Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-07-29
Of INTEREST TO
SCAND|NAV|ANS
News Gathered in the Father
J land and Elsewhere.
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4. NORWAY i

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i. NORWAY. IL
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BY invitation of Stockholms high
school students DR.. Sigurd Ibsen of
Christiania delivered an address on
the defense question in Stockholm on
July l. He said in part: In an
eventual Scandinavian crisis many
Norwegians would expect to find in
England their natural ally. 1t is true
that England would unwillingly see
Russia in possession of a Scandina.
Wan port. Russia already has the
largest army in the world and should
1t find an open sea for it's navy the
situation would be threatening
enough for England. Such a situa-
ton might arise if the Russians oc-
cupied the north of Norway, and Eng.
land, therefore, may be assumed to
have every interest to protect Rus.
sia's advance. England, however,
cannot absolutely prevent this. The
most that can be hoped for is that
there will be diplomatic representa-
tions from that quarter, followed per-
haps by naval demonstrations in the
Baltic. The result of this might not
be decisive, however, since Russia
can evade Sweden by land. But it is
not probable that Russia will attack
Sweden under generally peaceful po-
litical circumstances. On the other
hand, an attack is quite probable in
the event of European war. Should
England and Russia be allies, if Eu-
rope should be embroiled in warfare,
England would not protest against
Russian occupation of Scandinavia.
Sweden regards Germany as it's
friend, but with a general war Ger
many would be unable to aid Sweden
with troops. In this all clear. sighted
Germans agree. A great and respect
ed Berlin paper wrote several weeks
ago, We cannot assure Sweden
against Russia Sweden and Nor.
way have nothing to depend on ex-
cept the defense they can obtain
against themselves. In order to Sc
cure greater strength l would recon-
mend union of defense between the
countries. I do not understand why
1t should be more difficult for Sweden
and Norway to conclude such an al
lance than for other countries. It
appears to me the advantages would
be greater than in other countries.
Sweden and Norway occupy the same
peninsula and are united by racial
ties. 1t is true that both set their
independence very high. On the 9TH
er hand, great powers enter into such
compacts without affecting their SOW
ereignty in any degree. 1t might be
possible that such an alliance would
result in several difficulties, but these
mean nothing in comparison with diff
ficulties which both countries would
experience if some day they are CON-
PEELED to defend each other and have
failed to make their mutual arrange
ments in time" In both the Norwe-
gian and Swedish press generally the
discussion over Mr.. Ibsen's speech
has shown that in neither country is
there desire to bring about such a
union, because it is felt that it would
be difficult to arrange. Nevertheless
it is generally agreed that nothing
should be neglected that can strength
en- the mutual understanding between
the two countries, because they both
know what resources they have to
relv on in case of need.
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The Mission Society of Norway
fifty years ago chartered a ship in
Bergen and dedicated it to mission
purposes. Pastor Daniels performed
the dedicatory service amid a large
crowd of people on board the ship.
For Twenty-Five years, until 1884, the
bark sailed back and forth carrying
missionaries and their wares to diff
ferent ports in home and foreign
countries. After twenty years serv-
ice it was sold as freighter. The
boat was called "Eliezar." In 1885 a
new boat, appropriately named pail
lus," was secured as the successor to
the first mentioned boat and it is still
in the service.
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Mayor Ellisen of Christiansund re-
Gently celebrated his fifteenth ami
versary as mayor of that city. An
exchange writer adds: I'm America
we would think a man was getting
too fat eating at the public crib that
length Of time. Perhaps politics and
men are different in Norway" 1t is
also true that every Tom, Dick and
Harry is not eligible for office in Nor
way and it speaks we'll for the po-
ntical system of that country.
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Explanation of the alleged affront
offered by Franklin M. Gunther, Sec
rotary of the American legation in
Norway, to the harbor master at
Christiania probably will be demand.
ed by the state department at Wash.
ington without awaiting formal word
from Norway.
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