The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-09-08
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North, Sc
lected for scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. ODLAND.
Norway.

Bjorn BjOrnsOn, the son of the great
poet, Bjornstjerne Bjornson, and him
self writer of note, has returned to
Christiania after an absence of sew
eral years and has submitted to an In
terview on his views Of the war. He
has sojourned in Germany most of the
time since the beginning of the war
and has been classed as a very strong
German sympathizer, but he returns
with his views considerably altered.
According to Christiania dispatch,
he declares that German censorship
keeps the public in ignorance OF the
true state Of public opinion in neutral
countries, and states that he himself
was not aware of the depth of public
indignation in Norway over German
submarine warfare. Regarding inter-
nal affairs in Germany, Bjornson finds
that the people are rousing themselves
10 take an active part In the manage
ment of their own affairs. "The Ger
mans have never cared for nor under
stood politics." says Bjornson in an in
terview In Dagbladet. "For the most
part they have let their rulers manage
things to suit themselves. Now they
are aroused and have become pro-
foundry interested In politics. Be
lieve me. when this war Is over Ger
many will be one of the most liberal
and democratic nations of the world
and will hold far different position
In the eyes of Europe. The democratic
elements are gradually coming to their
own. 1t Is tendency that cannot be
stopped; even Bethman-Hollweg adj
mits this, and do not believe he de-
sires to stop 1t. The Pan-Germans and
the ultraconservatives are raising
cry as never before. because they feel
that the foundation Is crumbling be-
meath their feet"
Norway's gratitude to the French
life-saving crew for their heroic work
in rescuing the crew Of torpedoed
Norwegian steamer off the coast of
France was given substantial express
sion when Minister Wedel-Jarlsberg of
Norway presented fund of 100000
French life-saving crew and the
widows of those who persisted in the
efforts ut rescue. Minister Wedel-
Jarlsberg and his party. says news
report. were transported to d'Yen.
the little storm-lashed island off the
coast of Brittany. where the life-saving
crew Is stationed. in three French tor
pedo boats. A crowd of people es-
corted the visitors from the docks to
the churchyard, where rest the remains
Of the six Frenchmen and five Morse
men who persisted in the terrible or
deal. Awaiting them ut the graveyard
were the six widows of the dead
Frenchman and their "A orphaned
children. The Norwegian minister
placed bronze wreaths on the graves
and presented rescue medals to the
surviving members of the life-saving
crew. He announced also that the
fund which had been collected in Nor
way in gratitude for the rescue of the
Morse sailors would provide each sur
viving member of the crew and each Of
sion Of 300 francs for the remainder
of their lives. Norway will erect on
the island a monument in commem-
grafton of the heroic deed Of the
Franchmen. The speech by the min
lister was interrupted repeatedly by
cries of "vive lie Norvege" by the as
sembled crowd.
A dispatch from the Morse capital
says that all employees on the gov
eminent railroads, from station agents
to laborers, have resigned their places
and will walk out September 1. The
men declare that their wages are too
low for decent living. If the govern
ment does not yield to the demand for
better salaries-request unanimously
supported by almost the whole press
Of the countryside railroad service
over the whole country will be stopped
September 1.
The Stavangerfjord, the new liner
Of the Norwegian-American steamship
company, has been launched and 2,OOO,-
600 crowns have been paid on the con-
tract price. 1t will be some time, how
ever, before the boat will be placed in
the service, but the negotiations as to
its operation are being pushed
Owing to the scarcity of help, the
telephone service in the city of Christi
ania is discontinued at midnight every
night. Until recently there were plenty
Of girls applying for service as tele-
phone operators, but now the applica-
lions have fallen Off.
According to reports, two Norwe-
gian-Americans have been arrested in
Norway in connection with the fight on
the German spy system. The two men
were employed Mt the aluminium plant
at the Hoyanger falls. near Bergen.
One of the men, Konrad Kritofferson.
Is said to be married to an Austrian
woman. The other man, Kanrad Iver-
sen has a criminal record.
The Christiania city council has