New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1914-07-08
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The defense question continues to
be the most important and most In
terestlng topic Of discussion in Nor
way, as we'll as in Sweden, and
special writer to the Washington Star
says that the campaign for stronger
defense In the western half Of the
Scandinavian peninsula takes on
new phase almost daily. It is be-
lieved by many that the common de-
mand for protection against encroach.
ment by foreign powers. especially
Russia. may bring Norway and Swe-
den together again. at least to the ex.
tent OF q defensive alliance an end
devoutly to be wished. 'The Nor
wegian parliament" says the cor.
respondent, has recently been pop
ularly criticised for its ardent faith
in peace treaties. 1t has been con
spicuous in the peace movement ever
since it was intrusted by the late
Alfred Nobel with the distribution of
the Nobel peace prize each year, and.
further. it has during the last seven
years relied faithfully upon an integ
rity treaty signed by Russia, Ger
many, France and England, by which
the neutrality of Norway should be
strictly observed in case of European
war. The people of the Scandinavian
Observation-Disclosures they be Norwe
| gians or Swedes-have no thoughts
of expansion, but want to be kept
out OF the political turmoil which dur
| ing the last few years has agitated
Europe. Fears that integrity treaties
are worthless have become popular
among Scandinavians since the Bal
kan war, when it was seen that Turkey
profited little by its treaties as guar
anteed by the powers. In war be-
tween the triple entente and the triple
alliance the Scandinavian peninsula.
with its safe and excellent ports.
might be of such value to any Of the
belligerents as refuge Ravens or oper-
alton bases that no paper treaties
would stand in the way Of seizure.
II such were the case it is feared that
Norway and Sweden might, against
their will, be drawn into warfare
Recognition of this is the moving fac
tor in the talk of military alliance
between Norway and Sweden for
mutual defense and preservation OF
neutrality. Both nations are exer.
cised over possible dangers from the
East 1t is believed, however, that no
would be able to detach enough of
it's military forces to operate against
a we'll fortified Scandinavia without
exposing its own ports and frontier
to the enemy. 1t is evident that the
people of Norway are inclining more
and more to this view and it is doubt.
full if the Norwegian parliament and
the radical cabinet, which is not yet
alarmed over the political situation
in Europe, will be able to resist the
general call from the people for
Strengthening the defenses. large ap
preparations for the army and navy
better fertilization of the forts and
longer military service. Parliament
recently has heightened the service
in the navy from half year to full
year, and bill for longer service in
the army, which now is IA days, is
in preparation. There is a general
demand for one years service in the
army, and all parties except the So
cialists have declared their willing
ness to bear heavier military bur
dens. The general interest which has
been inspired for increased arma-
ment is such that civic organizations
of many kinds and private. individuals
are subscribing toward funds. La
dies societies particularly are busy
everywhere collecting money, numer
Gus local organizations are planning
to buy military aeroplanes for their
special districts, and banks and bust
ness houses are giving of their last
years profits to the defenses. pa
triotic seal, something like the stamps
used in tuberculosis campaigns, to
be placed on mail, is proving sue
cess toward fund raising. The
Stdllp O0dIS tu6 WOIuS, IL uo1cuu
my land and it is sold by hundreds
of thousands, the money to go for
defenses"
!. !. +
The eagerness of the Russian con
suls to study the conditions of North
ern Norway is attracting general at
tention among Norwegians. Until a
few years ago there was only one
Russian consul sent from Russia in
Northern Norway, namely, the one at
Hammerfest. All the rest were Nor
wegian residents of the towns where
they served. Now Russia is keeping
regular consular embassies at Ham
merfest, Tromso and Vardo, and it is
said that Russian consuls will soon
be sent to Vadso and Narvik. The
/ Norwegians are wondering what all
! these Russian consuls are going to dc
in region where the population is
so sparse. The Russian vice consul in