As a neutral adjacent to both groups of bel ligerents Switzerland offered opportunities for espionage and intrigue, and also for infor mal peace negotiations. Swiss charitable and relief efforts were most remarkable. Doctors and nurses served in the Red Cross on both sides. Belgian and Serbian refugees were cared for. Exchanges of seriously wounded prisoners were arranged for (1915) and carried out. Swiss societies located missing prisoners and reunited scattered refugee families. The Post Office forwarded great quantities of mail and food packages for prisoners. Through Swiss intermediaries went money for relief in Turkey. Invalid prisoners, especially those suffering from tuberculosis, were certified by Swiss doctors and interned in Swiss sanitoria. Through Switzerland civilians and occupants of invaded territories were repatriated.
Dentnarlc.—In Denmark the memory of Prussia's seizure of Schleswig-Holstein and the fear of German conquest made most of the people suspicious of and unfriendly to the Cen tral Powers. Long continued Pan-German propaganda, however, had made some impres sion. In spite of the hopelessness of single handed resistance, Denmark mobilized part of the army, and strengthened the frontier de fenses. A few violations of Danish neutrality were apologized for, the most flagrant being the destruction by Germany of the stranded British submarine El3 in 1916. Danish ship ping early began to suffer from mines and sub mannes. Early sales of food and supplies to the belligerents soon brought a shortage. The govenunent began regulating prices, rationing scarce articles, and arranging for necessary im ports, especially coal, fodder, fertilizer, copper, oils, fats, hides and steel. Two Danish Mer chant Guilds were formed which the Allies al lowed to receive imports on a guarantee against re-export to Germany. In 1918 a similar agree ment was made with tbe United States. Frotn England and Germany combined only. about two-thirds of the normal coal supply could be obtained, crippling railways, factories and lighting. Some electric power was later ob tained from Sweden. Many, however, were thrown out of employment. In 1915 Denmark agreed with Great Britain to dispose of tneat in the pre-war ratio, half to Great Britain, 14 per cent to Germany, the rest for home use. Export butter was divided evenly; England re ceived five-eighths of the fish and Germany three-eighths. Under government supervision a considerable number of swine have been Slaughtered because of the scarcity of fodder. On the whole Denmark fared much better as to food snpply than most other European nations. During the war (1915) a more demo cratic constitution was adopted, granting woman suffrage. In 1916 the Dania West
Indies were sold to the United States. Added expenses called for extra taxes and loans. In 1917 Denmark agreed to care for 1,200 invalid prisoners (Russian, German, Austrian).
Norway.— Through common liberal institu tions, economic ties and intermarriage of the royal families, Norway has been bound to Eng land. Though sometimes the Allied blockade aroused resentment, the chief anger of the nation—at times bringing it to the verge of war —was directed against Germany because of the losses of shipping and life caused by sub marines. Some of the earlier losses were apologized and paid for. By June 1915 34 vessels had been sunk. In March 1917 66 ships were lost, 75 in April and 49 in May., By the summer of 1918, 769 ships had been' sunk, with a loss of 1,008 lives, and 53 were missing with 704 on board, two-thirds of them probably aspurlos.versenkts by Germany. In 1916 all submarines were forbidden to enter Norwegian waters. The carrying power of the large Nonvegian merchant marine proved directly and indirectly of great service to the Allies. Shipbuilding was greatly stimulated, and shipping stocks earned large profits. By 1916 Norwegian merchants were signing con tracts against re-eicporting articles allowed to pass by the Allies. In 1917 England cut off Norway's supply of coal, because of the ex port of pyrites to Germany, and only furnished it again on condition that Norwegian ships should make trips to France as well as to Nor way. Efforts were made to develop Nonve gian water power and coal. In 1916 the British government contracted for 85 per cent of the Norwegian fish catch. In 1918 the contract was taken over bv the Norwegian govertunent With less than 4 per cent of its area tmder cultivation Norway has always imported a large part of the necessary cereals. Since 1914, by the use of tractors, the home produc tion has been cotisiderably increased. Govern ment control of food, and ultimately strict rationing, were found necessary. Whale oil was reied and used to make oleomargarine. In May 1918 a treaty with the United States allowed Norway to import, for home consump tion only, foodstuffs,. coal and farming machinery. In return timber, wood-pulp, fish, metals for munitions and nitrates were to go to France. While the bulk of Norwegian exports went to the Allies, some were permitted to go' to Germany. Norway feared German resent ment, and as a nratter of fact the German Cen tral Trade Board attempted to retaliate for the American agreement. Internally, Norway has seen further liberalization of the constitution. In 1916 there were serious labor disturbances.