Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-09-07
SWEpENS LITTLE
NAVY DEFENDER
OF NEUTRALITY
Much Difficulty is Experienced
In Preventing Seizure With
in Three Mile Limit
Ioerrsspena.nes Of the Associated rr.ssl

foorrsspondence Of the Associated Prsssl
STOCKHOLM, Sweden-The fear
expressed in government circles here
sthat belligerent naval operations In
the Baltic this summer would place a
heavy burden upon the neutrality of
Sweden seems 10 have been amply
justified by the events OF the past few
weeks. The Swedish navy, small but
efficient, has worked night and day
10 keep the territorial waters fire "
infringement, but despite this vigil.
ance submarines and stealthy destroy
ers Of the warning powers have
slipped into the three-mile limit and
stolen away with prize.
Germany has been the chief offend
er OF late, but the Russians we're
guilty Of poaching earlier In the sum-
mer and still hold two German steam
ers taken within the three-mile limit,
despite the protests Of the Swedish
government
The Germans seem to have adopted
the practise Of capturing q ship, TAX
ing off such supplies as they need and
then releasing the vessel with polite
apology Recently q Swedish ship,
the Oscar ii, not the ark Of peace, but
q tidy little white steamer belonging
to the Svea line, was captured by a
German destroyer and taken to Ger
man Baltic port. There every bit OF
lubricating oil was removed from the
steamer and she was allowed TO pro
coed. The German naturally express
ed their willingness to pay for the
OIL They would pay fortune to any
one who could run cargo Of oil past
the British blockade.
There have been numerous incl
dents OF late wherein the Swedish
naval vessels have been stripped for
action against beIligerent destroyers
and submarines, and some Of the ma
val officers here in Stockholm say
they have rather regretted it has
never come to elbows" for they, have
had all the drudgery OF war with none
or the glory.
One Of the newest Swedish torpedo
boats, the Castor, Is commanded by
Prince William. second son OF the
King. and q very popular young man.
The prince d q great favorite IN
stockholm hui the duties Of the coast
patrol have kept him away for long
time and his slim little gray vessel
hne been one Of the chief defenders |
Of Swedish neutrality.
An KneIish steamer recently was
making her way out Of the Baltic !
when acocsfed BY q German destroy
err Knowing he was within the pro-
lection OF territorial waters the Eng !
lish captain e. first paid no heed. !
Then the destroyer slipped TO the in !
side OF the cargo vessel and In per-
fectlyt good English the German COM
mander directed the Englishman to
steer south. The order was not ans
wered, but soon the destroyer began |
to crowd the merchantmen so It was
necessary for him to alter his course
and he was gradually approaching the !
open and unprotected water OF the |
Baltic when the Castor. with Prince !
william, fun six feet three. on the |
bridge. hove in sight The Castor
came dashing to the scene. white
spray flying from her cleancut bows. |
What Il the matter heref" called |
out the prince In even better English !,
than the German had employed.
The English captain megaphoned |
the reply that he was being ordered |
by the German to steer to the south |
so that he could be legally captured |
and taken as prize to Swinnemunde. |
You take orders from no one but |
me-, directed the prince. Keep your
original course and viii protect
you
The German skunk away and the
English ship. escorted by the Castor.
proceeded In safety.
Some Of the Swedish papers recog-
nize how difficult It Is for German !
or q Russian destroyer to lie outside |
the three4fnile limit and watch rich |
prize sail safely by with an enemy |
flag flauntingly flying at the mast
head. They say 1t is but human for
these craft occasionally to "break |
over" and fall upon the prey.
In relating some of his experiences
at sea a Swedish naval officer Of dis-l
tinguished rank said to the cores
pendent Of the Associated Press:
"You see. we think It is quite easy |
for the United States to be neutral. |
The neutrality Of the United States is |
theoretical. Here in Sweden we have |
very practical neutrality, very diff |
ficult and expensive neutrality. We
are In the midst of the war but not |
of It. We are q small nation. but so
far as firm determination and stead
fast principles wiz carry US, we in-
tend to remain pentral even to. the
point OF fighting 1or our neutrality" /
--ee
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