The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-09-05
NORWAY SUFFERS
FROM The WAR
Interesting Letter Is Received on
Happenings There

The extent to which Norway has suf-
fered in the present European war, ia
pointed out in letter received by
Henry Borchgrevink of Calumet, from
relatives. Mr.. and Mrs. Gregers Borch-
grevink of Riverside, California, who
have been spending the summer in
that country. The letter was written
from Forsund, Norway on August 6
is as follows:
ut is hard to realize that the war
is all around us. When you look out
on this beautiful little spot in among
the hills by a lake and few minutes
walk to the ford you can not believe
that terrible sea battles are going on
in the North Sea not far from us.
I'VE left Arendal little sooner than
expected on account of the war scare.
When the first news of war came and
especially when Germany had declared
war on Russia the excitement ran
high. We get a little over half of
all the grain and -four used i'm this
country from Russia and Germany and
when these two countries stopped all
exports OF these necessities of life, the
people of Norway naturally asked
themselves, Where shall we get il and
how we'll is the country at large pro-
vided with these things? Government
officials and others who knew the sit
uation told the public through the
press that a supply of coal and flour
was plentiful, but this was too late.
When the first excitement broke out
the public tried to get Il sufficient sup
ply for some time and run on the
grocery stores and banks was the con-
sequence. The Bank of Norway, n
national institution, declared that it
had at present larger gold fund than
ever before and that all the banks were
in the best shape financially. The less
intelligent part OF the public took,
however, no notice OF this and the
banks had to refuse to pay more than
| Il certain amount to each person per
month. This was hard on the business
| people so they had to refuse To deliver
any goods except FOR cash and that
was again drawback for the stupid
but so works the panic. In many cit
| les there were riots on the streets.
store windows were stoned and in one
place the storekeeper was thrown out
of his store window because he raised
the price of -four from Is *. to 45 h.
(s4.O5 to $12.15) per sack.
"The mobilization of the army and
| ala
help matters. The day we left Aren-
DIAL, four warships and some torpedo
boats came in there to get supplies so
YOU can understand that did not help
the situation.
1--WE did not care to go farther west
especially as we had to go through
Christiansand. which is the naval sta
tion and one OF the first places to be
occupied either by Germany or Eng
land in case Of a naval battle on the
North Sea.
"Our intentions were to return to
Lillehammer about the fifteenth of this
month and we will probably do so. IL
is hard for me to believe that Norway
will be drawn into the war against its
will and it most decidedly will not If
il can he helped. Poor Belgium could
not help il but it's situation is worse
than ours. 1t is n great satisfaction
| To know that the German army corps
which was thrown into Belgium was
annihilated. That is the punishment
one ought to have who disturbs a
peaceful people.
L
in one place where they make Nor
wegian saltpeter, over 1000 people
were sent away as the factory had to
close up so the worKmen could go to
fight for their country. Some of these
people live only from hand to mouth
go YOU can realize what il meant to
them. We did not know what TO do
We were safe as far as we were con-
| cerned, but il was hard to stay there
as il probably would be hard to get our
daily bread. Up in the country II
would be better, they had more on
hand but we did not know If we could
get there or anywhere. Rumors were
that the steamers would not go, but
we did not think it so bad. We tele-
grained TO friends, but it took hours
and hours to get an answer The an
,ver came that we were welcomed
and for us to do wnat we wanted
We went there after all and have not
repenteA it so far"