The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-23
WAR READINESS
IS PEACE SURETY
/. Continued from First Page.

strength, so it is claimed here, would
soon be exhausted.
The frontier between the two coun-
tries! is vulnerable only in its southern
portion. Above that it is defended by
is along the . southern end Of the from.
tier that the Norwegians have built the
forts about which there has been so
much comment and Of which the Swedes
demand the dismantlement. These
forts are not very strong, but it is cal
culated that they would serve as de-
fenses that could be held against the
foe and thus protect .Christiania and
southern Norway against attack by
land. Attack by sea is prevented by
impregnable Notifications at the ford
entrances.
!, Civilian Soldiers Everywhere.
Last Sunday on the road to Aulestad,
125 miles north of Christiania, l saw
men .a in uniform everywhere. Some were
either going to or returning from their
weekly drill at neighboring camps:
While there has been no mobilization of
troops anywhere, it Is easy. to see that
Norway g little army is being put in
state of complete readiness. One thing
that is the lack of railroad communica'
tion between Christiania on the south
and Bergen on the west coast. There
is thru line from the capital to
| Trondhjem further north on the west
coast and a railroad is being built to
Bergen, but it will take two years to
finish it., as the country is mountainous
line now reaches Tonsaasen, about one
hundred and twenty miles northeast Of
| Christiania, while from Bergen west
ward about seventy eight miles have
been built. This leaves gap Of over
one hundred and forty miles Of con-
struction.
War Minister a Busy Man.
The busiest man in Norway just now
is General Christian OLSON, minister Of
wars It is said that ever since June Z,
he has scarcely left his office in the
Akershus, the ancient fortress on the
shore of the ford where King Christian
~. Of Denmark founded the city that
bears his name. General OLSON has
and diagrams It is not difficult how
ever, to get an audience with the busy
minister and my card gained me almost
| immediate hearing. But 1t is very
| difficult to get any information out Of
| General. Olsson..: He is short, round
man, with smiling, moon-like face
that reveals nothing. He Is. jolly and
friendly and amiable-but uncommun-
icative. Yes; it would be too bad to
would be one. Yes; Norway was ready
and would do her best if forced to fight.
So much would he say and then, like a
good general, he began to question me
about conditions in Stockholm. [
really believe he got more information
out of me than I did out Of him.
swedes Seize the Bridges.
One thing that deems to amuse Gen
j eral OLSON greatly is the strenuous
endeavors made byr| The Swedish author
, tiles to get ready and their fear that
; Norway, may, make a sudden attack
swedes one night, Waiter the crisis de:
{ veloped, suddenly set guards over all
the railroad bridges on lines entering
Norway, evidently fearing some at
} tempt to destroy them by surprise.
The naval authorities are just as
close mouthed as General OLSON. They
have their plans all mapped out and
t eaf dagf 5spaFatlons made to the small
Vice Admiral @. Spare is in com;
mand of the navy, but Rear Admiral
Borreson is the popular idol and is
expected to bear the brunt Of any
Uscrap." He is called the Norwegian
Nelson. He is not only fine sailor
but popular orator as we'll who knows
7 how to stir the people with his. elo
quence. The commanding officer Of the
navy, is General Ole Hansen, who is
considered a fine and dependable Of
fcer.
+ Worry About the Kaiser.
( It is known that the navigable ap
j proaches to the principal ports are
thoroly mined. There has been some ap
8 prehension among naval men over the
in'' and it is now surmised that in al
g the summers-sOme seventeen OF then
J. that the kaiser has taken his outing
: in Norwegian waters, his officers must
q have obtained a thoro Wedge Of
the depth Of water in the various har
0 bors and Of other important facts. Blu
: no one seriously believes the kaiser will
s interfere in case Of war, as such move
would instantly cause England to Isl
up and take notice.. .@.e
! - Swedish Self Control.
The admirable self-control Of tn
Swedish nation, under circumstance
that would easily have provoked {
more excitable people to war, has beer
$ war wal partg in Sweden has steadily los
y streng 9Th since the first outbreak {,
" excitement over the "revolution.
g King Oscar, gauging the sentiment o
e his people far more accurately tina
q some Of his advisers, has stoo
- staunchly and steadfastly for peace. s.
" " it may seem rather superfuous, to dis
q cuss military and naval possibilities a
e this late day. But it is interesting t
X know that the clever Norwegian leac
n ers have been prepared for even tina
eventuality. The military critics hav
the profoundest faith in the invulne1
ability Of Norway. This opinion
based not alone on the physical cha1
: acteristics of the country, but on tn
3 patriotism, courage and patient endul
ance Of the people. Norway has bee
many times invaded, they say, bu
never conquered.