Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-05-19
NORWAY.

NORWAY.
With millions in provisions tied up
by the British admiralty and virtually
no opportunity to ship foodstuffs to
Norway, Denmark and Sweden, Eu-
rope Representatives of American pack
ers have lost all patience with what
they call the dilatory tactics of Eng
fish officials and are no longer dis
posed TO accept in good faith the
promises of the British foreign Office
and admiralty that Immediately steps
will be taken to facilitate neutral trade
with neutral countries.
The refusal of Sir Samuel Evans,
judge of the prize court, to grant inn
mediate trial to the Norwegian ships,
Alfred Nobel, Bjornstjerne Bjornson,
kim and Fridland, which were seized
at Kirkwall in November, was the
worst blow which neutral ships and
shipping have had so far. The hear
ing was fixed for June on the re-
quest of the counsel for the crown,
who pleaded for more time to investi-
gate the cases.
Attorneys for thu Norwegian ship
owners pleaded theii clients would be
ruined by further delay.
All four of these Norwegian ships
carry extensive American cargoes,
chiefly packers products. Wheat car
goes on these ships have been taken
over by the English government and
paid for. The same is true of copper
cargoes, but the packing house prod
ucts have been detained Indefinitely.
Several months ago an auxiliary
cruiser named Berlin was informed at
Hommelviken, near Trondhjem. Pfund-
heller. the captain of the ship, was
suffering from several ailments, and
he was treated at hospital in Trond-
hjem. But it did not help much, and
at the suggestion of his doctors he
was permitted to stay at the Fjeldsa-
ter sanatorium. This made him a
free man, but the authorities felt safe.
for it was announced that he had
signed a pledge not to try to escape,
but he did escape anyway. Then a
look was taken at the pledge which he
had signed. II read as follows: "Of
course l shall take no step contrary to
international rules and the provisions
of The Hague convention" This did
not cover the case, so the man had
really broken no pledge. The joke
is on the authorities who banked on
this wonderful document.
The growing of wheat has not been
tried very seriously in the country
around Trondhjem, but the war has
compelled the Norwegians to take ad-
vantage of every chance In the line Of
raising grain. The result is, that the
country can produce crops that people
formerly considered out OF the ques-
ton. The farmers of Meldalen have
been urged to SOW wheat this spring
The Uttronderen has taken up this
matter, and proves that wheat can
be raised profitably in Trondelagen.
A farmer writes to another newspaper
telling that for years past he has
raised wheat with the best of results
Very little or no tobacco will be
raised in Norway this year. In former
years small quantities were raised in
Sogn. The ground viii be used for
more valuable crops. Last year most
of the crop was burnt in order to avoid
the payment of the heavy tax The
war made it impossible to sell the
weeds at profit. and so both the gov.
eminent and the consumers were
cheated by the flames.
The students chorus of the Univer-
sity of Lund, Sweden, will make a
concert tour Of Norway early in June.
1t is supposed that the singers will go
by way of Storlien to Trondhjem,
whence they win proceed TO Bergen,
and from there across the fountains
to Christiania
The construction work at the Rjukan
power station has not been curtailed
on account of the war About five
hundred men have been employed
since Christmas. few men were
laid off at Easter.
The Vaartun garden school at Stenk-
jar has been offered to the state for
$4,000. II the national government
does not buy the property 1t is likely
that the school will be closed, for un.
der the present conditions it is very
difficult to operate it by means of pri
vate money.
The largest blasting under water
ever recorded in Europe took place at
Solberg Falls in the Glommen river.
-Four tons of explosive were used. A
huge sheet of water Of the size of a