COST OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1919, Page 6

COST OF WAR.

MILLIONS IN LIVES AND MONEY. BRITAIN'S GREAT BURDEN. Sydney, Jan. 21. Addressing members oi Granville Brotherhood on the subject ot finance and the war ou Sunday afternoon, Senator Pratteu said that probably about 8,000,000 of the world's manhood had been cut off in the prime of life, either by casualties in the war itself or by disease directly or indirectly caused through the war. France had lost approximately one million, Germany two millions, Russia two and a-half millions, the Empire three-quarters of a million, Italy half a million, and Austria and the other belligerents about one million in all Uf the thrcequarters of a million men from the Empire's forces who had paid the supreme sacrifice Australia had lost 55,000 men kilicd, and Canada nearly an equal numberApart from the appalling loss of human life, a careful analysis of the financial figures would show tlnit the cost of the first four years of war to all the cou'ilriiv engaged in it had been about £30,000,000,000, and it had been estimated That of■ this huge sum the cost to tlie Allies would be about two-thirds, and to the enemy one-third. In simple words, the war had cost the V.ntente £,' l for every £1 spent by the Central Powers. It would thus be seen that the main burden of the war had fallen on the Mother Country. Nearly £0,000,000.000 in war loans had been raised by the United Kingdom, a sum elosely approximating £l5O a head of her whole population—men, women; and children. Five million persons, about one in nine, had subscribed to these loans, and in warsaving certificates alone the people of the United Kingdom had subscribed in small sums a total of £300,000,000. Of the net wealth of Great Britain 30 per cent had already gone into war loans. Canada's quota was 10 per cent, Now Zealand's _S per cent, and Australia's about 9 per cent. If the question should be asked, "What has the Motherland done?'' surely we might be entitled to reply, "What has the Motherland not done ? Comparing Australia's war effort with the efforts of other belligerents, and taking all the circumstances into consideration, added Senator Pratt.en, it must he admitted we had done well. Tn the settlement of peace terms Australia should stand for the recoupment of her war costs and losses: the annexation of the former German possessions in the Pacific over a wide zone; and her free and autonomous development within a paramount British Umpire behind an united fleet.