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Show council and it is possible that the Ger-mans Ger-mans will he compelled to make good the losses suffered on account of the ruthless submarine warfare. Great Britain, it is understood, will lay claim to a German merchantman for each one of her vessels destroyed, and if this is allowed the other belligerents and the neutrals will be entitled to the same i compensation. The Berlin government is just beginning to realize that war is jfln expensive luxury, especially for the i losing nation. The Hun chiefs also know that the day of settlement cannot be postponed much longer without an ; increase in the bill for damages. ' BELGIUM'S BILL. The policy of restitution and reparation repa-ration will bo enforced to the fullest extent -when the allies present Belgium's Bel-gium's bill for damages to the German government, an-1 it will be in accordance accord-ance with the rules of justice if punitive puni-tive damages are also assessed. Home of the items which figure in Belgium's bill come from an official Belgian source and the grand total is in the vicinity of two billion dollars. Whilo the Belgian treaty was a mere scrap of paper in the eyes of the German militarists, mili-tarists, treating it a3 sorh has proved costly to the empire now that the day of democracy has dawned. Some of the wrongs in a financial way suffered bv Belgium are enumerated as follows: Local contribution and fines levied by Germany on Belgium in 1914 8,000,000. War contributions from November, 1914, to October, 1910 38,400,000. War contributions, seven months, to May, 1917 14,000,000. N War contributions from May, 1917, to May, 1918 28.000,000. War contributions from June to October Octo-ber of the current year 15,000,000. Kaw materials and machinery taken by the Germans were reckoned by them in January, 1915, at 80,000,000. Th damage to December, 1911, estimated by the North German Gazette, amounted to 2'i0,000,000. This makes a grand total of 384,200,000. These items do not include material destruction and requisitions since January, Jan-uary, 1915, which alone must be reckoned reck-oned at several hundred million pounds. During the wintor of 1916, Belgian workingme.n to the number of 1,750,000 wen; doported to Germany. The future production of thess men was thus totally to-tally Inst to their- countfy and the Germans Ger-mans should bo compelled to settle this bill. They should also be required to pay a large sum to bo distributed among the heirs of the men who wero worked to death in Germany or lost their lives in attempting to escape. As restitution e.innot be allowed to wait verv long after peace is declared the Germans should be compelled to repl.ico' the stolen machinery tho very first thing in order that the Belgians may resume manufacturing without delay. There will be another bill against tlic Germans for the havoe wrought in northern l-'rance. The wanton destruction destruc-tion of works of art, relics of antiquil... , tneiont cathedrals, fruit orchards and, indeed, whole cities nnd towns, must not be regarded n acts necessary in time of wsr, but as tho work of ma lieious vandals. This will compel the Germans to reimburse I'rnnee to the ox-tent, ox-tent, of levorol billions and teach them i nineh needed lesson at th same time. The wreck of Herltiii should be charged to Austrian account, l'it as the Germans had a share in this unholy work they cannot avoid responsibility for the 'lain age in cji.n the final monarchy goes In lieecs and is unalile to foot, the entire lull If it wii a more question of acknowl edging defeat both the Germans and AuslfUU!) would hale surrendered sonic tnee UOi Tliev hesitate beiause ot tr ' 1 1 ft i ii ln". of ferritin ami Ihe co i of reparation. UorfffTfffiy alio ha. hopps of saving her enlonios and Iver floot, The colonies are gone, The lulo of the flcut will bo decided by (he allied WAf |
