Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-14
NORWAY.


The Norwegian decree of October ID
last. forbidding submarines to enter
Norwegian territorial waters except
when in distress, led to a dangerous
issue with Germany. and to still fur
theC sharpening of the submarine cam
paign against Norwegian merchant
shipping. When Germany threatened
to make a casus belli of the Norwegian
submarine prohibition her real aim
was TO exact commercial concessions.
One concession concerned fish. Nor
way had an agreement to sell England
50 per cent of the fish which she does
not consume at home; and she agreed
TO sell Germany the other 10 per cent
if Germany supplied equal values in
the two compensation products, iron
and coal. Germany. it turned out
could supply only enough iron and coal
to compensate for twO-thirds of the
- per cent. As consideration for set
Ting peacefully the submarine quarrel,
she demanded the other third without
compensation. Germany is also be
lieyed to be demanding copper from
Norway; and she is negotiating con
corning iron pyrites, of which Norway
is a great exporter England's inter
ests and Germany's are here diamet-
rically opposed and some weeks back
the British minister in Christiania, Mr.
Findlay, informed the Norwegian Coal
Importers association that the export
of coal to Norway was stopped, the
reason given being that Norway was
fulfilling unsatisfactory the obliga-
tions she had taken on herself" When
the storthing met in January the
kings speech omitted the customary
statement that relations with foreign
powers are satisfactory" and substi-
tuted statement that difficulties had
arisen with foreign powers. The gov
eminent made three and a half hour
statement to the stOrthing in secret
session. This has not been published.
The storthing next appointed a secret
committee TO handle foreign affairs
generally, and great many politi-
clans, backed by all the conservative
radical organs, demand that the con
duct of foreign affairs shall be taken
out of the cabinets hands and be
trusted permanently TO the storthing
committee.
During the fourth quarter Of 1916
the newspapers of Christiania sent out
$50 tons of copies through the mails,
as against Sal tons for the same quar-
ter in 1918. For the whole year 1904
tons of newspapers were sent out
through the Christiania post office,
which was an increase Of 10 per cent
on that of the previous year. The city
circulation swelled the total for the
year 1916 to about 1900 tons. The
newspapers of the whole country re-
quire about 1880 tons of paper a
year. The country produces about
10000 tons of paper of that kind
year. Thus 1t will be seen that Nor
way produces ten times as much pa
per as the newspapers of the country
need
A Christiania syndicate has bought
% acres of ground at Ogne. Jaderen.
for the purpose of building factory
for repairing kelp for the market One
OF the products to be turned out is
called "Norgin," and is used in the
textile industries; the other is
''tangin." a drug used as a remedy for
rheumatism and nervous diseases. The
beach of Jaderen is famous for the
large quantities of kelp and other
kinds of seaweeds thrown upon it dur
ing storms from the west.
The mint at Kongsberg is going to
turn out $4,000 in copper coins Of the
denomination of five ore Ga little over
one ana third cents). The mine
happened to have some old copper
stored up, otherwise it would have
been very difficult to obtain raw ma
terial.
The new hospital al Lavik. Sogn. is
practically finished and it win be for
mally opened July /. 1t has cost
about 5000. and will accommodate
nine tuberculosis patients and seven
others.
For the year 1916 the Royal Soci-
ETY. for the Veal Of Norway has award
ed medals to 81 persons on account Of
~long and faithful service" AT the
head Of the list Of Names is that Of
Lucie J. Brynhiisen Of the farm Of
Brynlngsyold, near Roros, whose time
Of service has covered 20 years. All
Of the 81 could point to a service Of at
least . years.
The estimated 5alue IF the potato
crop Of Norway IN 1915 Is 100000