New-York tribune., 1917-07-25

Norway. weak In food resources and man
power, but strong in ships, has been IN
position of perplexing difficulties and con-
slant perils during the progress OF the war
To live or not to live-that is the question
Of unrestricted German submarine warfare
as applied to Norway. From time I'M
msmorial she has been living by the sea and
on the sea, and still depends upon free sea
TO keen her people in food and work. Inc
German submarine policy has threatened not
onlv the destruction Of her splendid mer-
chant marine, so necessary to the life and
welfare of her people, but Is general and
direct denial of one of the most vital princi-
ples upon which rests her existence as
free and growing nation.
Undaunted by Threats
She might have bought practical immu-
nifty for her ships by accepting German rules
for their saiings. But that would have been
a surrender of her rights under established
sea law. Undaunted by the ominous threats,
she sent her ships through the waters IN
tested by mines and periscopes, and her sons
were brave enough to man them, though they
knew NHdb bHCy AA'64'S ~
death-as hundreds of them did.
While the pluck of the Norwegian people
and their government has won for the old
"Ssga-land" the respect OF other countries
IL is not SO generally known or understood
that Norway has been able TO maintain ner
firm policy in spite Of conflicts raging IN
her own bosom. She is largely Teutonic IN
ral
decidedly western-Englsh, French, Ameri-
can-n her social fabric and political ideals
The old Teutonic God-lore, hero-lore and
folklore attained their highest expression
not in Germany, but in Norway. Early Ger
manic literature has nothing comparable TO
the Morse sagas and other writings, where
Wagner found all ready-made his galaxy OF
heroes and her2ines. Similarly, old Morse
law represents the early Teutonic ideal Of
social Justice in it's clearest form. The
Hansa League obtained a firm foothold in
Norway, as in other northern lands, and
though IL was finally driven out, Germans
have ever since taken a leading part in the
industrial and commercial development of
the country.
Culture Teutonic, Sympathies Pro-Ally
With the adoption of the faith Of Luther
German influence In theology became pre-
dominant and gradually extended to the
sciences, literature and art. Norway's re-
cent relations with Germany, If on the whole
less dependent, have been even closer. lbsen,
Bjornson and the lesser lights of her modern
literary renaissance have passed into the
world at large through the door of Germany.
Her musicians, painters, engineers, etc, have
received finishing touches in German con-
servatories, studios or schools. Hamburg
has been the greatest of foreign ports for
Norwegian trade. II is needless TO add that
at the outbreak Of the war the army officers
of Norway like those Of most neutral coun-
tries, were largely pro-German in their SYM
pathies.
Thus, Norway took her place as spectator
Of the war, honeycombed with German cult
ural ideas and enmeshed in German relations
on every hand. The university, the army, the
schools, the Church and to a large extent her
commerce were sources and centres of strong
German influence. To cap it all, trade with
Germany was hugely profitable. And yet,
somewhat strange as it may seem, the SYM
pathies Of the Norwegian people have been pro-
Ally from the time the first shot was fired by