Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-20
SCANDINAVIA.
The Part 1t Would Take i'm n General
European War.

Chicago Heimdal (Scandinavian) Feb. =
A dispatch from Copenhagen states
that Denmark is preparing to close not
only the approaches to Copenhagen, but
the whole Sound, the hi hway to the
Baltic and to Russia, with torpedoes. in
twenty-four hours, if necessary.
Such step will be explained as
I precautionary measure on the part of
Denmark to guard herself against a
repetition of the events which took
place during the wars Of the great Ma
poleon, when England in 1907, without
any declaration of war and without any
prOvocatlon whatever, sent her m en-of-
war to Denmark, and, after q violent
bombardment of the City of Copenha-
gen, took possession of the entire Da-
nish fleet. Copenhagen itself is of
vast Importance as key to the Baltic,
and both Russia and England have
formerly shown that they fully under
stand this. At the outbreak of the
Crimean war, the Danish Cabinet sud-
denly began making preparations for
war, without the necessary appropria-
tons having been made by the Parlia-
ment The Ministers were afterwards
impeached by the House, but the Court
acquitted them. TWAS, however, never
made known to the public that these
preparations had been cansed bv the
most earnest CONCENTRATIONS on the
part of both England and Russia to
occupy Copenhagen. It is to guard
against any such attempt that the Gov
eminent is now taking steps to close the
| approa n n as To ConopbopoD
But the torpedoes in the Sound mean
in reality great deal more. It means
that the Scandinavian countries will, in
the event of general European war,
become the allies of Russia and Ger
many. Denmark will be compelled
to join, as nobody can protect her
against mighty Prussia. Besides, it
will be the wisest course for her to pur-
sue. The great question which has for
years interested the Danish people is,
whether the German Government will
carry out its agreement made by the
treaty at Prag in 1866, to allow the in
habitants of North-Slesvig by their vote,
to decide if they will remain German
or again become Danish subjects. And,
by allying herself with Germany, it is
not improbable that Denmark, in event
Of war, may be compensated with re-
turn of part of her lost provinces as
stipulated in the before mentioned
treaty. 1t is well known that the line
of thought of the Swedish-Norwegian
Government runs in the same direction.
In war between Russia and Germany,
the sympathy in Stockholm would GER
tainly be with the latter, and, while
prudence should teach Denmark to
place herself on the same side, it is
equally certain that her sympathy
would be extended to Russia. But,
when the two Powers are allied, there
can be no doubt Of the position of the
Scandinavian countries.
A great European war will naturally
involve the existence of the small
Powers, but it may also become the
means Of satisfactorily settling the
question of better and m ore prosperous
international relations, further the plan
of restoring the northern part Of Sles.
Wig to Denmark, and provide for
union between the three Scandinavian
Kngdoms,-the only way in which the
independence Of our race can possibly
be secured.