The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-20
War Damage to Neutrals.

/ The United States has much reason
to complain of inconvenience, vexations,
injuries and losses of various kinds as
consequences of the great war. and,
though certain branches of manufacture
and commerce have profted through
their supply of military requirements,
our people have in general to suffer under
a heavy burden of higher prices for food
and clothing and all the necessaries of
| life. There are small increases every
where that mount to a weighty total. We
| find that though this nation is strictly
neutral and far from the fields of war,
neither the neutrality nor the remote
ness can screen us from injurious effects
of the terrible conflict
But while we endeayor by diplomatic
protests to champion neutral rights, let
us think not of ourselves only, but of
those neutrals who have the war at their
doors, with constant danger of being
drawn into it, all the neighbors being
belligerents and some of them having no
great respect for neutral territories. Den
mark, Sweden and Norway, having Russia
and Germany as their neighbors, are not
happily placed Naval warfare in the
Baltic is especially irritating to Sweden,
being carried at times into her territorial
waters, and the Norwegian waters on the
west have been invaded by German sub
marines for the capture OF Norwegian
ships. Denmark is in tho Prussian grip,
with the KEEL canal and the German navy
located in her own old territory of
Schleswig Holstein. Holland is between
German militarism and the deep sea
Switzerland is entirely surrounded by
belligerents, having France and Italy on
the west and south, and Germany and
Austria on the north and east; while
Spain has France and Portugal as her
next-door neighbors.
1t needs but a moments thought TO
convince us that the position of the
European neutrals is infinitely worse
than that of the neutrals on this side
of the Atlantic Switzerland, Holland
and the Scandinavian nations are dan
gerously situated. They have to endure
serious restrictions and deprivations and
to make an approach TO war expenditures
in order TO keep their forces mustered to
guard the frontiers. Any relaxation Of
vigilance would be imprudent. Toward |
the end Of last year the Swiss frontier
forces were reduced. but now the federal /
council considers il necessary TO take /
more extensive measures of precaution," /
and orders the mobilization next week |
Of forces that have been held in reserve.
1t is noticeable also that in the King 1
Of Sweden's Parliamentary speech the 1
principal point is the need OF maintain |
ing the special preparations by land and J
sea forces which have been judged indis-
pensable. particularly in view OF the ex-
tension OF war operations in the coun-
tryis territorial waters. Add TO these
the food Importation difficulties and the
high prices and IL becomes very evident
that the neutrsls nearest to the arena Of
battle are by far the greatest sufferers.
This should be kept in mind throughout
our diplomatic endesvors to procure re-
spect for international law in regard 20
the status Of neutrals. II others are
more than we let " b. sure
that We do not forget their just claims
while We stand up for our own.--Boston
Herald