Debts of Warring Nations

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 13, 1916

Debts of Warring Nations

MANY statistics have been published with reference to the European conflict, in regard to both the loss of life and the expenditure of money. These, of course, are oftentimes only approximate. Perhaps the following figures, quoted from the Wall Street Journal by the Literary Digest of April 1, 1916, may be taken as approximately correct:—

The Journal declares that the war to March 1 cost approximately $30,500,000,000, the charge for the Allied Powers being $20,000,000,000 and that for the Central Powers $10,500,000,000. “The cost of the war at the present time is at the rate of over $100,000,000 daily, or thirty-six and a half billion a year.” The national debt of Great Britain has increased from $3,485,000,000 before the war to $11,155,000,000 at the present time; that of France from $6,607,000,000 to $13,197,000,000; of Russia from $4,537,000,000 to $8,654,500,000; of Italy from $2,836,000,000 to $4,301,000,000; of Germany from $5,198,000,000 to $11,613,000,000; and of Austria-Hungary from $3,970,000,000 to $6,517,500,000. These figures include the expenditures up to March 1. Both England and Germany have been heavy lenders to their allies.