The sun., 1916-09-10
SWEDISH NAVY Is
NEUTRAL WATCHDOG
Many Merchant Ships Escape
Capture by Vigilance Of
Torpedo Craft.
PRINCE COMMANDS ONE
He Recently Saved an English
Stcamer-New Mines
Are Laid.
Co~rresponde~ce TO the Associdfed Press.
SrOCx ~ M ~ Sweden Aug 20-Th

correspondence 10 the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden. Aug. 2O.-The
fear expressed In Government circles
here that belligcrent naval operations In
the Baltic this summer would place q
heavy burden upon the neutrality or
Sweden seems to n v been amply justi-
fed by the events Of the past few weeks.
The Swedish navy. small but efficient.
has worked night and day to keep the
territorial waters free Of infringement,
but despite his vigilance submarines
and stcalthy destroycrs Of the warning
Powers have slipped into the three mile
limit and stolen away with q prize.
Germany has been the chief offender
Of late. but the Russians were guilty Of
poaching earlier In the summer II still
hold two German steamers taken within
the thrcc mile limit despite the protests
Of the Swedish Government.
The Germans seem to have adopted
the practice Of capturing n ship. taking
on such supplies az they need and then
releasing tho vessel with a polite apology.
Recently a Swedish ship. the Oscar IL
not the ark Of peace but "A tidy little
white steamer belonging to the Svea
Line-was captured by n German de-
stroyer and taken to a German Baltic
port.
There every hit OF iubricating oil was
removed from tho steamer and she was
allowed to proceed. Tho Germans nat
ura,ly expressed their willingness 10 pay
| for the oil. They would pay a fortune
| 10 any one who would run a cargo Of oil
| past the British blockade.
Prevention ~ Raids.
Incidents % sunk or captured ships
have been many. but there have been far
| moro unhcralded instances where raids
| have been prevented by the presence OF
Swedish cruisers. iestroyers and torpedo
boats. II is no easy task to patrol a
coas, line which stretches from 'hc
| northern crescent Of the Gulr of Both
| mia down through the entire length OF
the Baltic and on, into the Cattegst. MOI
Is II always possible 60 "~chaI,erou" al
tho merchant ships living ~helligercn'
flags and seeking the neutral shelter OF
the threc mile limit.
II i no strange sight along the coas'
to soc a German and ~ Russian "luggcr
churnirg the waters side by side. {" 4
see n German and an English ~hip pas
| In tho night without tho slightest sign o
| recognition. And Il Is always safe &
assume that somewhere along tai
| Jagged, rocky coast there Is lurking !
spiderlike destroyer OF the enemy
ready TO pounce upon the steamer tn
momcn; Il may stray "ou,sidc.' or some
| times through owe. cagerness 10 stei
! irsid" In. ;iiuii and "~.~i-uai-' th'
richly laden ramp to steer "a littl'
wide" Of the dangerous coast.
There have been numerous !ncidcn:
~ late wherein the Swedish naval ves
sells have been stripped for action agains
hslligeient d~cstroycrs and submarines
and some ~ the naval Officers here II
stockholm say they have rd;her re-
g,etted 4, has never come IL blows" 10
they nave had all the drudgery OF va
with none " tho glory.
one Of the newest, Swedish torpcd
boats, the Castor, Is commanded b.
Prince william. second son OF the XIII
and a very popular young man. TIL
Prince Is a great favUrite on Stockholm
but the duties Of the coast patrol hav
kept him away for n long time and hi
slim little gray vessel has been II q
:he chief defenders OF swedish ncu
tral!ty.