The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1917-08-01

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
FL PENINos IN FAR OFF
T. e q. 4 ~ NoRTHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the Scandinavian
IN America.


OF Interest to the seandinavians
IN America.
49, NORWAY.
There is no nation on the continent
Of Europe which has endured more,
and that more more heroically, than
the kingdom Of Norway. With long
coast line practically entirely unde-
tended and Intensely vulnerable, with
the full force Of the German navy an
ehored only few hours distant from
her coasts, and with lot too friendly
neighbor, Possesstng an army much
stronger man her own, situated on the
other SIDE e her lapd border, the po-
sition 81 Norway has been one Of
great difficulty and Of the greatest per-
pledty. Had she flung herself into the
wax on the side Of the allies, she
would have been Of little help to them,
while she would have made them re-
sponsible for the protection of her
coastline, which she could not defend
for herself. From the allies, Of course,
Norway knew she had nothing to fear.
There could not be any possible temp
tatt0n to them to attack her in any
way. Her carrying trade was, Of
course, as neutral, at their disposal,
just as it would have been at the dis
posal Of Germany, had Germany been
able to avail herself Of it. Therefore
the little Scandinavian kingdom shut
Its teeth, and held on with a courage
and tenacity beyond all praise. Even
when the submarine zone was fixed,
on the list of February last, and the
undersea boats went out on their work
Of devastation, the Norwegian captains
held on. In spite Of every danger, in
spite Of enormous losses, their ships
went up and down the seas perform
Ing services to the allies, that the al
lies have been always most ready to
recognize. Had she followed the ex-
ample, subsequently given by the
United States, Of declaring war upon
Germany, it is by no means improbable
she would have proved burden rather
than help in the weeks that have fol-
lowed. Unless some other country had
been in a position to come to her as
sistance, the German navy would have
had no difficulty in affecting a landing
on her coast and putting her entire
carrying fleet out Of commission as far
as the allies were concerned. That is
precisely what the Norwegians realize
Germany is yet in a position to do, and
what they have a lurking dread that
she will yet attempt to do in some mo-
ment Of desperation. These being the
conditions, it is with the bitterest pos
sfble feeling that the Norwegian
people have read certain references in
the press Of the United States to their
attitude Of neutrality. The misunder-
standing Of their position exhibited in
these articles would, they maintain,
he bad enough In any event. When,
however, these attacks are buttressed
by an Indictment to the government at
Washington to cut off Norway's supply
of grain, and to penalize her by star
walton for not doing something which
up to recently the United States itself
had not seen fit to do, an amount of
fll-feeling is generated which it may
take months or years to allay. The
Norwegian people are, in short, Of the
opinion that such criticism is wholly
unjust, and the occasion for it unfor-
tunately chosen. A part of them, at
any rate, and that part by no means
the least worthy of attention, is con-
vinced that, as has already been point
ed out, before the end comes, Germany
will make an effort to utilize the fjords
for the purpose Of reckless attack
upon the Atlantic seaboard Of North
America. And they are insistent that
If that moment should come, the re-
sistance Of Norway would be Of more
assistance to the allies than her sour
| acquiescence in what she might de-
scribe as the inevitable. Will Germany
make that attempt? That is the ques-
ton. For that, If made, it would be
futile and foredoomed to failure is no
argument against the effort, in the case
| Of a nation which the president de-
scribed as engaged in running amuck
through civilization. No doubt If this
running amuck should cause real
shortage Of foodstuffs in the world the
warning Of tire United States govern
| ment that the claims Of the country
will come first, then those of it's allies,
and finally those Of neutrals will take
effect. In the meantime it is neither
polite nor just to heap insult upon
injury in discussing the position Of the
| little Scandinavian country.-Christian
Science Monitor.
The city fathers Of Trondhjem have
voted almost $150,000 for putting up
80 small houses for people who cannot
| obtain decent rooms for rent in the
city.
The sinking by a German submarine