Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-03-30
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENlNGS IN FAR OFF
NoRTHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF interest to the seandinavans
In America.
SWEDEN.

PAShNSNAoh Aoo PoooNN - ~ -
pend for year the obligation of the
state bank to buy gold. In 1872, when
the Scandinavian countries entered
on their present currency basis, it was
arranged that the Bank of Sweden
should buy gold on the basis of 2.4S0
crowns for one kilogram of gold. Since
the war commenced the Scandinavian
countries have been deluged with gold.
and, in fear of an inflated currency
therefrom, the Bank of Sweden has
obtained powers to refuse to buy gold.
1t is anticipated that Norway and Den
mark will follow suit, and this re-
markable incident arising from the
war will, il carried into effect, cause
balances owing to these nations to be
left in foreign countries until the
course of exchange is more favorable,
The following table shows the growth
of gold holdings in pounds sterling IL
Scandinavian countries national banks
since 1914: Norway. 1914, 2,616,0OO;
1915. 1905, 600; 1916, 3,096,000: Swe-
den, 1914, 5,7140,o00; 1915, 6,032 900;
1916, 7,O67,OO0; Denmark, 1914. 4,0l5.-
900; 1915, 5,2Ss,0OO: 1916. 6,1S4,000
A Swedish merchant, who is inter.
ested in the steel business, had been
in New York consulting with mem
bers of his firm. He returned home on
the Stockholm, the Swedish ship that
was captured by the English on its
first trip. He was searched and every
letter and paper in his possession was
read, many of them dealing with bust
ness secrets. He had in his possession
three bars of sample steel, brightly
polished. as samples of the work done
by his firm. Immediately suspicion
was directed against him and he was
taken into custody and Intercepted at
great length before being released.
II was reported at the end of Feb
ruary that large German flotilla was
engaged in laying mines to the south
of Falsterbo, a small seaport of Swed.
en-, near its extremity on the Baltic
sea. This new mine field was said to
be intended to prevent traffic in con-
traband along the Swedish coast to
Finnish ports. 1t was later stated that
Sweden had made energetic represen-
tations ON this subject to Germany, as
not even Sweden's navy would be able
to move from the North sea to the
Baltic without grave danger from
these mines unless accompanied by
German pilots.
A dispatch from Stockholm says 1t
is stated in Swedish political circles
that the Swedish government on two
separate occasions applied to the Unit
ed States to obtain President Wilson S
cooperation for concerted mediation
toward peace President Wilson. who
at an early stage of the war, had his
offer rejected. adds the dispatch, de-
clined to join the movement unless
requested by the belligerents. II is
stated that in Stockholm and other
neutral capitals the question is being
discussed of forming mediation con-
ference without the cooperation of
the United States,
A few weeks ago business house
in Stockholm sent q cablegram to New
York, asking for quotation on 100.-
900 bicycle valves of a certain pattern
The managers were astonished when.
a few days later, they received a let
ter from an English firm which deals
in these commodities and which sug
gested that it understood the Swedish
firm to be in the market for some
goods of a certain character, repeating
exactly the specifications of the cable.
gram.
The Swedish government has decid
ed to remove the German mine field
of Falsterbo. which caused the loss Of
the steamer Mart a The press sup
ports the government in this decision
and several newspapers declare that
the German object in the laying OF
these mines Is to prevent all traffic
between the Baltic and the North sea
The cabinet has decided to loan out
$1,325000 as an aid to small farmers
during the year.
About 5000 Swedes who had lived
in foreign countries returned to Swe-
den in 1915.
The Swedish steamer Martha struck
a mine In Falsterbo sound and sank
within Swedish territorial waters.
February Sd, the one hundredth an
niversary of the birth of Carl Olof
Rosenius, the famous preacher, was
celebrated with a memorial service In
the Johannes church in Stockholm,
and flowers were placed on his grave
by his sons and several religious or
CARNATIONS.
Exchange of incapacitated Russian
and German military prisoners will
be resumed April 3. One train weekly
will run each way via Sweden. During
May II is expected four trains of pris-
oners will be exchanged each week.
The farmers Of Halland are far from
anxious TO raise sugar beets next sum-
mer, and so far contracts have been
closed for only one-half of the crop
necessary for supplying the local fac
tory during the fall season.
The detention of the ship Stockholm
Of the recently organized Swedish
American line by British authorities
on her last outward voyage served to
create in Sweden an intense pro-Ger-
man feeling, according to Edwin linn.