Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-04-08
IN FAR NORTHLAND.
Important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North 81.
lected for scandinavlane and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLANp.

Sweden.
The Swedish parliament, or rigsdag,
opened January IL. and the speech
which King Gustaf .;elivered from the
throne was heard with intense interest
in view Of the critical situation IN
which Sweden has been placeds on &C.
count Of the war. He took strong
stand for national defense, insisting on
both a stronger army and navy. "A
formidable struggle of ever'increasing
intensity, which will decide the future
Of nations, is taking place" he said.
Our government earnestly hopes to
be able always to maintain the neutral
| ity which it decided to observe from
| the beginning of the war, but in order
to maintain neutrality and the SOW.
ereignty of Sweden, increased forces
on land and sea must be in readiness.
| Sweden has felt the effects Of the war
In numerous ways during the last
year. Belligerents have neglected III
an ever-increasing degree to observe
| International law provided for protec-
ton Of neutrals and for limitation Of
deeds of violence" King Gustaf en-
phasized Sweden ) part in upbolding
International law and the constant DIFF.
! ficulties she Is meeting in obtaining
her economic rights on account OF the
| attitude of belligcrents. The govern.
ment had been compelled more than
| once, he said, to resist attempts to
place the industrial and commercial
rights Of the country under the
usurped control of another power. On
account of these conditions, King Gus
tat asserted 1t was necessary to carry
on vigorously the task of providing for
national defense. He said the govern
ment would ask parliament to appoint
special delegates for the purpose OF
discussing national questions of Sc.
cret nature with the executive branch.
Politiken Of Copenhagen, says cor
respondent of the Exchange Tele.
graph company, is authority for the
statement that King Gustaf's speech
from the throne awakened considera.
BILE anxiety throughout Sweden. The
situation, says the correspondent, is a
source Of concern in Stockholm, the
correspondent says, on account OF the
seizure by the British last week Of a
large quantity Of provisions from the
Swedish-American steamship Stock
holm from New York for Stockholm.
The action of the British authorities
is criticized sharply by the Swedish
press, which expresses the opinion that
the value of the goods seized cannot
be regarded as anything like an ade-
quate offset to the effect Of the Incl.
dent on relations between Sweden and
Great Britain. Some of the Swedish
newspapers state that such actions are
worse than an open rupture. Hjalmar
Branting, Socialist leader in the sec.
ond Swedish chamber, who recently
visited the allied front in Flanders, is
quoted by the Social Demokraten as
saying that he prefers decisive action
q day too early rather than day too
late, in order to save Sweden from
complications. 1T is noted that King
Gustaf, in his speech from the
| throne, did not make the usual refer
ence to the good relations of Sweden
with foreign powers" the correspond
ent adds Several interpretations on
foreign affairs are expected during the
session"
The commencement of business Of
| the new Swedish-American steamship
| line was duly celebrated OH board the
! companys first ship, the Stockholm.
! A dinner was served, at which were
| present prominent members Of the
government and other notables. Min
lister Hammerskjold was the principal
speaker, dwelling at length upon the
Importance OF enlarging Sweden's
| merchant marine in order that the
| country's commerce may be independ-
ent of foreign interests.
| Inc SWedlSn steamer kepIer mas
been abandoned in a sinking condi-
ton. Its crew was rescued.
The Forshammar mines in Vestman.
land, which have been shut down for
some years, will be reopened, com.
pany, with adequate capital, having ta-
ken hold of the important work. This
Is the biggest undertaking started In
Sweden for some time.
The government of Sweden is con.
stantly adding to the list of articles
which cannot be exported from the
country, some Of the articles recently
added being cotton, wool, leather. oils,
metals. coal, wooden garments of va.
rious kinds, canvas, hemp, gold, silver,
and different kinds Of machinery.
The memorial medal of the Swedish
academy for the year 1915 was coined
In honor of Prior Petrus de Davia,
the first Swedish author, whose BIZ
ography was written by Mr.. Schyck.
Petrus de Dacia was born in Gott-
land, presumably about the year 1890.
and died in 1889, as prior OF the Visby
Dominican monastery.