Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1889-11-16
SWITZERLAND IN WAR.
The Military Importance of the Little
Central European Republic.


Central European Republic.
The Italian General, Clemente Corte,
writing to the Adriatico of Venice,
speaks as Follows of the part that
Switzerland may have to play in the
next war in Europe:
II firmly believe that the Swiss
army, or, more properly speaking the
Swiss nation, must have gained com
paratively in military power more
than other nations. This opinion is
formed upon the high national senti-
ment that animates the Swiss people,
their virile and patriotic education.
their long traditional personal service,
their training in the use OF the rifle,
and the great confidence which they
have in their arms and in the natural
defenses of the country. In my opin-
ion, the Swiss, if they are united and
compact, are invulnerable in the up
per portion of their country. And it
must not be forgotten that in this por
ton they dominate the RhOne, the
Rhine and the Tessin. A German
army that would have Switzerland with
it could easily threaten Lyons and
turn the defensive works recently con-
structed by the French parallel with
the Vosges. But, on the other hand,
a French army that could count upon
the aid of the Swiss would be able
from the Lake Constance to turn all
the defenses of the Germans on the
borders of the Rhine and threaten the
upper valley of the Danube. 1t could
also fall upon Italy by the routes of
SimplOn, ST. Gothard and the GrisOns.
Il have never been able to compre
bend the badly concealed menaces of
Germany against the Swiss neutrality,
because it seems to me that to attack
the Swiss in their own country cOnsti-
tutes problem before which the Ger
man army might well hesitate, partic-
ularly as a few weeks resistance on
the part of those mountaineers would
be sufficient to permit French army
TO come to their assistance. Now, the
French army that would be the master
of the routes of Switzerland could, in
my opinion, offer insurmountable diff
culties for even the triple alliance.
1t is true that the allies would have
considerable forces. But could they
act together? And would not the
great number be in itself a difficulty
when it would be necessary to operate
in a mountainous country whose de-
tenders could take advantage of the
good roads of the interior.
1T is beyond a doubt that in the
present state of Europe. with the triple
alliance on the one hand and the tacit
or apparent union of France and Rus
STA on the other, the military action OF
Switzerland must exercise prepon-
derant influence upon the result of the
war in case the confederation should
be com eled to abandon its neutral
ity"
The German museum in Nurnberg
has bought Prince Sulkowski's famous
collection of armor and weapons for
$4,000. Specialists estimate the value
of the collection at 100000.
Thick wooden stockings lately
saved the life of lady OF Middlebury.
Pa. She was bitten by rattlesnake,
but the stockings absorbed the venom.
The spot turned bright green.
Pensacola, Fla, has a magistrate
that knows a thing or two. In dis
charging a gentleman who was ar
rested for fighting, he remarked. ''If
you hadn't hit him you ought to have
been hung"