Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-03-25

Fl. G. Opdahl, editor OF Vertens
Gang, one of the leading papers OF
Christiania, who is on lecture tour
of America. recently expressed the
opinion that as a result OF the Eu-
ropean war there may be an alliance
| among the three Scandinavian coun-
tries.
The fate of Belgium" said Mr..
| Opdahl in an interview. has con-
vinced Norwegians, Swedes and Danes
that they must stick together and
present united front to the world
The meeting of the three kings was in
| recognition of this feeling.
mo one can say just how far the
alliance will go, but it will probably
| extend not only to measures @! con-
| certed defense. but to other econonic
and political measures. The feeling
| used to be that an alliance of Sweden
| and Norway was practicable, but that
Denmark was too close to the great
German war power to make 1t prac-
ticable for her to enter the alliance.
This feeling has now changed and it
| is recognized that the 100000 or 49,
100000 Scandivavians of the three ma
tons must act together. The dream of
| Bjornsjerne Biornson of the forming
Of a great united Scandinavian power
is likely to be realized sooner than
| most of us thought possible.
Scandinavia has suffered less from
the war than most of the neutrals In
Europe. In Norway We are somewhat
concerned over what arrangements
| are to be made the coming summer
for taking care of the large govern
ment loans made abroad for building
railroads, telephone lines and so on.
But no one Is worrying much, for,
though We cannot get gold, we are
piling up credit Our merchant marine
Is doing an enormous business. The
new Norwegian-American line, which
Is really government enterprise, has
chartered 20 ships In addition to those
1t owns. The greatest difficulty is in
finding bottoms to take the goods out
of New York"
'~@A W. hhe "Stt hho~ Ii
Norwegian American lawyer. who has
Just returned from a stay of several
months In Norway, has given out an
interview in which he expressed the
fear that Norway will be drawn into
the war on account of the strong in
fluence exerted upon the Norwegian
government by England. Says he:
Sentiment in Norway has since the
beginning of the war been strongly in
favor OF England, and the government
is said to have been strongly in
tuenced from that quarter I am in
formed from reliable sources that the
English minister has spent at least
one hour a day in the private rooms
OF the minister of foreign affairs. Ger
many latest exploit of sinking sew
eral Norwegian ships has not bettered
the situation, and greatly fear that
some day Norway, and with it Sweden
and Denmark, win be right in the
midst of the war. 1t would be very
deplorable. Norway ought to seek to
reap the golden harvest of shipping re-
ceipts, and if the country possessed
craftsmanship this would be done, but
l am afraid that before we are aware
of 1t the country will be right In the
fray"
Word has been received, says a Nor
wegian-American paper. that the Gull
floss. the first steamship of the Fins
kitafelag islands," a company whose
stock is widely distributed among Ice
landers of the northwest, will under
take its maiden trip soon. The ship
will leave Reikjavik and is scheduled
to reach New York April TO- Although
the boat starts as carrier in war
times, the line was chartered by the
icelandic legislature year ago to
carry on commerce between Iceland
and the United States. The Gullfoss
built in Copenhagen, is of 5000 tons
register. II has a twin ship, the Coda
floss, which viii ply between Reikjavik
and European ports