La Grande evening observer., January 19, 1918, Image 3

1. l lit.
PAG Is. TnJIEE.
LA (fJRAXDK KVKN'LNG OBSliKVKLl
13 MILLION MEN
. IS COST OF WAR
Figures Stupendous Beyond Pow
er of Human Mind to
Compass.
MOST OF TEEM ARE KILLED
Big Price Being Paid for the World'
Future Security Money Cost
Nearly $175,000,000 a Day
Capital Cut Down.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
(Correspondent, of tlio CIiIcuko News.)
Washington, D. C. The figures re
lating to the cost nt this win- uro stu
pendous beyond the power of the liu
ninn ml ml to compass.
The number of men killed In battle
lias been hoi ween 7,fitl0,000 and S,
(XIO.OOO. Offsetting tlio number of
deuths'which -would have occurred in
times of peace, it Is safe to set the
war loss nt more than T.ooO.tXKl men.
This 1 about ono man In twenty for
each year of the wholu number mobilised.
The figures arc large, but they are
based on the greatest armies the world
has ever seen. Miroovcr, the death
rate has been falling steadily Through
out the war, as methods nior-o econom
ical of human life are adopted and
hospital efficiency Increases. The
well-prepared nations lose lciist. Itus
sla has suffered t -.;-:i;:iU' : propor
tionately large because In the lirst
year of the war her troops were sent
to the front poorly supported by artll
lery and sometimes literally unarmed.
On the western front the French losses
wore heaviest for the first two years,
hut as England takes over the bull! of
the fighting her casualties Increase
and those of France full oft.
Total of 5,260,000 Disabled.
In nddltlon to Ihu dead, the perma
nently distillled total about ri.UWXX)
men. Tims the net loss In mui
amounts to about lll.OOO.O'JO. There
have probably been about 10,0(10,000
men less seriously wounded In such a
way that they have cither been re
turned to the front or able to pursue
some useful occupation in civil life.
Some realization of, the meaning of
these totals may bo gleaned from the
reflection that the dead and the total
ly disabled equal more than half the
able-bodied men In the United Slates.
The money cost Is a vastly more
confusing problem. The total is be
yond all comparison with ifeiy nation
al debts, loans or expenditures of the
past. At the beginning of the war
the cost of 5:!0,j(i(!,KM a day. It was
predicted Kurope could not stand it
for six mouths. Now, well along in
the, fourth year, the cost is . nearly
5173,000,000 u day anil (here are no
tigus of a financial breakdown.
It has become Increasingly evident
that lack of "money" will never make
any nation surrender. As long as suf
ficient economic resources actually ex
ist in the shape of men and munitions,
food und beasts nod Iron and steel,
so-long can tlio nation hi question con
tinue to make war. In looking for u
flerninn breakdown the eye should
turn not toward the absurdly depreci
ated (lorninn mark, but toward what
Germany has left In men and food and
steel.
Its Future Mortgaged.
This is because a nation can mort
gage its ."utiiro like a man who enters
a shop whh empty pockels and pays
for goods wiih signed notes pledging
the labor of his ciiildn n. The world's"
debt since the war has Increased by
SW,0OO,no0,O(a The total cost has ex
ceeded this figure by at least $I."i,01HI,
000.(1110, the difference representing tile
amount levied In taxes in excess of the
interest requirements.
It Is easy to see that If all the lnter-
J't S pud lo- people living" In '" the
Lnltcd states, and the principal at
the end of th term1 also paid to resi
dents In the United States, the United
States as a nation Is no weaker ilium
chilly for having borrowed $20,000,000--000
than If It bad never borrowed ft
cent. Such enormous loans will prob
ably effect a redistribution of wealth,
for the Interest charges will be met
by taxation, and provision made for
a sinking fund In the same way. llv
redistributing this taxation wisely and
equitably, the end of the period that
the. Liberty bonds have to run may
well see a more efficient balance oi
wealth than the present.
As In reckoning win- strength, the
basic realities of tho problem are eco
nomic rather tlmn financial. Such
part of the great war loans ns Is In
vested In convertible factories, la
Increase of food production and sltnl-1
lar real assets, cannot be regarded as
lost. On the other hand, tho dollars
that are spent for shells which ex
plode and ships that sink are lost In
fuct.
World's Capital Cut Down.
Moreover, the cost In dollars Is no
measure of the real economic cost of
the war, because' It takes no account
of the enormous destruction of prop
erty that has taken place. This rep
resents a cutting Into the capital of
the world. The sinking of millions of
tons of shipping, tho destruction of
cities, the ravaging of farm lands, the
deterioration of Industrial equipment
In tho last three years, are 'only it few
of the items that must be charged to
this account. One huge item Is the
labor of 50,000,000 men who have been
taken coinpi tcly from productive oc
cupations. Even reckoning their value
to Industry at the moderate sum of $1
n day, In four years of war tho indus
trial loss mounts up to $75,000,000,000.
There Is no disposition on the purt
of the allies to begrudge the expendi
ture. It Is the highest price that bus
ever been paid in history for anything
but the thing purchased Is security for
the application of these same forces
to peaceful alms In the future. It Is
literally true that the men and money
spent In this war could have trans
formed the earth. They could huvo
established universal sanitation, uni
versal education, eliminated biu'bfcr-
Ism and savagery, reclaimed all the
waste lands, established communica
tions by rail and steam with every
corner of the globe, and brought the
millennium nearer by a long stride.
At least, the human race has ceased
to be awed by the Hiatal I ink' of any
project. In tho hell of war, men have
learned that no task Is too great for
them, and that Is a thought worth car
rying Into times of peace.
SPAIN INVADES BROADWAY
SPIES TRAINED
- FROM BOYHOOD
Secret Activities ' of German
Women Told by Dr. Arthur
Lynch, M. P.
SYSTEM IS FAR REACHING
Eyes of French People Suddenly
Opened to Extent of the Organiza
tion and Its Studied and
Elaborate Character.
London. Dr. Arthur Lynch, M. P.,
writing under a Paris date to the Daily
Chronicle on German spies In France,
says :
"In Marcel Provost's Los Anges Oar
diens' (The Guardian Angels, other
wise governesses) he depicts an Kijg
llsh governess who Is fond of driuk,
an Italian whoso beauty wins .the (;f
fcctionsirf the sun ami heir, and a Ger
man, Meg by name a Jolly and attrac
tive young woman, unembarrassed by
moral scruples, but capable and
shrewd. Mej; Is a spy, and her spying
p mmmm mm
id
Largest
Automobile
Show
Ever
Held
in the
Northwest
Feb.
7 to 13
Portland's Ninth Annual
Automobile Show
Latest models in Farm Tractors, Trucks and
Automobiles
Portland's Magnificent New Anditorium
Gr.c Week, Commencing Thursday, Feb. 7
ADMISSION 28 CENTS
Reduced Itailroad Kates Certificate Plan
1 &
When a Want Ad Is Working For You
Yoa're making sure progress in your hunt for a buyer for that
used machinery, or furniture or office appliances. People are not
i fraiJ to bjy nccied thinps because they arc "second hand." The
important thing is lhat they are still good enough to give satis
factory service. If they aro your ad, will do business for you.
Spain has Invaded. fftroadway
No less than three companies oi
Spanish dancers aro showing Now
York -something new." With tho
arrival of two new Spanish danc
ers In town, Minna Vallorl. who
has been dancing in "Maytlmo"
at tho Shuhort Tncarter. has la
ta ed an invitation to her rivals
L Argentine in tho "Land of Jov."
a now production at tho Park
Theater, and Tortoln do Valencia,
who has been engaged for tho
'.Miss 1017" at the Century.
I Miss Vulien wants to arraneo
a special matiuco nt which she can
match lier skill against tho others
tho contest to decide- which is
tho most graceful and expert in
Spanish dancing, and which has
Srcatcst endurance i
At tho top Is Tortola do Valen
cia, on the right Is -Minna vallerl,
nd lnret is L'Argentlne. .'
is the more iTiiagerou-i to the 'fuel "that
she is the 'guardian uti;:el' of -the
daughter of the l-'rench war minister.
"This story, wrliten with a certain
grace of style, set all France talking,
and many a bourgeois family scrutin
ized with horror their stoclcish, stupid
looking but hardworking Wostplinllnu
maid, who knew little outside the
small household ami who, moreover,
had conceived u leal affection for tho
children.
"I confess I was Inclined to laugh at
the spy scan;, but some time before
the war I us"d to meet on the stair
case of a modest and quiet little pri
vate hotel the ilnme who stood for the
original of Meg. Hhe had an apart
ment adjoining mine. There was noth
ing about her appearance or her man-,
ners to attract attention. Meg litul, In
good 'Oerinaii style,' grown' Imposing
though still attractive In the German
fashion.
"One evening, on returning to my
rooms, I saw Meg's lady companion,
a dragon looking person, camped on u
chair on the landing near Meg's door,
and presently three middle-aged geu- !
tlemen left Meg's rooms. ' Meg knew I
that the win1 was coming, und no doubt
serious business was on hand that
night.
Abused by German Husband.
"Parisians have become very suspi
cious of late, but the surprise was gen
eral nevertheless when they discov
ered that their exotic favorite, Mata
Ilarl, the Hindoo dancer, was a Gor
man spy. This lady with the dusky
skin and flexible wrists and languor
ous graced "'' l'-aslein dancing women
turned out to lie a formidable person
age. At the age of seventeen she mar
ried n Gorman who bad obtained
Dutch nationality in order to mask his
spying worl;. The marriage was rather
in Hie nature of n formal business
transaction, but tills did not prevent
the,one-tlme German olllcer from bru
tally Ill-treating his young wife.
"Xevertlieless she entered Into the
spy system Willi zest, became duly
registered and paid, amusid and de
lighted Paris for some years with her
audacious performances, heeumo ac
quainted with various highly placed
otllclals and politicians and found
means, It Is said, to make known to
the Germans soiae of the ua.st Im
portant Trench plans in the lirst
months' of the war.
"Certainly it is absurd to Had a spy
in every German kitchen maid or hall
porter or barber's api-rcuiice, hut eyes
have been ojn ned to the extent of the
organization, its studied and elaborate
character and lite cleverness of the
German spy system.
"Hero in Pails is a type very dif
ferent from Meg, bat one who em
ploys the Megs as his agents the
count of V , 'Old Adnlph,' as he
was familiarly called, half in affection
nnd'half in contempt. Adolph was,
not so many years ago, a da.-blng offi
cer of the Guards, a great rider, a
beau, a lady killer. Certain histories
in this latter direction nit off bis ca
reer ns a Guardsman and lie cam. to
Paris. Old Adolph bad then nothing
of the beau cavalier of old; he seemed
good natured, but stupid; be did uot
look ns if he could mount a horse, for
ho moved all in a block, like a piece
of wood.
Had Hired Chateau.
"Old Adolph Incidentally had hired a
chateau which commanded a great
range of country : ml which possessed
u real value for war purposes. To
this chateau he i le several nihil-
1 1 Hons and Improvements, which were
thought to be n fad of dear, stupid
I! old Adolph; they could be used as ex
J'cellent gun emplacements. It Is Mill
a moot point in the circles that old
! Adolph frequented whether be really
'was a fool or only bud that appear
I ance. But It is not remote from this
J' question to remark tli"t at one point
lithe disastrous flight of the Germans
J i from the Murue was hronght to an eml
by the fact that they arrived at po
sitions which had been carefully noted
and prepared by (ioniums before the
war.
"I have lifted (ho veil here and
there upon the types; the framework of
the system Is no less edifying to study.
I'or the past two generations the Ger
mans have been extending anil perfect
ing their spy system; It has now be
come one of the important functions of
state. A spy Is not taken nt hap
hazard and asked Impromplu to under
take illilicult and hazardous work."
CANDY WITHOUT SUGAR
In the Midst of Warmth, Com
fort and Coetentment
g Armemans:
Union County hasn't felt thrr war's rigors as it somo day will.
It lives in comparative! luxury and eonifort while over in Armenia
400,000 orphans arc starving and 40,000,000 arc harassed, mur
dercd and tortured. These Christian people tho first Christian
.nation of the 'woi'ld, is being murdered and" butchered by the
hundreds daily, and countless other hundreds die of starvation
every month. . '
Pu these .facts appeal to you? , " :
Kavc you given your share? (you know what
.Five dolla- saves one Armenian life one month, t
mind. .
-hare),
nat in
Next Thursday each business and professional firm in La
Grande is to solicit its own employes, but what about those who
won't be readied that way? Are you one of them? Will YOU
feel right about it if you don't give some? Get-right with your
own conscience in this matter.. -. -
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO J. GARFIELD KING,
Y. M. C. A., LA GRANDE, OREGON. , ;
1 1.
Murv l.liziibeih hvnns. has solved
tho problem of making the candles
without using largo iuaulitles of sugar
which is so scarce, by the substitution
of honey, molasses, maple sugar,
fruits, nuts, raisins and chocolate.
Miss Kvans recently visited Mr.
Hoover, federal food administrator, his
assistant, lioctor Wilbur and Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture, Doctor Tay
lor und two Important facts have been
the result, one Is that the human be
ing needs sweets, and that they can
he made jost as tasty with tho use of
the substitutes mentioned above. j
I.enin tn (live!
He llttlo knows about tho art of
llvlug, :'
Who has not felt tho gentl'o Joy of
giving.
Farm T.ife.
Truly Modest. a .
IIo Lct'Rsoo, what Is tho slang
nnmo for Illicit liquor peddling?
She (blushing) Doot-llmblng, I
believe. Farm' Life.
A Duy-Conch Musing.
- unless i iiuvb to uavui lur,
I won't.
Some folks should ride In a cattlo car
But don't,
Farm Llfo.
Trade With-
THE
S
awyer;
-Holme
Mercantile Co.
And You Will Be Treated Right
WHOLESALE s RETAIL DEALERS
SENSITIVE ABOUT KCR FEET
Kansas City Woman Resents Refer
ence to Her Pedal Extremities
by Judge.
Kansas nty. Mo. Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Miller, a bridal "couple, quar
reled within IS hours after their mar
riage. Their troubles came before
Judge Joe K-'irman of the munlclpnl
court.
Mrs. Miller oNplnlnod lhat her bus
hand made a snreastln remark about
her feet, us she slipped on the Ice
ami snow, on a downtown corner, and
the quarrel enaed. The police had
to Interfere.
The Judge admonished them and
gave some sage advice: A
"Try to be more careful next time,"
he advised.
As the couple started to leave the
Judire remarked:
"Your feet hxik like they ought to
hold yon op,"
"I hope you fiiM flat the first min
ute you step outside the door." re.
piled Mr'. .Miller, ns. with reddening
cheeks, she backed out of the court
room. , . t
4f
In
"iay, Grain, Wood,
ail kinds of Poui
Supplies
WE ALSO HAVE STORAGE
SPACE
and
hone
M
am
1.7
5
$
' i
I
t
i