Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-05-18
important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North Sc
lsctsd for scandInavIans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN ODI AND.


CAtlOHb WHICH nave every hppeaThuCo
of being permanent works have been
attracting more and more attention
at Stockholm. according to recent
press reports. The public mind OF
Sweden, which has for years been Pc
cuiiarly sensitive to anything that
points to Russian aggression. has been
greatly stirred by these reports. The
principal island of the Aland group Is
only a matter OF two hours run from
the Swedish coast and something like
European war broke out the islands
were not fortified, but 1t was regarded
In Sweden as quite natural that the
Russians should take steps to meet
any German naval diversion against
them. The strategic importance of
the islands Is beyond question. Prop
erly fortified, they form practically an
impossible barrier between the Baltic
and the Gulf Of Bothnia, and provide
naval base commanding the en-
trance to the Gulf of Finland. The
Swedish people very we'll understand
that the military preparedness now in
stitutet on the islands Ii directed
against Germany and not against
their country. They agree that the
war with Germany entities the Rus
SLAMS to make military use of the
archipelago, but there Is some per
turbatton as TO the situation when the
war liz ended. The question has been
raised as to whether Russia will then
submit agair to the North sea-Baltic
treaty of 1908. according to which the
islands should not be fortified nor
used for military establishments or
garrisons of any sort. The public dis
cussion of this question turns upon
the reported extent OF the fortitica-
tions and the care with which they
are said to have been constructed
There is even talk here that Russia
intends to make of the Aland islands
Port Arthur OF the Baltic" 1t is
said In some quarters that the official
assurance which would completely
calm Sweden's anxiety would be q
declaration on the subject from Rus
sizes two allies-Great Britain and
Ftance-who were signatories of the
North sea-Baltic treaty.
Persistent reports that Russia is
building at Aland archipelago FORTH
cations which have every appearance
of being permanent works have grad
mlly attracted attention and are stir
ring public opinion peculiarly sensi-
tive to anything that tends to point
% Russian aggression. The principal
island OF the Aland group Is only two
hours run from the Swedish coast
and six hours from Stockholm. When
the European war broke out the is
lands were not fortified but II was re-
garded in Sweden as quite natural
that the Russians should take steps
to meet any German naval diversion
against them. The strategic import
ance OF the Alands Ia beyond question
Properly Fortified. they form practi-
cally an impossible barrier between
the Baltic and the Gulf of Bothnia,
and provide a naval base commanding
the entrance to the Gulf of Finland.
The Swedish people very we'll under
stand that the military preparedness
now instituted on the islands Is d.
rected against Germany and not
against their country They agree
that the war with Germany entities
the Russians to make military use of
the archipelago. but there is some
perturbation as to the situation when
the war liz ended. The question has
been raised whether Russia then will
submit again to the North sea Baltic
treaty of 1908, according to which the
Alands should not be fortified nor
used for military establishments or
garrison OF any sort. The public dis.
cussion of this question turns upon
the reported extent OF the fortlfica-
tons and the care With which they
are said TO have been constructed.
There is even talk that Russia in.
| tends to make Of the Aland isles n
Port Arthur OF the Baltic" This dis
| cussion goes on despite the fact that
Petrograd officially has assured the
SWeNaSH koNSthniSht aS w IT'S iuteU-
| lions Witt sfafements have been pub,
dsaSc from the Russian legation I'm
| stockholm to the effect that the forti.
| acs.Sons are only OF temporary
character and that after the war every
| military establishment win be taken
down.
The imports to Russia from Sweden
have trehled during the war.
The women OF Sweden, like those
Of Switzerland. are aiding German
war orphans on large scale. Under
the protectorate of Queen Victoria. a
| large society has been organized to
procure temporary homes for several
thousand German boys and girls
| whose fathers have been killed on the
battlsAelds. The children viii be
| taken care OF In Sweden until the Ger
| man government can provide for them
Many OF them will be adopted by the
members OF the society, II the Ger.
| p.an authorities consent 70 this.