The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1914-04-11
in FAR NORTHLAND
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North &C.
lseted for scandInavIans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN W. oDLAND.
Sweden.


The menace of Russian attack
continues to worry the people Of Swe'
den. The massing of troops on her
northwestern border is evidence ia
many Swedish patriots that Russia
contemplates move against Sweden
especially as they remember that simi
lar, activity prevailed in that quarter
in 1906 when Finland was seized. Out
side Of Sweden the belief continues to
predominant that Russia has no sinis
ter motives, but some observers, like
Prof. Rasmus B. Anderson, former
United States minister to Denmark
regard hostile Russian move as very
probable. The Springfield Republican
Of Massachusetts,, whose editorial opin
ions are always interesting, discusses
the Swedish Russian situation in this
fashion:
Sweden has never forgotten that
among the injunctions in the alleged
will Of Peter the Great is one urging
the requirement of an outlet upon the
Atlantic, which means the conquest OF
strip Of the Scandinavian peninsula.
While Finland served as a buffer this
peril seemed somewhat remote. but
now Finnish autonomy has been de-
stroyed, and the Russian frontier
comes bang against Sweden, and at
one point stretches an arm across the
peninsula to within go miles OF the
Atlantic. Moreover, the massing of
troops in Finland gives concern, nor
do anxious Swedes ignore such trivial
details as a great increase in the ship
ment of skis from Finland to Russia !;
1t is thought that they are for the use
Of soldiers in winter campaign in the
snowy northwest. Swedish suspicious
are only increased by the Russian pro-
paganda aimed at persuading Europe
that the annexation Of Finland was
compelled by Swedish intrigues; this
Is felt to be an effort to work up case
for future aggressions.
Yes, after all, the prevailing alarm
rests less on any definite act than on
the knowledge that Sweden Is weak,
and that 1t possesses what Russia
needs and wants. With all its strug-
gle for an outlet, Russia remains land
locked and frostbound. It has the
Black sea, but Turkey still holds the
Dardanelles. Just as 1t was on the
point of securing open ports on the Pa
cific, Japan pushed 1t back. 1t has
found its way into Persia, but England
still controls the Persian gulf. And In
Europe 1t has sea exit only by the Bal
tic, where the harbors are frozen In
winter and ships can easily be pent in
by hostile force. But Russia, long
weak after the war, Is now making
strenuous efforts to build up great
navy, and has also set to work In it's
systematic way to develop a merchant
marine; how could 1t not want ports on
the open Atlantic? But the way to the
Atlantic lies through Sweden and Nor
way and even ports which Norway,
with its long coastline and many
fords neglects, would be priceless to
Russia. Thus 1t Is not hard to under
stand why Swedish nerves should be
affected, and II for any cause war
should come it is altogether likely that
Russia, II successful, would emerge
from 1t with a good slice Of the GOV.
eted seaboard. But 1t does not follow
that Russia Is planning war; Russia,
better than most countries, can afford
to walt for the fruit to ripen, and re-
cent events have shown that just now
her interests lie on the side Of peace"
Seventy-flve years ago Christina
Witlund. then pretty girl Of eighteen,
was engaged to be married to dash
ing officer of the Royal Guards OF
Sweden. Without cause and without
warning, he suddenly broke the en-.
gagement and some time afterward he
he'd another to the altar. Christina
Witlund did not moan and pine away,
as some girls might have done when
thus Tilted, but she made a solemn
vow never to look upon the face Of a
man again. Her parents were both
dead and she was mistress of a goodly
estate and Of her own affairs. She
shut herself up in her house and for
rs years never saw any human beings
except her servant girls. She died re
Gently and her strange story is being
sent to all quarters Of the world by the
Stockholm correspondents.
Mayor Lindhagen Of Stockholm
shouted Live the Republic" at the
great anti-military demonstration in
Stockholm Feb. 8. The Conservatives
think the man ought to be- punished
in some way, but the movement
against him is progressing rather
slowly.
From Stockholm comes the news
that the council of state hassapproved
the decision of the consistory court
granting a divorce in the case Of
Prince William of Sweden and Prin
cess Marie, who before her marriage
was the Grand Duchess Marie Paw
Iowa OF Russia, and has declared the
marriage dissolved. Incompatibility
of temperament was given by both the
prince and the princess as the ground
for their appeal. The two were mar
ried in 1908 ard on account Of domes
tic troubles the princess separated
hem her husband.