Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-16
Important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North, Sc
lected for Scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Norway.

norway.
Much attention has of late been |
given by the press to the U-hoat con- |
troversy between Norway and Ger
many. Following are some of the re- |
cent dispatches relative to the situa- |
ton. ...
Observation-Disclosures OF German
submarines against Norwegian ships
In arctic waters have so increased since
the German Norwegian u-boat dispute
that shipping firms today cancelled
practically all sailings through the
White sea. Marine Insurance firms to-
day decided on large increase of in
surance on English and Russian traffic
because Of the destruction of Norwe-
gian vessels by u-boats.
Beriin.-Replying to the statement
OF Norwegian newspapers that German
submarine operations are directed
against neutrals, especially Norwegian
shipping, the Lokal Anzeiger stated
| that 1,253 hostile ships and only 200
| neutral ships had been sunk up to &C.
tober L.. The tonnage Of the hostile
ships was 2,569.50O. and of the neu-
trails 276,62S.
The sinking Of neutral ships will
| stop when they cease carrying contra
| band, the Lokal Anzciger added.
A Copenhagen dispatch reported that
| the Norwegian steamer Lapland, car
| rying iron from Kirkeness to Middle
| brongh. was sunk 40 miles southwest Of
Skudeness by the U-30. The passen-
| gers were taken on board the subma-
rine and well treated
Berlin.--President Mowinckel of the
Norwegian storthing, In an interview
with correspondent of the National
| Ieitung has suggested scheme by
which Norwegian vessels carrying con-
traband In the Arctic may avoid being
sunk by German submarines. Presi-
dent Mowinckel urges that the subma-
rine commanders accept the word of
honor of Norwegian captains to return
to Norway, unload their ships and keep
them for the remainder of the war
"out Of the service Of Germany's enc
mics"
The Norwegian statesman urged that
tonnage would thus be lost to the al
lies as effectively as by sinking, and
would be saved for use after the war,
when 1t will be invaluable to Germany.
He Is quoted as adding that the adop-
ton Of this scheme would insure the
return of pro-German sentiment In Nor
way.
The assertion that Norwegian ships
| a bx,s 4.
storthing president, who told his In
teryiewer that, just as in peace time
most Of the cargoes are wood and fish
He said that to abolish contraband car.
goes would mean the virtual cessation
Of Norwegian seafaring traffic.
The famous Springfield Republican
makes the following comparison of the
policies Of Norway and the United
States with regard to the submarine
question:
while Norway's ruling in regard to
submarines has displeased Germany"
says the Republican. neither does II
satisfy the allies, so that It has passed
the first test for pure neutrality. The
points brought out In NOrway's reply
to the entente powers show that its
position corresponds more closely with
that Of the United States than APP
peared from the order signed last week
by King Haakon. The suggestion that
submarines, naval or commercial,
should be excluded from waters Is re-
jected, but. like the United States, Nor
way reserves a free hand for dealing
with submarines as its interests may
require, If future developments call for
further action. The chief difference
In the rulings Of the two countries liz
that Norway permits. armed subma-
rines to enter It's waters only In an
emergency, and requires that all sub
marines. naval or commercial, which
enter Its waters shall sail on the sur
face and display the national flag. Our
government has not seen fit to go so
far. and our problem fs somewhat diff
ferent from that Of Norway. but the
principles laid down by the Norwegian
government seem sound; In territorial
waters alien ships should be kept to
the surface. where they can be
watched. At the proper time the
United States should be able to sup
port that doctrine. Thus far our gov
ernmenr has not faced a decision on
the point"
The stock I'm the Norwegian Ameri-
can steamship company is now quoted
at s194.4O per share on the Christiania
exchange. This represents a value Of
| 800 per cent above par.
Fran, the famous polar ship that
J carried hansen on his "farthest north"
| expedition, and Road Amundsen on
| his expedition 10 the South pole, will
soon be In the junk heap unless re-
| Gently started movement for it's pres
| ervation proves successful. 1t had
| beer CLAIMED to make an accurate
model &. the vessel before giving her
| over to Il" wrecklng crew.
| The la seS ~ Norwegian shipping
| 1useI by the war, bave reached to