The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1919-08-26
COMPARISON ON COST Of
WORLD WAR TO AMERICA
Complete Retaliation of Repub-
lican Charges of Extrava-r
gance Given by Sanders

W
the war with Spain was fought ba
in 1898 is made by Representative
J. Y. Sanders, former governor of
Louisiana in a speech in the house of
representatives
Complete refutation of Republican
charges of extravaganza was furnish
ed by Representative Sanders, who
showed that cost per man under arms
to the United States was not much
greater in the late war than during
the Spanish war This despite the fact
that everything the government need
ed to equip, sustain and support its
army during the late war cost far
more than that back in the nineties, in
many cases a hundred per cent more
than the market prices that prevailed
in that time.
The period of real fighting in the
spanish American war was only about
three months; officially, the country
was at war from the latter part of
April, 1898, to April IL, 1899, when
the peace treaties were exchanged,
or little less than year. The total
number of men in the army during
the Spanish war was 27S,000, of whom
only small number ever reached
Cuba. To prosecute that war cost
the country $377,O00,O0O, or about
$3.50 per man for little less than
a year of war, war fought in Cuba,
but step away from the coast OF
the United States.
Americas participation in the world
war dates from April, 1917. AT the
end of the present fiscal year, June
80; 1919, the peace treaty still being
unsigned, America has been at war
with Germany Two and quarter
years. The cost of that war to the
United States is reckoned at $21, 000,-
100000, which Mr.. Sanders estimated
is approximately $2,543 per year per
man under arms for the two and a
quarter years.
I'm 1917 and 1918" said Mr. San
ders, lust twenty years after the war
with Spain when the price of every
thing has doubled and quadrupled the
ally held down to negligible increase
price Of the war per man was actu-
over the cost per man In 1898.
I'VE raised, equipped and transport
ed an army at cost per man less
than 100 per cent greater than it took
to do the same thing in 1898, and we
raised better organized army; we
equipped it better than we did twenty
years ago; we transported it three
thousand miles over hostile seas,
where we had to face only peaceful
strait in 1898 And the cost was
maintained at a level less than twice
the cost per man of the previous war,
and we cared for our soldiers better,
gave them better food and equipment,
gave them more of it, and paid them
more money and gave them more ben
efits than we did during our war with
Spain, and gave them more in COM
bined salary and various war bene-
fits, family allowances. insurance priv
iliges. and so forth. than any nation
ever gave it's fighting men in this
or any other war in historic" -
Mr.. Sanders showed that in Off
war with Germany had the death
from disease been the same as in the
Spanish war, losses from disease
alone would have been from Sep
TENDER /, 1917 to May 2, 1919, over
10000 men; they were actually less
than $4,000. Had the civil war death
rate prevailed, they would have been
over $4,000.
Statistics show, Mr. Sanders point
ed out, that had the death rate from
malaria that prvailed during the war
with Spain. prevailed during the late
war deaths from that cause during
the same period would have numbered
IL, 900; they were actually 10. Had
the Spanish dysentery death rate pre-
vailed during the war with Germany
they would have numbered 5000; it,
the civil war death rate had prevail
ed, they would have numbered $4,000.
The deaths from dysentery actually
numbered AZ. Where one man died
from dysentery during the late war,
l42 died during the Spanish war and
500 during the civil war. 4
Another item which entered into
he cost of the late war that of course
lid not appear In the others was avi- |
alton, which cost approximately ST.
300 100000. Pay for soldiers, pri-
Yates receiving $40 per month ac-
counted for about $4,000, 100000. \
After referring to the investigation
If tn food scandal of the Spanish war;
when a court of inquiry, named under |
he direction of President Mckinley, |
the handling of the sup
bly, as a Colossal blunder," Mr.. San
lerS said.
Whatever else may have been said |
by our men returned from overseas
Is to their hardships, none has yet |
said, to my knowledge, that indelible, |
meat was ever given him |
'or food while in the service of his
country in France.
"I contend that the great war be- |
sides being a shining achievement in !
he cause of humanity was an achieve |
nent in efficiency and economy I'M |
'ivalled in the life of our nation, and |
he indisputable evidence of the his
DRY of all past wars bears out this
assertion.
Americas achievement in the war
lust ended is the marvel Of the ages,
md unstinted praise comes from all |
he world, and the nations that we |
rescued from the grasp of the Hun |
stand even today amazed at the rapid |
ty of our participation in the strug-
gle. Not g. voice is raisd in all the |
world at what we did or how we did |
t save here at home. The harmony |
of the chorus of approval of all hui
manity is marred in its completeness |
only by the critic in our midst, and |
ais criticism will be lost as the years |
20 by, in the universal acclaim ac-
corded the splendid administration |
hat SO splendidly handled the SPLEEN
lid resources and splendid men Of a |
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