Evening star., 1942-05-04
35-Bi||ion War Fund
Request 10 Lift Total
Above 100 Billion
Action Expected Soon;
Gosh Outlay Now Equals
Cost of World War

Cash Outlay Now Equals
Cost of World War
BY the Associated Press.
Fiscal officials disclosed today
that the United States already
has paid out in cash for this war
as much as it spent during the
World War-and concurrently.
informed legislators said they
expected President Roosevelt to
place before Congress in the next
week or 10 days a request for
an appropriation for the War
Department said to be approx
mately $4,000, 100000.
This amount the largest single
appropriation request in history,
would bring to more than $780,
900 0,000,000 the total appropriations
and contract authorizations made
for military purposes in the past
two years.
The cost of the World War to the
United States from 1917 until the
peace treaty was ratified in 1921
was $25, ,729 900 900, including loans
to the Allies. Since July l, 1910,
when the Nation started preparing
for this conflict, the Government
has paid out approximately $26,-
000, 900 900 for war purposes. Fur
ther, with spending running in ex-
cess of $4,000, 100000 a month, it
will not be long before the expendi-
lures exceed the aggregate cost of
the last war, including not only
expenditures, up to the time of the
peace treaty but also for pensions
compensation, bonuses and other
purposes since. Counting these
extras the World War cost about
s45 900, 900 900.
Exact Figure Not Revealed.
The prospective appropriation of
S35, ,000, ,000, 900 would represent a re-
vision of pre-Pearl Harbor esti-
mates of War Department needs
through the fiscal year ending June
80, 1943. While the exact figure
of the revised estimate has not been
announced by War Department and
Budget Bureau experts, Repre-
sentative Cochran, Democrat, of
Missouri, a member of the Appro-
priations Committee, told the House
last week it would approximate
$35, 900, 900 900.
The White House said the Army
1o a>t ,4f t%1l
estimates either to the President or
to the Budget Bureau. Consequent
ly, White House spokesman de-
scribed as premature reports that
$35 900 900 900 will be sought.
The measure is expected to pro-
vide funds for about % 1000 more
warplanes, large quantities of tanks,
anti-aircraft guns and artillery and
for an army Of more more 1000 900
men.
Sufficient money has already been
provided for an army of 100000
men by the end Of 1912. There have
been increasing indications in the
Capital that this would be increased
to 100000 and perhaps to 5000, 900
in 1943. The new appropriation
would provide, 1t was said, for this
many men, as well as full equipment
for. them.
In his message to Congress in
January, President Roosevelt called
for Army production as follows:
1890 900 planes; $4,000 tanks;
10000 anti-aircraft guns.
1943-125,000 planes; $4,000 tanks;
$4,000 anti-tircraft guns.
Congress has already appropriated
or authorized expenditures of $751;
100000 900 toward the mammoth
program and the revised War De-
partment request is expected to
complete the job.
Up to now the largest single ap-
preparation made by Congress was
S33 900 900 900 for war purposes.
Last week President Roosevelt sign
ed a $4,000, 900 war appropri-
ton measure providing for, among
other things, 81 900 new war planes.
While the programmed expendi-
lures approximate s161 .o0o, 900 900,
it may take couple Of years to
pay that much out. The Budget
Bureau figures war costs for the
fiscal year starting July / at S70,-
000,000000. The current years war
bill will be s28 900 900 900, while the
first year of preparedness, from July
!, 1910, through June 30 l94l, cost
s6,047,e29, ,2s2.
BY this time next year this wars
costs will be greater than all Ameri-
can wars put together. Counting
pensions and similar after-payments,
the previous wars cost something
over s62, 900 900, 900.
Exact statistics never have been
compiled, but available Treasury
records indicate these figures:
Revolution-About s150,000000.
War of l8l2-sl33, 100, 1000.
Mexican War-sl66,0O0,0 ,000
Civil War North only)-S15 OCT, =
o62, ,784 Ito 1889.
With with Spain-sl ,92l ,504, ,3o7
Ito 1881
World war-s41, ,7s5 100000 (to
1880.
4iiC StOltpSC
specific track of World War costs
after 1884, but items since then
especially the bonus in 1886, prob
ably would bring the total close to
s45, 900 900 900.
The Army. now spreading its in
fantrymen, tank corps and planes
in various parts Of the globe, is
leading the current spending march
followed closely by the Navy ano
then by lease-lend activities on be-
half of our Allies.
For % days of April, expenditure;
were:
Army, s1,256.l5o,54o; Navy, $685..
443983; lease-lend s506,847 1886
loan to China, 5000 100000; Mari
time Commission, s8l, ,776,7l0; Wal
Shipping administration, S26,7 TOT, ;,
1868. Smaller amounts were spen
@~.s l., H. - l.