The Cordova daily times., 1916-06-28

designed wholly fin favor of the Ger that matter, fully expected when the war broke out that Germany at once would seize the Aland islands as a base for naval operations The is- lands were entirely without protec- ton at that time, and their possession would have enabled Germany to bottle up the gulf of Bethuia and safeguard all her operations in the Baltic, the very operations she must now under take if German arms are to pass Riga in the direction of Petrograd
 But at the outbreak of the war Ger many seemed to fear a British fleet might enter the Baltic through the Great Belt of Denmark and she kept the bulk of her navy in southern wa ters. Finally Denmark decided to close the Great Belt to all belliger- ents, and she strewed it with power ful mines. This action closed the only deep water entrance or outlet to the Baltic, other than the Kiel canal, and the German fleet was left free dom of action in that sea So on Aug ust 20, 1914, there came a German naval diversion against the Alands archipelago. By this time, however, Russia had mined the Aland waters and the German fleet managed only to destroy some signal stations.
 Another element of importance to the Alands was when British submar- ines managed to pass the shallow sound separating Denmark and Sweden and entered the Baltic. The Alands are now offering them a splendid base, and the recent activities of Russian submarines have put a sudden stop to German shipping in the northern Baltic The submarines also consti- ute a continuing menace against any naval craft which may venture out of the south.
 The agitation at this time was par ticipated in by the Conservative party. The government, however, was Lib cral and had taken an intermediate position between the Conservatives, who urged every sort of sacrifice to increase the army and navy, and the Socialists. who claimed it was foolish for a small country like Sweden to attempt to keep pace with the arma- ments of the larger powers of Flu rope.
 The address of the yeomen, coming as a climax to the propaganda of pat riotism waged throughout the country stirred King Gustave to a reply which immediately brought about a minis terial and political crisis.
 No king of those who before me have worn the crown of Sweden" he said. has in the same manner as I been allowed the privilege of stand ing on this spot. face to face with the commoners of Sweden and listen ing to their voices. The knowledge of your unshakable confidence in your king invests my royal duty with doubled responsibility, but at the same time makes it easier of fulfillment, and promise that will not fail you. You may be assured that I will never compromise with my conviction in the i question of what l regard right ana : necessary in order to guard the inde- pendence of our fatherland. The standards for readiness of service and preparation for war formulated by ex- perts within my army I will not re- cede from. You all know that this means an extended time of military service for citizens, especially with regard to the winter training. In or der to perform the great tasks before it my navy must be not only main tained but very considerably in creased"
 There was much talk in Sweden also of German influence at court, due to the fact that the Swedish queen was a German princess, Victoria of