SWITZERLAND'S SOLDIERS

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4627, 7 May 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWITZERLAND'S SOLDIERS

A MAGNIFICENT FIGHTING FORCE. The statement which has been made by a German officer that it was only by a majority of two votes that the General Staff’ decided to cross the Belgian frontier rather than invade Switzerland calls attention to the magnificent fighting force which Switzerland is able to place in the field. The Kaiser and his Huns, in fact, would have found Switzerland an even harder nut to crack than Belgium; for, apart from the mountainous condition of the country, which would make the task of the invader particularly arduous, every man and boy in Switzerland is a soldier, and, barring cripples and imbeciles, is trained to defend his country- Gniy physical disability excuses a man fiom military service, and those excused cr rejected are made to pay certain taxes towards the upkeep of the aimy. Every male really begins Ins military training when he is ton years of age, when for two years, as part of his school work, he is put iigict physical training which includes scientific drills. In his thirteenth year he becomes a cadet, and when he is fourteen he receives his rifle and instruction in how to use it.

ACTUAL SERVICE. During the next three years he has an hour of military drill every day, and two hours’ rifle practice a week, and after his seventeenth birthday joins a military unit in his town or canton, and receives training under the direc tion of active and reserve officers of Ins community. This means about five hours a week given to military drill. Actual service commences at the age of twenty, and from then until ho is forty-eight every man is systematically trained and held in readiness for war. The first twelve years are spent m tho 'first line, called the “ Auszug, or “Elite,” the next eight in the Landwohr,” and the remaining period m the “Landsturm." There is also what is known a.s the unarmed “Landsturm, which comprises all males between twenty and liftv whoso services could he made available for non-combatant duties of any description. There are also separate forces, mostly “Landwohr,” for manning the fortifications which close the St. Gotbaid Pass and the Rhine Valley from the possible invader from the South.

ON A AVAR FOOTING. Altogether Switzerland within three days can mobilize 250,000 trained and thoroughly equipped soldiers. Within another seven days she can raise hoi first lino to 1)00,000, and still have m reserve 150,000 soldiers past the first service age, and 200,000 cadets in training. , Switzerland’s military earnestness may be gathered from the fact that the total expenditure on the army now amounts to nearly £2,000,000 per annum, which is about one-third of tho total of tho Federal Budget. AA hen a man is put on the reserve list, a complete equipment for his branch of the service is given to him. He keeps this in his home, subject to inspection. Soldiers who in any year are not called to the colours for their days of services are required to fire a proscribed number of rounds at one of the HOOO shooting clubs of which Switzerland boasts. The Government provides the ranges, ammunition, and judges for the contests, while to stimulate interest prizes are offered. No wonder Swiss s'ddiers are among the finest marksmen in the world!