Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-01-20

L - sNI thhSNts AStp1t WtItp1 sA0AA NY
enhagen that Sweden does not intend
to let Germany lose the European war
even Ii she is forced to make war her
self an Germany's ally. Sweden may
not insist upon an ont-and-out German
victory, but she feels she cannot, for
her own safety. allow the Russians TO
beat Germany. She liz not particularly
pro-German or pro-ally, but she ID anti
Russian with her whole soul. She will
fight with Germany before she will see
Russia win. She believes her strength
will be the deciding factor I'm the last
| resort. This Is the outstanding fact
In the Scandinavian situation as out
lined to the United Press. AS far
back as any .Swede can remember, all
Swedes have been In terror OF Rus
sian attempt to secure the cars much
and long coveted warm water port on
the west coast OF the Scandinavian
| peninsula. This can only be at Nor
ways expense, and Norway can only
be reached through Sweden. The
| Swedes say they can put 100000
| troops into the field. Experts doubt
| this, but concede that the Swedes are
admirably trained and we'll armed. In
the event Of hostiIities they would be
thrown across the frontier into Fin.
| land In the expectation that the Firms
| would join them In a campaign to cap
ture Petrograd and sweep southwark
to join the Germans near Riga"
There is considerable truth In what
Mr.. Stewart says with respect to
Sweden's attitude in the war, and
there can be no doubt that the coun.
try az a whole would like to see a
crushing defeat administered to Rus
sia, but when he states that Sweden
will enter the war rathor than see the
triumph OF the Russian arms. he
speaks without authority. England's
treatment of Sweden In recent months
has been irritating In the extreme,
tending to create greater sympathy
for Germany than existed at the be
ginning OF the war, but II may be put
down as an absolute fact that the
great majority OF the people OF Swe.
den are opposed to their country's par
ticipation I'm the war on either side |
and will continue that attitude till the |
end
According to press reports. the emf.
grafton of metal workers from Sweden
and Norway to the belifgerent coun.
tries for the purpose of engaging in
the manufacture of munitions of war
Is attracting considerable attention In
Scandinavia, Investigation has proved
that the emigration OF skilled workers
from Norway has not been very large.
and that previous reports on the mum.
Der who have crossed to England have
been greatly exaggerated. but in Swe-
den the situation is more serious. II
is estimated that 500 skilled workers
have already departed. principally to
Germany, and this number Is believed
to be only q beginning. In some
quarters 1t is feared that the move
ment will grayely affect the situation
after the war.
England continues to interfere with
Swedish imports and exports of food
stuffs. Recently large shipment OF
pork consigned to firm In Sundsvall.
was held up in Norway on the sus-
picion that II would be reshipped to
Germany. After extended negotiations,
pledges having been given by the
that they would guarantee
that none OF the pork should ever
reach belligerent country at war
with England. the shipment was re-
leased.
A strike Ia threatened by the EN-.
ployees of the Grangesberg mines.
The labor leaders have served notice
on the mine owners that unless GER
tain concessions are made to the min
ers In the near future, there viii be
strike. Whether the mine owners will
accede to these demands is not yet
known.
The Stockholm Times (Stockhoims.
has come out with the
rather novel suggestion that every
public school In the Swedish capital
make skiing a part OF its curriculum.
1t proposes that ski-slide be estab-
lished In connection with each school
and that the pupils be instructed In
this favorite Northern sport The
hope Is expressed that the time will
come when every pupil will own a pair
OF skis and that until this is possible
the schools provide skis for the use
of the pupils, To show its sincerity,
the newspaper In question has do
mated twenty-five pairs OF skis to the
Stockholm schools.
Finnish newspapers report that the
retail sale OF spirituous liquors was to
be permitted again In Finland after
January I. The traffic will. however.
be heavily taxed. with the rate based
on the percentage of alcohol The
sale of matted liquors will also be
permitted subject to a special tax.
III. q. Gulliksen was found dead one
morning on road near the village OF
Settle, Ii is supposed that he fell down