A tabulation of the estimates of casualties and the money cost of the war reveals the enormous price paid by humanity to convince a military-mad Germanic caste that Right and not Might must hereafter rule the world. These figures do not include Serbian losses, which are unavailable. Following is the tabulation:
| The Entente Allies | |
|---|---|
| Russia | 7,000,000 |
| France | 4,000,000 |
| British Empire (official) | 3,049,992 |
| Italy | 1,000,000 |
| Belgium | 350,000 |
| Roumania | 200,000 |
| United States (official) | 236,117 |
| ————— | |
| Total | 15,836,109 |
| The Central Powers | |
| Germany | 6,338,000 |
| Austria-Hungary | 4,500,000 |
| Turkey | 750,000 |
| Bulgaria | 200,000 |
| ————— | |
| Total | 11,788,000 |
Grand total of estimated casualties, 27,624,109, of which the dead alone number perhaps 7,000,000.
| The Entente Allies | |
|---|---|
| Russia | $30,000,000,000 |
| Britain | 52,000,000,000 |
| France | 32,000,000,000 |
| United States | 40,000,000,000 |
| Italy | 12,000,000,000 |
| Roumania | 3,000,000,000 |
| Serbia | 3,000,000,000 |
| ———————— | |
| Total | $172,000,000,000 |
| The Central Powers | |
| Germany | $45,000,000,000 |
| Austria-Hungary | 25,000,000,000 |
| Turkey | 5,000,000,000 |
| Bulgaria | 2,000,000,000 |
| ———————— | |
| Total | $77,000,000,000 |
Grand total of estimated cost in money, $249,000,000,000.
Was the cost too heavy? Was the price of international liberty paid in human lives and in sacrifices untold too great for the peace that followed?
Even the most practical of money changers, the most sentimental pacifist, viewing the cost in connection with the liberation of whole nations, with the spread of enlightened liberty through oppressed and benighted lands, with the destruction of autocracy, of the military caste, and of Teutonic kultur in its materialistic aspect, must agree that the blood was well shed, the treasure well spent.
Millions of gallant, eager youths learned how to die fearlessly and gloriously. They died to teach vandal nations that nevermore will humanity permit the exploitation of peoples for militaristic purposes.
As Milton, the great philosopher poet, phrased the lesson taught to Germany on the fields of France:
They err who count it glorious to subdue