SWITZERLAND ON GUARD.

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

SWITZERLAND ON GUARD.

If you will examine the atlas you will discover that by planting Massachusetts, on top of Switzerland you could obliterate just about, half 01 the Swis*Republic, a little more than one-half to be exact. Consult the latest fijriires available and you will iind that .Switzerland. although nearly twice as large territorially, has just about as many inhabitants as has the State, the residents ol whose chief city made tea-drinking an unpopular pastime a century ago. And yet wit-kin 4S hours of the issuance of that memorable mobilisation order on August 3rd, 1014. when the war cVmd broke over Europe. Switzerland had 300,000 soldiers under arms and prepared to defend the frontier wherever it might be threatened by a hostile invasion.

It isn't the object of this recital to dwell at length upon the moral aspect of this speedy assembly of troops. Neutral military observers assort that but lor (he rapidity with which the Swi.s> ,M>ldien. was put into the field, and the knowledge that in tin- event ot crossing the border the invaders would have to fight eveiy inch of the war against trained troops, the advance on Paris might- have followed an entirely different course than thai which of necessity was chosen because it was believed to present the least resi-tance. He that as it may Switzerland was not invaded—and it has not been vet.

There have been disquieting rejwrts recently regarding the possibility of Swiss neutrality being violated iii an effort to turn the tide of battle, and give the present deadlock along the Western battlefront a decisive impulse. The Swiss General Staff is said to be. fearful that an invasion is contemplated with a vieAV to freeing Alsace from the French occupant's, while Italyhas been strengthening her defences along the Swiss border.

Whatever fears may be entertained, or the outcome of what many choose to view a.s a menace, the fact that the Swiss Government has issued a call to its reservists the world over, and that they are flocking to the colors, directs attention anew to what is perhaps the most efficient citizen-military establishment in the world.

How was it possible for the Swiss Republic to put a fully-equipped and trained army of approximately a third of a 'million men into tho held almost over-night, when other and larger nation*, with tar greater wealth and boundless facilities would find themselves practically helpless under like conditions. It all came about- by the careful working out of a system under which military service is obligatory on all cit'zer.s And, singularly enough '\" 'act that this training is compulsory has not put nrlit irwm in the addle in Switzerland, as seme pa<;tists assor* is bound to be the case. Your Swiss is the most peaceful of citizens, industrious, law-abiding honiflo\ii:g—until his country calls lie is a living witn.'ss of the truth so aptly expr.'ssel by niii> writer i"i the s<ibject that "if one wishes to ho well defend, d, one must defend one ; se'f." A*>d nobody who knows ever charced i. Swiss with bei-ig unr.'le to defend himself.

'lh. l details of this plan by which every mm who possesses the necessary nullifications is compelled to do jnilitarv duty, or if a medical commission declares him ineligible, is called upon to ii-iv a las toward the expense incurred by the keeping of the mi'itary organisation, provide an interesting chapter.

'i he trai'tiivj; begins witii the l<oy in 'he pnb'ic schools, tor wirle he is under no regular military his*ruction

i,is te»fhiiig is rflculated t > b-> of a democrat. ■ "'irit. while the splei.di I his*o>-v of the little republic in 'is successful stni-V-'c for liberty and independence instill" in him i fervent patriotism fiat is never e'!a-"d. He is given athletic lnstrucnin thai develons hi" oodv, and the onpurtii-nit-y is afforr.ed 'i>m to a toy '(•nil. which, almost wri;.'it cxc<|c fion he embrace.' thus heing versed in many bianehe, that bt in with the the training that he is destined to undergo.

From 18 to 20 years of nsxe ho may. if he chooses, take part in the pre"irntnry military instruction, under direction of officers who voluntarily cive up certain time to the work. However, regardless of what his previous inclinations may have been, at the age of 19 his compulsory recruit work logins in earnest, ll he joins the infantry, as is the case with the majority, he is given 07 days" instruction in liow to become a soldier. Not a very long perioil in which to turn out a lighting man, yon say. Rut you must remember that he has already acquainted himself with it general ■knowledge of many of the problems involved, and is in prime physical condition. Resides, what he does in those 67 days embraces more than N usually involved in many times that length of 'lime in any other country.

The Swiss recruit leads a strenuous life. He i\ taught first of all to obey. He becomes a part of the great family that make up the army, and he is compelled to give up ull easy-going habits, In the middle of the night he may be routed out of bod and rushed through the darkness to defend a mountain pass against an imaginary invader, or to make lon<z, tiresome matches along the highways or across country with his heavy equipment napped on his shoulders. The manoeuvres usually lake place in the mountains, where physical powers are put to the severest test, and strategical problems can he worked out to the last detail. Between the hours that he spends drilling, thr> recruit studies under officers who explain to him not only the elements of offensive and defensive tactics, hut why it is necessary for him fj submit himself unreservedly in the rigid discipline enforced. Should ho rebel at this order of things, summary measures are brought into play to induce him to speedily change his new, although such a course rarelv is necessary.

At the end of this period he is a soldi<*r belonging to a battalion of tho elite haying its headquarters in tho part

even Swiss home, ana the possessor takes as much pride in their maintenance, as m his pergonal appearance. ihe school for infantry lasts Go days, for cavalry 90 day©, and for artillery <o days With the exception of Sunday, each day means at least eight, hours of hard work for the recruit, tor winch he receives his rations and a place t0 and ]0 fl Alter ho has returned to hi," home he. has no lurther service with the colors during his st ay with th(? dite which is the active branch of the army, except for an annual course %T 4 days for the artillery and fortification troops, and < 1 11 days for all other branches.

The elite includes all men physically fit between the ages of 20 and *32, except m thf cavalry, where 30 is the limit, lassmg automatically from the elite eveiv man becomes a'member of he landwohr. The first division of the iandwohr men from 33 to 39, are subject to call for the first, line with the cue while the second, made up of the the older men. can be u-ed to garrison fortresses and cseort suppiv columns When a man roaches the age of 45 ho passes into the landsturm, which does no military sr-rvice except in the event, of war. At 48 he gives up his military duties, his career in his country's service having ended. Promotion depends entirely upon the individual and his capabilities, rank being conferred through competitive examinations, with politics or favoritism unknown as a determining factor. In all the Swiss army there are ouk about 250 professional officers. In preparedness the Swiss army » the last word, as the rapiditv with which it can be put into the field on a war looting readily indicates. As already noted, the militiaman not only keeps at his home his uniform, but his complete arms and equipment. This latter usually includes prepared foodstuffs and canned <roods sufficient to furnish rations for a given period. When he reaches the headquarters of his battalion all he has to receive from the. magazines, always fullv stocked, are tappers' tools, cartridges, etc. The cavalryman comes with his own norse, which he always cares for at home. The artillery man finds his cannons in readiness, the companies of sappers their tool wagons, the commissary department field kitchens. The only levy is for horses and vehicles with which to transport the men. Even this is done systematically. Every community, knowing in advance just what will be expected, on the first dav o'f mobilisation sends to battalion headquarters the required number of horses and carriages. Here commissioners fix the price the Government will pay for these conveyances, this being arranged. while the regiment completes its organisation, so that at the end of 48 hours at the most the regiment can be on its way.