Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-05-31
Norway.

| there was much uneasiness In Nor.
way over the possible effect OF Amer
| ica's entrance into the war upon tue
shipment of grain and other food prod
ucts to Norway. 1t was declared that
If the importation of grain from Amer
lea was cut OF the supply on hand
would be exhausted In a couple OF
months. The feeling Of alarm created
by this has subsidized after the publtca-
ton of a statement made in the stOr-
thing by Mr. Vik Of the cabinet. he
stated that the government had on
hand January l, 1917. 100000 tons OF
grain, and since then has received "a
600 tons more, making total OF 52O.-
600 tons. From this must be deducted.
however, the amount consumed. which
is about 10000 tons per month, leav-
ing a balance of 10000 toLs. To this
should be added $4,000 tons of grain
privately owned, so that Mr.. Vik fig
ured that Norway has on hand enough
grain to last till the middle of October.
and the crops to be harvested in Nor
way this year will carry the country
over till the first Of next year.
The Saturday Evening Post recent
ly contained a picture of the 10000
horse power electric plant at Rjukan
falls, Norway, which Is employed In
the production Of nitrogen products
from the atmosphere. The picture was
one of the illustrations for an article
dealing with the fixation of nitrogen
from the atmosphere. The writer
pointed out that the Birkeland-Eyde.
or electric arc, process Of fixing nitro
gen is a success in Norway where wa
ter power is cheap. 1t Is not used in
Germany on account of the higher cost
Of electric power. The writer advanced
the opinion that the German cyanide
process would be the most practical in
America.
A Christiania report says that four
seamen's associations have sent reso-
buttons to the government demanding
better safeguards for vessels and
crews from the German submarine
menace. The demands include the fixing
on the ships tunnels of an apparatus
which will prevent clouds Of smoke,
searchlights, wireless installation, dis
tinct signs showing the ship is neutral
painted over the whole ship. a rocket
apparatus, better provisioning of life
boats, and one motor lifeboat which
can tow the others. The Mates asso-
citation. powerful organization, Is still
pressing the government to install guns
on the ships.
A cablegram from Christiania says
that the Norwegian steamship Thorum
has been seized by German subma-
rine inside the fOur-mile limit which
Norway always has asserted to be the
tiers, and serious diplomatic conflict
may result. The Thorum was charter
ed by the government to carry forage
to northern Norway. A Norwegian
destroyer attempted to prevent the
seizure but did not use its guns as the
submarine was outside the three-mile
limit The Tidens Tegn says the Nor
wegian government has expressed the
expectation to Germany that the
steamship will be released.
George Bernhard, the German writer,
is not pleased with the attitude Of the
Norwegian people toward German in
situations in Norway and sharply criti-
cizes the German minister at Christi
ania for his failure to enforce respect
for Germany In Norway. He cites the
prohibition by the Norwegian authori-
ties of concert by Arthur Nikisch,
conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic
society, distinguished German mu-
stefan. Herr Bernhard demands that
steps be taken by the German govern
ment to compel the press Of neutral
nations to keep within the bounds Of
international decency."
| 1t Is reported that the Kloster Ship
ping company of Norway, Of which
Lauritz KlOster Of Stavanger Is the
leading stakeholder, has recently sold
eight S,OOO-ton ships, recently complet-
ed or under construction on the Pacific
coast, at an average profit Of more
than half million dollars on each
ship. announces the Washington
Poster, the Norwegian newspaper pub
lished at Seattle, Wash. Stock In the
Kloster company recently sold at 1,4OO
per cent in Norway.
| A Glrunked chauffeur was responsible
for the death Of two persons In an au-
tomobile wreck at Stavanger recently.
The machine was running ut high
speed and struck curbstone at a
sharp turn.
| The Norwegian society for the ex-
termination Of rats proposes new law
compelling all real estate owners in
Norway to rid their premises Of the ro-
dents. A most drastic campaign against
rats Is proposed.
Shares In the Norwegian-American
line were quoted ut Sl67.4O May 3.
| This is 40 per cent of the amount