Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-19
CHANGE OF SENTIMENTS
SWEEPING OVER SWEDEN
fCorres. of The Associated Presso

CORES of The Associated Press.)
Stockholm, Sept. 22.-There is
sweeping over Sweden today some
thing more significant than the con
tinuous line of infantry cavalry and
artillery which goes to take its part
in the mobilization of troops, already
numbering 225,000. This is the marked
change in the sentiment of this coun-
try toward the warning powers. Swed-
en-, which, since the beginning of the
war. has had decided German sympa u
thies Notwithstanding the strict neu-
trality declared by its government, is
today becoming so impartial that in
watching the street crowds before the
bulletin boards it is impossible to tell
whether Germany or England is the
favorite.
A month ago a Stockholm merchant
who openly avowed English inclina-
tions was both commercially and Soc
tally ostracized. Portraits of the
Kaiser and German insignia were
hung in shop windows. but no one saw
any English displays.
But today there are indications on
every hand that the pendulum has
pSS III 10 SWING loWdIQ r[AEldHQ. Ills
is most plainly reflected in press re-
ports. A month ago one looked in
vain for English accounts OF the war,
but now the representative Stockholm
papers give an almost equal space to
Berlin and London dispatches. Some
Of the liberal newspapers even go
further than this and limit their Ber-
lin dispatches to short paragraphs in
conspicuous places. In most of the
papers, however. one may read English
comment on the destruction of the
Rheims cathedral in one column and
the German explanation of 1t in the
next. Since this change has occurred
without any pressure from the gov
eminent, it seems fairly indicative
of the changes of the sentiment of
Sweden.
In the opinion of citizens of Stock
holm, this change has occurred
through the gradual decreasing men
ace of Russia. AT first it was taken for
granted that Russia had designs upon
the integrity of Sweden, but as the
days brought no substantiation of
these fears, the luminosity of the Swed,
ish popuiace decreased proportionate-
~. In the meantime reports OF Ger
man methods Of warfare and the hold
ing up Of Swedish and Russian steam
ships by the German warships added
further impetus to the change in
Swedish feeling. The result is that
having begun with pronounced pro-
German sympathies, Sweden may now
be said to have grown into impartial
ity. Whereas the first results of the
war were watched with the anxiety Of
a participant, present developments
are regarded with the calmness of an
observer who seems equally ready to
applaud the generalship and strategic
successes Of both sides.
Another apprehension which Jour
ished under the influence of strong
pro-German sentiment Is now depre-
Gated in Stockholm. This was the fear
that in the event of repeated German
successes England would decide that
she must encroach upon neutral ter
rttory to offset the advantages de.
rived by Germany from her occupation
of Belgium.
During this shift in the popular
point of view, the Swedish govern
ment has stood firmly by its COM
pact with Norway to remain neutral
and to stick together in case of vio-
lated neutrality. Official Sweden has
been undivided in it's opinion and the
. political cleavage which ordinarily
shows so many surfaces has been tenn
, porarily levelled by the war. Whether
the sympathies of the various parties
shave been toward the allies of Ger
= many, they have united in expressing
desire for peace. Neither conserva-