Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-11

and children. died MS result Of the
hardships they suffered
THE actual cost was over two hun
drcd billions Of dollars. and. in addi-
tion. fifty billions worth Of material that
has been destroyed and that must be
replaced
"Ninc billions Of dollars is the an
nual interest to be paid on the war bills
even with disarmament.
''In 1913 the annual bill for the
maintenance Of armies was two billions
three hundred millions; it is moro than
double that now. Sixteen billions Is
the total continuing annual BILL"
General Bliss based much Of his ar
gument on the fact that tho nations Of
the world have bound themselves. in the
preamble to the peace treaty. to take
up the question Of limiting ornaments
as soon rs Germany shall have carried
out the provisions of the treaty. The
clause Of the preamble which he read
was:
''1n order to. render possible the init
alton of q general limitation Of arma
ments among all nations, Germany
undertakes strictly to observe the mill
tary and air clauses which follow"
Twenty seven nations signed that
agreement. he said. Later. when asked
from the floor whether Germany was
maintaining good faith in carrying out
her part Of the treaty. he surprised his
hearers by saying:
II took particular care to make in e
Quiries before leaving Washington along
that very line. ! can say this. The
provisions of the treaty of peace are
being carried out by Germany as rap.
idly as can be reasonably expected. It
is a long process: you can have no con
ception of the immensity Of the task.
But it is being done very satisfactorily.
7 am amazed that they have made any
thing like the progress that they have. "
BOlshevism a Hindrance
Bolshcvism reared its head more than
once. both during the speech and the
following QUESTIONABLE.
THE situation in Russia, - said Gen =.
eral Bliss, lis undoubtedly great OBJ -
stacle to international disarmament.
Russia is under the control of a few
men more despotic than the czar him
self. There is nothing to- do but wait
until that problem solves itself.
And it is inConceivable that this
Russian problem will not at some time
he solved and will no longer be a hin =
drance to the solution OF this other
one"
Later. in answering question, he
said:
IL don't know how 2O-inch guns arc
going to keep this propaganda out Of the
United States. We had a discussion in
Paris when it looked as though the Bol q.
shcvists might break their way out.
Marshal Foch recommended the estab Z.
lishment Of n sanitary Gordon TO keen
it in check.
while we were talking about il we
found evidences that bolshevism had
broken out back Of where he intended to
place that line.
"You can stop the Bolshevist armies
but | don't see how YOU can stop an
idea. whether it is good or bad, by
bayonCts. Bolshevism, outside of Rus :
sia, is a, problem for each individual
country
General Bliss was prompt and I'm
hcSitating in answering questions until
some one asked: 'To what extent did
the United States win the war;" When
the laughter subsidized. he shook his
head. That is not relevant to my
subject, he said. II am not prepared
TO answer.
Illustrates Disarmament
In answer to query by John Cadwal
lador. he discussed alliances as against
disarmament.
"If we get together about table ~
discuss matter he said. smiling
land | see, sticking out of your pocket
the hilt of a butcher knife and YOU sec
out of mine the butt of revolver, we
are not likely to have a friendly discus
sion. But if say to you. viii you
put your knife over there il I put my
revolver there We could get together
We must do things so we are sure we
cannot suddenly hurt each other"
The audience that greeted tho speaker
was one of the most brilliant and truly
representative Of Philadelphia that has
ever gathered at a public function in
this city. Men whose names arc house e.
hold words were to be seen on every
row. Their interest was evidenced by
the fact that questions were asked not
only by Mr.. Cadwalladcr. but by Ells
Gimbcl. former State Senator Me .
Ilhonny and Adam GimbeI, TO say
nothing of Mike Dorizas, Oncc PENN
champion wrestler and football star
who tried to embroil England from the
back of tho hall. Dozens of other
questions were written on slips Of paper
aud sent up to the chairman, Edward
BOX. for submission to the speaker
Adam Gimbel's question brought out
Snappy answer that evoked the most
applause. How can you compel the
nations to disarm?' Mr.. Gimbc
asked.
"You cant" said the general SrimIy,
'but I'd like to make it possible to find
out what nation is going to be the next
Germany
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