Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-11-18

1
execution thar made it possible for the
achievement Of such notable victories.
The war COST the people OF the United
States considerably more than $780,
600 an hour for more than two years.
The direct cost was about S22,OOO,-
100000, or nearly enough to pay the
entire cost of running the United
States Government from 1871 up to
the outbreak Of the European war.
Our expenditures in this war were
sufficient 10 have carried on the Rev
dictionary War continuously for more
than 1000 years at the rate of ex-
penditure which that war actually in
volved
In addition to this huge expenditure
nearly 100000 were loaned by
the United States to the Allies.
The army expenditures were over
Sl4,0O00O0,00O, or nearly two:thirds
Of the total war costs.
During the first three months our
war expenditures were at the rate OF
S2,OO0,OOO a day. During the next
year they averaged more than S22,-
| 100000 day. For the final ten
months of the period, from April, 1917,
to April, 1919, the daily average was
over S44,OOO,OOO.
The total war costs Of all nations
were about SlS6OOO,OOO,OOO, of which
tn Allies and the United States spent
two-thirds and the enemy one-third.
The three nations spending the great
est amounts were Germany, Grea,
Britain and France, in that order. At
ter them came the United States and
Austra-H Hungary, with substantially
equal expenditures.
OF every 100 American soldiers and
sailors who served in the war with
Germany, two were killed or died OF
disease during the period of hostilties.
The total battle deaths of all ma
tons were greater than all the deaths
m all the wars in the previous 100
years.
Russian battle deaths were "a times
as heavy as those of the United States
those of Germany - times as great,
the French % times, and the British
Is times as large.
The number of American lives lost
was l22,50O, of which about 10000
were in the navy, and the rest in the
army and the marines attached to it.
In the American Army the casualty
rate in the infantry was higher than in
any other service, and that for officers
was higher than for men.
For every man killed in battle sew
en- were wounded
Five out of every six men sent to
hospitals on account of wounds were
cured and returned to duty.
In the expeditionary forces battle
losses were twice as large as deaths
from disease.
In this war the death rate from dis
ease was lower and the death rate from
battle was higher than in any other
previous American war.
incubation, clean camps, and safe
drinking water, practically eliminated
typhoid fever among the troops.
Pneumonia killed more soldiers than
were killed in battle. Meningitis was
the next most serious disease.
or each 100 cases of social diseases
, recorded in the United States, 90 were
! contracted before entering the army and
only four afterward
During the entire war, available hos
pital facilities in the A. E. F. were in
excess of the needs.
Two cut of every three American
soldiers who reached France took part
in battle. The number who reached
Franco was 2,0S4,OOO, and Of these
100000 saw active service at the
front.
Of the AZ divisions that reached
France % took part in active combat
service. Seven of them were regular
army divisions, II were organized
] from the National Guard, and II we're
made up of National Army troops.
American divisions were in battle
for 200 days and engaged in 13 major
! operations.
! FROM the middle of August until
! the end Of the war the American di-
visions held during the greater part of
/ the time front longer than that held
, by the British.
In October the American divisions
held lOl miles of line, or % per cent
OF the entire western front.
On the first OF April the Germans
mad superiority of $4,000 in rifle
strength Due TO American arrivals