are primarily interest
ed in the amounts Germany must pa
to injured nations, and it is this hug
item which Germany will have t
take care of first If the Germa
people can bear up under the bur.le
of their own war debt and that in
. posed by the victorious allies German
of course will some day pay out.
not, then Germany must repudiate he
national war debt for allied accoul
must be settled. That rs the prit
of defeat or the reward of victory.