Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-03-11 | Page 1 | Scandinavians are Denounced by Huns

SCANDINAVIANS ARE DfflOUNCM B Concerted Attack Made in Newspapers ; Scheme Directed Di-rected at Sweden LONDON, March 10. The newest, and a novel display of German roli'-y haa come in the form of a sudden broadside of denunciation de-nunciation of the Scandinavian countries by German newspapers and publicists, like Count Reventlow of the Tages Zei-tung. Zei-tung. From the similarity of the ajticle.s it is evident they a re directed by one I mind, which apparently is the German government. The articles accuse the Scandinavian countries substantially of being- accomplices accom-plices of the entente, and warn them tnat, therefore, they can expect, mi consideration considera-tion from Germany. Germany's dealings with Finland thus far seem to be designed to make Finland a minor German kingdom, king-dom, with the emperor's son, Prince Oscar, on the throne, and to make another an-other Helgoland of the Aland islands. This scheme is a direct blow against Sweden, and, in a less degree, aga.in.st Denmark and Norway, and is in' line with the German emperor's boast that the Baltic Bal-tic lands have been made permanently German. The Aland islands, geographically, are as much a part of Sweden as Newfoundland Newfound-land is of Canada. Throughout the war Sweden has been troubled by the fear that Russia would take I hem. Germain' now occupies the islands Temporarily, but the German flag flies over the putilic buildings, and no one believc-s It will ever come down except by force. The most, practical effect of German control of Finland and the Aland isl.-inds is pointed point-ed out by Count H event low, who says they will no longer be used as a commercial commer-cial bridge between Scandinavia, and Russia, Rus-sia, This Is a ba r to America, as well as to British trade with Russia. That the Scandinavian countries ha.ve been overfriendly to the entente came here as au amusing charge. Sweden has been genera lly ra ted the most jro-German of the neu tral .European nations, except possibly Spain. For a long time it va.s feared that fve-I fve-I den would join the German alliance. According Ac-cording to one newspaper. per cent of the steel Germany lias used fnr munitions has been furnished by Sweden. Denmark has never been considered overfriendly to the entente. The latest German move appears to be a familiar one. Germany feels that she now Is in a position where she Is so strong In the north that she need no longer cultivate the frlendnhip of the Scandinavian countries, and that she may make whatever damaging arrangements she desires and threaten them.