New-York tribune., 1918-03-11
Threats Used to Awe Neu-
trails in New Conquest
Scheme
Aland Islands
To Be Fortified
Germany Seeks Barrier tc
British and American
Trade With Russia

LONDON, March 10. - The newest
and d novel display of German policy
has conc in the form of sudden
broadsde of denunclation of the Sean
dinavian countries By German news
papers and publicists, like Count Re-
yentlow, of the "Tages Zeitung." From
the similarity of the articles it is evil
dent that they arc directed by one mind,
which mind apparently is the German
government.
The articles accuse the Scandinavian
countries substantially of being accom-
plices of the Entente and warn them
that therefore they can expect no con-
sideration from Germany. The reason
for this policy is plain to diplomats
here. Germany's dealings with Finland
thus far seem to be designed TO make
Finland a minor German kingdom, with
the Emperor's son, Prince Oscar. on the
throne, and to make another Helgoland
OF the Aland Islands.
NIenaces Three Countries
This scheme is a direct blow against
Sweden, and, in less degree, against
Denmark and Norway, and is in line
with the German Emperor's boast that
the Baltic lands have been made per-
manently German.
The Aland Islands, geogra phicaliy,
are as much a part of Sweden as New
foundland is of Canada. Throughout
the war Sweden has been troubled by
the fear that Russia would take them.
Germany now occupies the islands tenn
porarily, but the German flag flies over
the public buildings. and no one be-
lieves it will ever come down except by
force The most practical effect Of
German control of Finland and the
Aland Islands is pointed out by Count
will be used as a commercial bridge be-
tween Scandinavia and Russia. This
is bar TO American as we'll as to Brit
ish trade with Russia.
That the Scandinavian countries have
been overfriendly to the Entente came
here as an amusing charge. Sweden
generally has been rated the most
pro-German of the neutral European
nations, except possibly Spain. The
royal family, the aristocracy. the uni
versities and the army have been out
spckenly pro- German For long time
Il was feared that Sweden would join
the Germanic alliance According to one
newspaper 30 per cent of the steel
Germany has used for munitions has
been furnished By Sweden.
Denmark has never been cons idered
overfrendly to the Entente. but con-
sidering the fact that she is a small
nation. living under the muzzles of the
German guns and with the mailed fist
az her throat, the fact that she is lean
ing backward in maintaining her ncu-
trality toward the Entente countries is
understood to have caused no i'll feel
ing.
Germany to Use Force
The latest German move appears TO be
familiar one. Germany feels that she
Is now in position where sne is so
strong in the north that she need no
longer cultivate the friendship of the
scandinavian countries, and that she
may make whatever damaging arrange
ments she desires and threaten them.
It is the same procedure she followed
when she began bombarding undefend-
cd British coast towns like Scarbor
ough, explaining her action on the
ground that they were fortified. She
now attacks the Scandinavian countries
with the excuse that they are unneu
trail
Count Won Eeventlow writes that as
the Swedish government has become
more and more attached to the cause
o. Germany's enemies, German feeling
toward her has cooled and that "Swcd
;sa freedom Of action has been greatly
limited"
Newspapers Attack Sweden
Following an attack on Denmark De
cause OF her shipping agreement with.
me Entente nations, the German
XWe"spapefs are now concentrating on
Nor"ay and Sweden.
lhc "Norddeutschc Allgemeinc Zeit-
uns says tnat the Norwegian news
papers minimize German successes and
.aas therefore there cannot be any
more talk Of Norwegian neutrality.
me cologne Gazette" in commenting
VI ,he Swedish press editorials re-
77a,iaing the occupation Of the Aland
.a'ands. says: "The Swcdcs have no
.suse Tor complaint; they reap simply
,ns result Of their policy Of over
prudence during the war
T