After attending military school Salis-Seewis was sent as a military advisor in Skopje at a time of unrest in the region of Macedonia between insurgents (Bulgarian, Greek, Macedonian, Montenegrin and Serbian population) and the occupying Turkish army. Salis-Seewis was made commander of the Turkish gendarmerie, he occupied the position from 1903 to 1905. After returning from the mission, he served in the 86th Infantry Regiment in Budapest before joining the 76th Infantry Regiment in Esztergom, from 1908 to 1911 he was appointed commander of the 79th Infantry Regiment. In 1911 he was based in Rijeka commanding the 71st Infantry Brigade. He was promoted to major general on 9 May 1912.