Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-01-28
Of :IvTEI|ESJ's:T0 :
SCANDINAVIAN
Resent Happenings IN This
J Country and Abroad.

MANY DETAILS BR0UGnT OUT
European System Of Espionage Laid
Bare at Trial Of conspIrators In
- observation-disclosures Hanna OF
North Dakota and Staff to Attend
. Norwegian Centennial Festivities
: Captain Koch, Danish Explorer;
Lectures on Journey to Greenland.
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+ SWEDEN. j.
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Says a recent dispatch from Stock.
holm: During the espionage trial
that has been going on here for the
last two months, new and interesting
details have come to light regarding
the European system of espionage
At the trial one Of the prisoners, a
young man named Holsteinson, gave
Interesting information. Holsteinson
is the one who arranged the connec.
ton between the petty officer, Toern.
sren, who was induced to give infor.
nation about the Swedish navy, and
Assanovitch, the Russian military at
tache In Stockholm. HOlsteinson now
states that during his visits to Assano
witch he noticed that the attache had
4 great many tin boxes, which con.
tanned charts and maps that Assano.
witch had drawn himself. To work
out these charts Assanovitch used the
general staff's maps, enlarged, and also
certain reports brought him, through
which certain details In the charts
were made more complete and more
useful for military purposes. Special
attention was given to the capacity
of roads for bearing artillery and cav.
airy and the strength Of bridges. Nav.
igable passages we're marked and
lines indicated where vessels could
make safe landings. There was also
. plan, designed by Assanovitch, for
advance march, marked on the diff
ferent charts, and he had worked out
4 scheme for eventual attack which
was to be made with four bodies of
troops simultaneously. The head force
was to be sent against Hernosand
and similar one to Savle. As soon
as Assanovitch completed these maps
he sent them to st. Petersburg. The
proceedings unveil part of the mys-
terry that has rested on letter writ
ten by Assanovitch and found in
Toerngren's possession. The legal
report asserts that in a certain point
in the letter information was asked
regarding tho measures for defense
made In Savle and Hernosand and in
one other city. The letter mentions
m international society and the re.
port speaks of it as follows: "Only
after accomplishment of the above
points can Mr.. Toerngren be accept
ed az permanent agent in the in
ternational society with steady sal.
ary." The letter also contains the
desire for espionage on the represent
tative Of Germany to this country
Toerngren Is also requested, with
promise Of extra money, to procure
other military information and with
great exactitude to give information
Of a secret nature pertaining to Swe-
den's defenses. No one can wonder
that these discoveries cause certain
amount of anxiety In Sweden. No
one has, for a moment, thought that
It was for Denmark Lieutenant Fred
Eiksen was investigating Boden and
the energetic manner in which the
Copenhagen press has aided in clear
ing up the Hamper affair ought to
exclude any animosity against Den.
mark through two Danes having sold
themselves to espionage work. 1t is
Just as impossible for Denmark to
hinder such activities as it is for
Sweden. Persons who can be bought
for espionage can be found in all
countries, as recent events have
shown. It Is quite natural, however,
that 1t causes anxiety when one case
after another Is uncovered and gives
cause for suspicious that fall on both
innocent and guilty.
1. !. +
Karl Staaff, the prime minister OF
Sweden. made an important political
speech at Karlskrona explaining the
position of the Swedish government
with regard to the reorganization OF
the Swedish defensive forces. He
emphasized strongly that even if nc
Imminent danger of war threatened
Sweden the general situation ought to
make the Swedes feel it necessary to
strengthen their defenses. A policy
Of strict neutrality was an absolute
condition for Sweden. The policy
that had hitherto been the nations
that Of trying to keep on friendly
terms with all powers without en-
tering into more intimate relationi
with any one, and to maintain a neu
trail and sincerely peaceful position
was surely still the best and safest
policy. The prime minister recone
Rended important improvements with
regard to naval basis, fixed annua