The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-15
THE WAR-ITS LOSSES
AND GAINS; 100000 MEN
UNDER ARMS ON THE EU-
RoPEAN BATTLEFRONTS

900 men are under arms in Europe,
whose energies have been turned
from production to destruction. Ov-
er 100000 men have been killed or
permanently injured since the war be-
gun, the killed alone numbering over
100000. Over $1OO,0OO,OOO,OOO have
already been expended by the ma
tions at war, and at present rate of
rising expenditure the cost will ex-
coed $15O,OOO,O when the end
of the fourth year is reached next
August.
When it is remembered that for
every man at the front three to five
are required at the rear for his sup
port, it follows that between 100000
900 and 200,000,0O0 men have been
withdrawn from the normal channels |
of production into the abnormal No
wonder that the world is facing Sc
rious economic famine, not only in
food and clothing, but also in the
,innumerable materials required for
human comfort and support. The loss
in life and money only partly meas
ures the colossal bill for damages,
which will be crushing burden for
generations. Such bill must also
include the setback to moral and
spiritual forces, the inheritance of
bitterness, the detrimental effects
upon art, literature, science, educa.
ton and all the varied social and po-
litical' activities which are part of our
civilization. These are losses that
will leave their impress upon the ma
tons for many future decades. The
materials losses such as destruction
OF factories, railroads, ships, cities,
etc. though less important than those
just mentioned, are visible and more
readily offset by new energies and
resources that will promptly develop
with the advent of peace.
The huge cost of this war can be
appreciated when it is considered that
the six great wary preceeding-the
Russo-Japanese the Boer, the Franco
Prussian, the American civil war, the
Crimean and the Napoleonic wars
cost about $23,OOO,OOO 900, as against
$4,000, 100000, the estimate of this
war up to next August. Great Brit
ain will then have spent $4,000, O0O,-
600, including $6,OOO,0OOO 900 in loans
to Allies, and good authorities esti-
mate that in these three years the
warning powers will have uadrupled
their debts the interest on which al
ready amounts to $5000,0OO,O0O 1t
would seem as If such burdens would
break the back of any nation, yet the
tremendous development of resources
and the great potential recuperative
: powers of the various nations afford
good basis for the belief that recov-
cry will be more rapid than expected.
This country will recover with a
: bound when peace comes, and the
gain from our exports and newly op.
ened markets will largely offset pres
ent losses. Great Britain will GER.
tainly recuperate rapidly, as she has
always done after each war. Ger
many will make tremendous efforts
at recovery, though handicapped by
: impaired finances and the break up of
| her foreign trade. she should not be
hampered when peace comes by re-
taliatory tariffs; they would only keep
jealously alive and limit her purchas-
ing powers from the United States.
France, too, will show great resilien.
cy. One of the most serious after
war problems will be that of defia.
ton; Germany, Russia and France
: have trebled or quadruppled their is
: sue of paper money. England is the
1 only leading nation in Europe redeem
ing its obligations in gold.
Effects of War Upon United States
In the political machinery of the
United States revolutionary changes
have already taken place and other
are imminent. Within few short
months government regulation of in
dustry has been established on a scale
that would have required many years
to put into effect in times of peace
# Our vast railway system has come
under government control, and is moi
@ likely to return to the old system OF
n scattered private management. Rail
s road unifcation will remain, and the
q tendency of Capitalization promises
10 to surpass the widest dreams of ever
10 disciple of Hartman. Government
8, ownership is not yet in sight, but
al government control has been adopted
N to the benefit of the public and thu
railroads alike. Government regula