The possibility of Sweden being involved in the war as a result of the operations in Norway daily becomes more likely, and as a factor of importance in swaying the balance of Scandinavian power Sweden's part cannot be ignored, The iron ore which Germany vitally needs for her munitions industry is an attractive bait for Hitler's military schemes, but if Sweden refuses to be coerced and joins Norway in resisting German expansionist plans she will give a good account of herself. After Germany, Sweden has the best navy in the Baltic and in view of the heavy losses inflicted on the German fleet by the British Navy, the Swedish fleet is now probably paramount. Militarily, Sweden's p tion is also strong for she has been exerting feverish efforts to recover lost ground and her current military expenditure is far higher than ever before in the history of the country. There are some unusual features about the character of the Swedish army which are found in no other army. Army training is being extended and brought up-to-date by refresher courses and supplementary training for reservists generally, but it has been found that a good deal of up-to-date theoretical military training can be given without bringing the reservists to the barracks. Training courses by correspondence are therefore being given and the resources of the big Ca-operative Union postal tuition schools' experience have been placed at the disposal of the military authorities. Six short and popularly written courses have been drawn up on the basis of the latest edition of the Swedish military manual and deal with the following topi 1. Organization of the defence force, their functions and their weapons. 2. The necessity of military training as a function of democratic responsibility. 3. Defence. The best methods of taking shelter when under fire. 4. Attack. Methods and use of different weapons. 5. Life under canvas and in billets. 6, Supplies. How the Army is provisioned, Herr Hitler's "Success"
That the adventure of Herr Hitler into Norway has so completely served the purposes of the Allies may be, clearly seen from the sudden, and almost complete falling off of the losses of Allied and neutral shipping through enemy naval action. The tonnage, which is now being destroyed, is so insignificant that the threat of the German submarine, mine and aeroplane may be said to be almost non-existent. From the point of view of the U-boat warfare and mine-laying by surface and underwater craft, the clamping down of the huge Allied mine field along the German coast, and northwards almost as far as Bergen, has made Norwegian territorial waters equally as dangerous for enemy craft as mine fields laid in other areas. The practice of sneaking up the Norwegian coast and so evading the Allied blockade is no longer possible, and if German submarines wish to attack Allied and neutral shipping they have to run enormous risks which previously did not exist. The attempted German naval blockade of the British Isles has been brought to naught and is now shown to be a completer failure than it was during the last war. The actions of German submarines during the Norwegian crisis, according to the military correspondent of the Brussels newspaper "Siecle" proves that the German flotillas have suffered heavy losses which the Germans have not yet been able to make good. This disposes of the German claim that they could build such vessels faster than the Allies could sink them, and is yet further testimony to the accuracy of the summing up of the naval situation which has, from time to time, been made by Allied statesmen. Despite the attempts of the Germans first to deny the landing of Allied forces in Norway, and then to belittle their numerical strength, the fact stands out plain for all men to see that the Allied navies have command of the North Sea, and are utilizing that command for the purpose of transporting forces in comparative safety to go to the aid of their Norwegian Allies. The only success that Herr Hitler has achieved by his would-have-been lightning stroke against Norway is to have opened up another arena for fighting, and to have brought the German navy to such disaster that it ceases to.have any v great practical value as a fighting force, and runs the danger of even further whittling down as it endeavours to covey German transports across the Skager-Rak.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.