New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-11-16
WAR COSTS ALLIES
over $50 BILLIONS
Economy Now Necessary-All
Govt. Depts. Must Retrench
Especial to The Heraldl

Pol4|iC<'i hl5LoI must be 3ntlCt-
pated; for the problems OF recon
struction are infinitely greater and
more complex than ever before ex
perienced. AS Lloyd George APPLY
said, many new nations have been
born out of this conflict, and their
preservation will depend upon the
successful establishment of a League
of Nations, which must also look to il
that the armaments of the various
nations are reduced to a. minimu UNI.
Another sentiment of high value, ex-
pressed by the British Premier as
we'll AS by President Wilson, was that
now the war was ended there should
be no vengeful policies toward Ger
many; policy strikingly justified by
the results Of Britain's magnanimous
treatment of the Beers after the war
in South Africa.
War Cost $3.50, 600, 900 600.
The tragic struggle just ended cost
the world a price utterly beyond COM
prehension. Debts incurred by the
various belligerents amount to some
where near $4,000, 100000, of which
33 billions belong to Great Britain
% billions to Germany. rs billions to
France, 26 billions to Russia and Is
billions to the United States about
to our Allies. To these sums must
be added the heavy amount paid out
Of current expenses, and from direct
taxation, which in the case OF the
United States and Great Britain
amounted to about one-third of their
newly acquired debts The loss of
property in the war zones of France,
Belgium and elsewhere runs UP into
tremendous figures; so does the Allied
and neutral shipping destroyed by
submarines. Other items must also
be taken into account, such as crops
wasted, crops not raised, industries
ruined, new enterprises killed. con-
struction delayed, capital diverted,
foreign trade disrupted and world
wide commercial REORGANIZATION; all
of which, If combined, would mount
up into figures still more staggering
than those given above. Even then
such losses are as nothing compared
with the millions of dead, estimated
at about ten millions, and the many
more millions Of manned: or with
the pain and misery Of those who suf-
fered behind the lines; or with the
setback to civilization; or with the
irreparabI BILE injuries to moral stand
ards and the bitter hatreds which will
require carnations for effacement.
Allies Have Been just.
As yet the wonderful change from
war to peace has not been fully real
lied. Terms of the arm istice are
drastic and severe, but not in the least
unjust, vindictive or revengeful. The
Allies could easily have dealt harshly
with a. crushed foe, but wisely re-
Trained. Final peace terms will, of
course, DO adjusted by the Peace
Commission now being organized
Germany has yet to face costs and
indemnities Tor the crimes she
wrought, but sucn punishment as
may be imposed will after all be as
nothing to what Germany will suffer
from the He'll of Hate which she has
herself created within the minds and
hearts of her own people
Rehabilitation Already Begun.
Decentralization has already begun.
Military operations are suspended,
and though neither army nor navy
will be materially reduced for some
time to come, industrial and COM
mercial activities will gradually re-
trace their steps back to NOT NAL. Not
a few reductions and cancellations OF
munitlon orders have already been
effected. Others should follow. Very
soon the Government will modify or
withdraw it's control over industry
and commerce. Such movements 1t
is safe to say will he effected grad
ually, and great care is being exer-
cised by the Government to avoid
throwing our economic machinery
into confusion. In not B. few cases,
such as the railroads, telegraphS'
shipping, etc, control Will last lot
months to come and the period may
be extended If public opinion and
Congress so decide. Food control may
also last for an indefinite period, oW-
ing to world wide scarcity and neces-
sitv for the United States feeding the
world to the best of its ability. Large
populations in Europe are on the
brink of starvation, and Mr.. Hoover,
who goes abroad as international food
dictator. intimates that we may be
able to furnish 90 million tons of food
this wear for Europe against mil
lions tons the year before the war
without some such restrictions as are
| being imposed, there would be such
an outbreak of speculation and high
| prices as to provoke worldwide dis
| aster and subsequent panic. me
| control of certain necessities provided
by nature, such as coal, Oil, etc, may
also remain until scarcity disappears
and ordinary economic forces resume
! their sway. Coal in event Of a colo
| winter might easily soar to very high
! prices which, combined with scarcity,
| would infict much suffering. The oil
| industry has been under severe strain
owing to war demands and heavy
! general consumption. A tremendous
| increase In production is already
| planned for after the-war, ana Will
| undoubtedly be rapidly pushed to
| completion The shipping situation
| does not warrant an immediate ais
| carding of artificial regulation; Meth
! err our own Government nor the Brit
! ish seeming disposed to surrender
| control for months ahead, despite the
| strong protests of shipowners and
| 10 s11ddenl1- a ban don reg