On This Day, 28 November 1918

Birmingham Mail

Thursday 28 November 1918

WAR OVER, BUT EXPENSE GOING ON APPEAL TO INVESTORS

As the Prime Minister points out, the war should end in two or three months’ time. At present an armistice is in operation. Happily, the nature of the armistice is such that a resumption of fighting would be fatal and mortal to the enemy. But the state of war remains a fact. And the daily average expenses for the next few months cannot fall short of those of the past six months.

It is true that our armies longer hurl 8,000 tons of shot and shell daily against the foe; but the men of those armies are busy occupying territory as fast as the transport and railway troops can make ready the pathway. An army in transit costs as much as an army in action. Railway lines, locomotives, motor wagons, coal, petrol, road-mending material, bridging, are among a hundred activities that occupy the vanguard of civilisation that enters into the wilderness of Hun kultur, the barbarity of which has left its scar and scab throughout the industrial regions of Northern France. At the very moment that the enemy are raging about the terms, they are asking for bread with the confidence of sturdy beggars, and because we are not barbarians it is our task to feed them, if they can guarantee the equitable distribution of the food. A more grateful task awaits us in the provision of pensions, gratuities, and disablement allowances to those of our own kin who have maintained the honour of the nation and safeguarded our homes. To all this one must add the unknown cost of demobilisation.

The whole of this money must come out of taxation or savings. We must get on with the task of economy in labour and material, remembering that an armistice is as expensive as war, except that it involves no daily toll of human lives. As far as material goes, there is no reduction of cost. On December 1 the War Loan dividends will be payable. If the recipients spend that money it will add to the demand for goods that are scarce. That is to say, it will help to raise prices which always rise when there is not enough to go round; but if the dividend money be re-invested in War Savings Certificates two good ends will be served —material will be saved and money provided for the purposes described above.