Evening star., 1928-12-23
Gigantic Sums for Warfare
n
lion Men Arms

shevists have different standards of val
ues on internal and foreign trade. How
ever, with rise of but per cent in the
index price figures, authenticated COM
parsons show Russias recent arma-
mentS expenditures in gold rubles as
follows: 1924-25, 436, 100000 1925-26,
604, 10000; 1926-27, 692, 500 900; 1927
g.. 13.3000O0; 1928-29, 900,00O,000
It will be noted that in five years the
Bolshevists have more than doubled
their army expenditure, since practically
nothing Is being spent by the Russians
for naval purposes. The troops get the
bulk of the money and chemical and
air force departments especially are be-
ing perfected.
Great Britain's Expense.
Great Britain's yearly expenditures
furnish one of the most interesting and
significant comparisons. In pounds
sterling the actual expenditures for the
last five years show q consistent gain,
with the exception of 1926, when the
top figure was reached. The chart re-
veals the following: 1924, 10000, 600;
1925, 115,000,0O0; 1926, 100, 300, 900; ;
1927, 116.700,000; 1928, 117,000,000.
The budget estimate for 1928-29 is
only 114.600,0OO pounds sterling, but
estimates" placed before Commons
never include the supplementary
items" which add to 10 per cent TO
the amounts authorized.
1t is interesting to note that while
the index figures for wholesale prices
had fallen IL per cent and for retail
prices per cent between 1924 and
1929, the ornaments expenditures
had risen by more than seven million
pounds. Treasury officials announced
that the cost of living of British work.
ers had decreased more than $780,
100000 over the same period in excess
of reductions in wages. Yet while the
nation was effecting such huge savings
in other fields it was steadily increaS-
ing ornaments burdens. Laborite and
Liberal leaders in Parliament are cog
nizant of the situation and it Is under
stood the opposition program for the
coming year will include 30 per cent
all-around slash In armament expendi-
lures.
Germany Does Nothing.
Germany, it appears, Is doing moth
ing to conserve her financial resources
so far as non-military expenditures
are concerned. The Versailles treaty
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establishment, but it made no provi-
sion as to the amount of money to be
spent upon it. The result is that the
reich is spending more money per man
on her army than any country IN the
world The advances of the past five
years have been consistent and steady.
Increased costs have nothing to do
with the growth: in fact, a comparison
of values even magnif1es the trend up
ward. In gold marks the statistics show
up as follows:
1924 1927
Army ........ 379,900,000 $1,000, 900
Navy ......... 110,000,000 100000, 900
Total with war
costs $50. 4s7,8o0,00 7172O0, 900
This year Germany's army expendi-
lures will be greater than ever before.
The estimates submitted to the League
are slightly under half billion gold
marks, while the navy costs are given
as 212,000,000 gold marks, Germany's
demand that the other European coun-
tries "disarm" somehow does not ring
true in view of the statistical evidence.
Her expenditures may fall far below
those of France and England, but the
trend upward-more distinct and sig
nificant-is there.
France alone of European powers
does not conceal her faith in arma-
ments, although she leads the vocal
Continued on Fifth Pagel