BLOOD AND TREASURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18546, 21 August 1928, Page 5

BLOOD AND TREASURE.

What a price in blood and treasure did the Allies pay for the peace which we are now enjojdng on the fourteenth anniversary of the eve of war! (said a Melbourne paper on August 4). Their death roll numbered 4,963,922, including 59,342 Australians. Russia lost 1,700,000, France 1,393,388, the British Empire 1.069,825, Italy 460,000, Serbia 127.535, U.S.A. 115,660, and Belgium 38,172. Up to the end of last month the cost of the war to Australia had been about £687,500,000. In the war period alone Great Britain spent £9,500,000,000. It included £1,820,000,000 direct taxation, £910,000,000 indirect taxation, and £5,500,000,000 borrowed at home, £1,300,000,000. In the same way U.S.A . spent £8,105,000,000, France £7 962 200,000, Russia £5,312,700,000, Itiilv £4,432,700,000, Serbia £119,000,000, and' Belgium £411,800,000, so that the total voted by those seven Parliaments was £35,843,400,000. Since then a huge amount has been spent on repatriation, and the payment of pensions and gratuities. Fourteen years have passed since England made the momentous decision, and the King’s message was flashed to the fleet; “Destroy the enemy.” Commisisons of inquiry have sat, innumerable books have been written, and countless speeches made; and at the end of it all there can be but one opinion, that the Asquith Cabinet took the only honourable course open to it.