The New York herald., 1870-08-20

this body is divided into three classes. After
aured ~ law to render military service to his coun
try the exceptions being those disqualined by ma
ture or dlseaso and students at college. Thcse
latter, however. have TO fare the same way as tne
others 80 soon as their collegiate term s competed
unless they have been called to the ministry OF the
CORY OF these TWO exceptions the physical
disqualification; for the young misses OF Switzerland
on the question being popped" have. It appears
mans military services and II that prove MI they
forthwith post him as tine negative Of "a whole hoss"
kesult-very few young gentlemen shirk military
duty In the land Of bears. wolves. chamos and ava
lanches.
On entering the national army the recruits serve
eight years, the service not being particularly
onerous nor interfering with proper pursuit OF
commercial and other private affairs: They then
durilg an additional six years. the calls upon their
time being greatly reduced; thence into In, & the
five years OF age when their service Is considered to
be completed.
The three classes-guard, reserve and landwenr-
represent force or 800 600 men, portion OF Whcn,
and no tnconsiderabe portion either, is armed with
rifles OF the best modern constructi0n-the Mar
ranks. Batteries OF field artillery, rlded and other
Wise, are also numerous and effective, and there Is
Ds saS % Hsa q
from the most favorable point OF view should re-
gard II as an Invaluable auxiliary to the forces Of any
great ally, but p0weress to resist for any length OF
time the assaults OF the chief European mon
archies.
phical position, as placed barrier wise between TWO
or more powerful rivals, and, above all IN the
respect felt for her by other peoples
Great Britain would not look calmly on while Gaul
or Teut0n stained ner SHOWS with blood.
DEMOCRACY IN THE RANKS
There Is no fav0rittsm or snODbery IN the Swiss
army. Instances are numerous OF millionnalre mer-
chants and others serving as simple prlvatss and
employees. The highest rank In the army is that OF
federal" c0lonel-not merely cantonal-0r las we
should put ~ state colonel and the senior olcer OF
this rank In Switzerland mas the honor Of being
butcher by profession.
The generalisslmo Of the army during tne present
Federal Bund or Legislature, ana that, too By an
overwhelming majority Colonel Hans Herzog. OF
means has devoted his lifetime to the study Of mill
tary science. and according to all have been able
dian Of the safety or her frontiers supported as he
Will be, by the cOunsels OF the gallant old General
Dufour, the queller Of the S0nderbund rebellion.
at Geneva and his advice will be invaluable at the
present crisis in his c0aDtry's affairs.
SWISS STRATEGY.
Switzerland has now In the field between 1000
and 80 600 men. Some 900 OF these are stationed
in and around Basle at which point the Frenth and
German frontiers meet her own, and nearly an equal
number are bvouacked along the valley OF the
Rhine towards Schaffhausen or located In the
towns close st hand. Headquarters are at Olrer the
northern centre OF the Swiss railroad system, and
from this point reinfOrcements can be carried rap
idly to any part OF the frontier within few hours
nave IuOuKnt ~ Wcu w give uic TeSuHse Vi owN-
zerlands military position In view OF the role which
she may have to play against her own wishes IN the
European war. II France or Prussia should get the
worse OF the contest at the outset it is all but un
avoldabe that Swiss territory Will be invaded In the
long run, and, besides the accidents of war must
not be overlooked. The campaign Just commenced
Is merely the beginning OF the distant end Almost
every European nation has some particular axe to
grind at the expense Of its neighbors and when all
are arming as arming they are at present, from
England TO Russia, general war Is certain to fol-
low. In his address to the army the Emperor Napo:
leon declared his belief tna h0stiities viii not be Of
short duration, and from what have myself VII.
Switzerland am compelled to endorse his opinion.