The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-01
SWEDEN'S NEUTRALITY
is HEAVILY BURDENED
By BelIigerent Naval Opera
tons in the Baltic Sea the
Present Summer.
lcorrespondenee OF Assoclated Pressl


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. l.
The fear expressed in government
circles here that belligerent naval
operations in the Baltic this summer
would place a heavy burden upon
the neutrality Of Sweden seems to
have been amply justified by the
events OF the last few weeks The
Swedish navy, small but efficient, has
worked night and day to keep the
territorial waters free Of infring-
ment, but despite this vigilance sub
marines and stealthy destroyers OF
the warning nations have slipped into
The three-mile limit and stolen away
with prize.
Germany has been the chief Of
fender OF late, but the Russians were
guilty of poaching earlier in the
summer and still hold two German
steamers taken within the three mile
INIT respite the protests OF the
Swedish government.
Germany's Policy.
The Germans seem to have adopt
ed the practice OF capturing a ship,
taking off such supplies as they need,
and then releasing the vessel with a
polite apology. Recently a Swedish
ship, the Oscar II-not the ark OF
peace. but little white steamer be-
.onging to the Svea llne-was cap
.ured by German destroyer and
aiken to a German Baltic port. There
every bit of lubricating oil was re.
moved from the steamer and 1t was
allowed to proceed. The Germans
naturally expressed their willingness
10 pay for the oil. They would pay a
fortune to anyone who could run a
cargo of oil past the British block
ade.
The incidents Of sunk or captured
ships have been many, but there
have been far more unheralded in
stances where raids have been pre-
vented by the presence OF the Swed-
lsh cruisers, destroyers and torpedo
boats. 1t is no easy task to patrol a
coast line which stretches from the
northern crescent of the Gulf of
Bothnia down through the entire
length OF the Baltic and out into the
Cattegat, nor is it always possible to
"chaperone" all the merchants ships
flying belligerent flags and seeking
the neutral shelter of the three-mile
limit. IL Is no strange sight along
The coast TO see a German and Rus
sian "lugger" churning the waters
side by side. or to sec German and
English ship pass In the night with
out the slightest sign Of recognition.
And It IS always safe to assume that
somewhere along this jagged, rocky
coast there is lurking spider-like
destroyer Of the enemy" ready to
pounce upon the steamer the moment
It may stray outside" or sometimes
through over-ea gerness to step inside
The limit and persuade" the richly
laden tramp to steer "a little wide
Of the dangerous coast.
Stripped for Action.
There have been numerous Incl
denst of late wherein the Swedish
naval vessels have been stripped for
action against belligerent destroyers
and submarine, and some of the ma
val officers here in Stockholm say
they have rather regretted il has
never come to blows" for they have
had all the drudgery OF war with
none of the glory.
One of the newest Swedish torpedo
boats, the Castor, is commanded by
Prince William, second son of the
king and very popular young man.
The prince is a great fayorite in
Stockholm but the duties of the coast
patrol have kept him away for a
long time and his slim little gray YES
sci has been one Of the chief defend
ers Of Swedish neutrality.
An English steamer recently was
making its way out of the Baltic
when accosted by a German de.
stroyer. knowing he was in the pro.
lection of territorial waters the Eng
fish captain at first paid no heed.
Then the destroyer slipped to the
inside of the cargo of the vessel and
In perfectly good English the German