The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-10-10
WHY IT COSTS
EUNCLESAM 50 ..
MUCH IN WAR
Simply Because Americans In
sist Upon Living on Higher
Plane Than Allies.
THE YANk is WELL FED
Nothing But Good Grub Coun-
tenanced by Soldiers-Equip-
ment on Same Level.

Washington. Oct 9.-Why does it
cost the United States so much more
to make war than it costs any of its
co-belligerents?
What is being done with the tens Of
billions being raised from Liberty
bonds and taxation? One otter hears
these questions.
The answer is not difficult.
1t is, that it costs an American more
10 do anything than it costs anyone
else in the world. That is the best
reason why Americans should buy Lib
erty bonds.
The American army is composed OF
wOrkingmen. The American working
man demands Il higher standard OF
everything than any othe" working
man in the world. When he becomes
a soldier be car. les tina. standard with
him, and, comparatively, gets it.
Napoleon said, and everybody ever
since has repeated. that an army tray
els on its stomach. so naturally the
subsistence Of the American soldier
comes first in the long bill which is
rapidly running to $50,000,O0O a day.
The regular ration list Of the Ameri
can army calls for fOrty-nine different
items of food. 1t includes many things
which are Injuries to the soldiers OF
the foreign armies. AT that, it only
costs 80 cents a>day to feed soldier.
The figure is low because the govern
ment has the advantage of dealing III
billions and tons where the individ Ia
deals in dollars and pounds. Even 30.
the army has felt the increased cost
of living because 1t cost only l28l
cents a day to feed soldier dn. 'ng
the Spanish war.
Take into account the almost stag
gering sums the government has spent
for food alone since the war began:
$37 100000 worth of flour $l4,O0O.OOO
worth of sugar, $430O0,00O worth OF
, bacon; $l2,0OO.OOO worth of beans: 49,
100000 worth Of canned tomatoes; 3d.
100000 worth Of rice. 1t sounds al
most like food bill for Il nation.
Without any disparagement whatev-
er of the rationing system Of the co.
g belligerents 1t may be said that while
the food of the British soldier COM
pares favorably with that Of his Amer
lean cousin. the French ration is: less
acceptable to the American and that
OF the Italians would ge very cold
reception. ~
The equipment of the American sol
der Is no less up to standard than his
food Since the beginning of the war
the government has spent $126,GO0,-
900 for shoes. Only recently con-
tract was let which is intended to keep
every soldier with two pairs-One for
marching and one for general wear.
The price in quantity Of millions was
well over S. a pair Old soldiers OF the
regular army can remember when the
government issued "brOgans' ia re-
moved in quality fOm the army shoe
o to-day.
The American soldiers clothing so
far has cost around $50O,000,0OO. For
his blankets the government has spent
$150.000. 900 Everything else is in pro-
portion for in every particular OF his
enuinment the government has sup
piled the soldier with the same rela-
tive high standard he was accustomed
to at home in civil life. The extra
cost Of maintaining an army on for
oign soil has entered into the huge
bill because it has been found that 1t
costs S4232 to equip and maintain a
soldier year abroad as against
S3271S at home. OF this sum $231.S3
goes for food The rationing expenses
at home is S1S9.S0.
The high standard has been carried
to the soldiers pay. For all practical
purposes of estimate the American