DANISH JOAN OF ARC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 215, 16 October 1909, Page 3

DANISH JOAN OF ARC.

PARLIAMENTS WANT OF PATRIOTISM DENOUNCED. A dramatic scene, unprecedented in Parliamentary history, was'witnessed at the opening of the Danish Folkcthing on l'Jlh August. When tne members had assembled, a woman forced her way into the chamber and took her stand by the President's chair. Parliament was taken by surprise, and before it could recover the woman pointed u linger at M. Chrisleu«cn, the Defence Minister, and cried m a loud voice, ''Von have dishonors D.nmark." 'The President rang his hell, and the members rose on all sides in protest, hut the woman, addressing the House generally, shouted: "Selllsh Danes, assembled here haggling over your country's welfare, 1 come to tell you thill the women of Denmurk despise you and brand you as hirelings without patriotism." Jly this time an ollieial of the House appeared, and the woman, Mile. Westenholz, a leading member of the Danish Defence League, was removed from l'io chamber.

The explanation of this remarkn.de incident is to be found in the attitiuio of the Parliament and particularly of the Socialists towards national defence. Some time ago a Special Commission of the Chamber appointed to study and report on the question recommended the iortilication not only of Copenhagen, but of the south of Denmark on the German frontier and also a larger measure of compulsory service. It was pointed out that by these measures only could Denmark have the means of preserving her neutrality and of making herself heard when the safety of the I country was at stake. But the measures met with the opposition of the Socialists, who are :n favor of leaving their country a prey to other Powers, and of the Radical party, which places pacific- platitudes higher than vital interests. The Liberals are in favor only of a partial carrying out of the defence programme. It is round this one issue that the national political battle has raged for he last eight years. King Christian and the present' King Frederick imposed n their Premiers the obligation of making national defence their first consideration. It was the inability of M. Neergaard to carry out his promise in this respect that brought about his recent fall.