Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-05-07
SCANDINAVIAN News
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENlNGs IN FAR OFF
NORTHWEST.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the seandlnavlans
In America.
SWEDEN.

SWEDEN.
Arvid Akerlind, director In chief
OF the American Union of Swedish
singers, who was to direct the big
Swedish festival chorus of the Swed
ish sangerfest in Minneapolis, June s
to IL, is dead at Upsala, Sweden.
Akerlind studied at the University of
Upsala and had taken his master of
arts degree when he became director
of the Sodermanland fraternity chorus
and later assistant director of the IA
nous Upsala student chorus and help
mate and friend of Ivar Hedenblad,
the director-in-chief. Akerlind was
called to America by the Swedish
singing clubs of New York and Brook
Ign in 1908, and remained as leader of
many choruses until 1912, when he
returned to Sweden to mend his bro
ken health. Akerlind was for several
terms of four years each. director-in-
chief of the American Union of Swed-
ish singers. He received the medal of
"Litteris ct Artibus" from King Oscar
H. and was knighted by King Gus
tavus v.
Sweden is preparing to strengthen
her defense by land and sea, but, of
course. not with the idea of equaling
Russia's military strength. 1t pro-
ceeds from the fact that Russia has
SO many and such wide interests to
guard that she could only send a COM
paratively small part Of her strength
against Sweden. This applies espe-
cially to her land forces, but even the
fleet must be counted on to do duty
in several places. The only duty Of
the Swedish fleet is to protect its own
coast; the defense must cooperate
with the army, with the center Of
gravity in the latter. According to
military opinion put forth by Sven
Hedin, the country must have war
ships strong enough and swift enough
to push through the GLAND sea and en-
ter the Baltic gulf Otherwise the Bal
tic gulf will become Russian inland
sea, where the Russian, however. can
transport troops"
The returns from the election which
began throughout Sweden on March q
and continued to April indicate the
complete defeat OF the Liberals, whose
membership In the new riksdag Is re-
duced from 101 to IA. II is estimated
that the conservatives have elected 81
members, as compared with SIS in the
previous parliament. and the socialists
rs, as compared with 81. The domi-
nant issue OF the campaign was a
stronger national defense, aroused by
fears OF Russian aggression. and the
new riksdag is certain to vote for a
considerable strengthening OF the
army and navy. The demand for this
will be stimulated by the evidence
given at the trial OF one Malmborg.
charged with espionage In. behalf OF
Russia. which showed that Russia had
been studying Swedish defenses. aided
by several high Russian officers dis
guised as Swedish workmen.
John Castberg's Resignation of the
portfolio OF industry and commerce
points to disagreement with his cab
met colleagues on che question OF com
pulsory arbitration, against which the
laboring population has protested.
threatening general strike II the law
Is enforced. Castberg favored the law
originally. but changed his attitude
when the strike threat was made. He
also disagreed with the other minis
tiers on customs questions. principally
with reference to the American port
duty, which he wished reduced. Cast
berg goes back to the storthing. where
he will Join the right.
Fourteen years ago woman In Mo-
sas stepped on needle. which entered
her foot at the heel and was broken.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to
remove It. But as 1t did not seem to
cause any trouble II was soon forgot
ten. Last winter a peculiar pimple
appeared ON her left wrist She
picked It and felt something hard. II
proved to be the broken needle, which
had spent fourteen years in travelling
from the foot to the hand.
A farmer at Borlange drove his
horse past the Torsanga church Just
rs the bell was rung. The horse
was badly scared. But the farmer
whipped him up and made him go
ahead. Just as the horse was about
to pass the steeple he was seized with
an apoplectic At, fell down and died
in q few seconds.
Madame Berns is the Oldest person
in Stockholm. She is going on her
one hundred and sixth year. She is
poor and sickly. and is cared for at
the City hospital. And yet she has
caught the spirit of the day, that is.
the general enthusiasm for the
Strengthening Of the defense. To
prove her interest she sent a few
kronor to DIR. Sven Hedin, accompa-
nying the money with the express
wish that DR.. Hedin should use It for
buying some kind of weapon" as she
said.
The eHinseberg estate with subsid-
larry farms in Saby parish. province of
Orehro has haen Rold nv the hairs of