The suburban citizen., 1901-07-20
THE WORLDS BEST ARMY
SWITZERLAND HAS A PRACTICALLY
PERFECT MILITARY SYSTEM.

| ihAA"DAo N"ANAAoh OF Nreporodness'
1t is generally conceded by military
experts that Switzerland is the best
organized country in the world from
q military point of view, and that It's
laws governing military service and
the organization OF the militia are
practically perfect writes the Wash.
lngton correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser. These
laws could not ne adopted entire in
country where military service is pure.
ly voluntary, for they are based upon
the compulsory military education of
every citizen, but there are many
points in the Swiss system and organl.
aatlon which, l. Is believed, will in
time be adopted by every civilized ma
ton in the world.
Switzerland has about 10000 square
miles of territory and a population of
about 100000. The active army or
elite as 1t is called, comprises 1885,
900 men. These are apportioned among
the various branches of the service
about as follows: There are about
100000 infantrymen, less than 1000
cavalry, about 1000 artillerymen and
5000 engineers. The sanitary or medi-
cal and administrative troops number
400. This, the peace strength Of
Switzerland, is practically 100000
men. The war strength of that coun-
try is about 100000, not on paper, but
In actual soldiers. for there are $1,000
trained men in what is known as the
first reserve and 275,O00 in the second
reserve. These two reserves compose
what Is known as the "landwehr,'
into which pass all soldiers of the
"elite' or active army, after a term
Of service varying with the different
arms. The active army is thirty per
cent of the entire military strength
Of the country. These figures, Of
course, have no application whatever
to the United States, for in this coun-
try, with its S7OOQOOO people organ
lied on the same military basis as
Switzerland, there would be q stand
ing army Of over 100000 men, and
If organized on the basis Of territory,
the American army would be $50 times
as great as that Of Switzerland.
In Switzerland every able-bodied
citizen Is enrolled in the military serv-
ice, beginning at his twentieth year.
His term Of service, that is the time of
life during which he can be called
upon by the Government, continues un.
til his forty-fourth year Government
officials employees Of the postoflce and
telegraph institutions. government
workshops, hospital employees, penl-
tentiary guards and customs officers
are among those exempt from this
war duty. Other exemptions are
clergymen, public school teachers, rail.
coad men and number of other en-
ployments necessary to the transac.
lion of public business. Every able
bodied citizen who is exempt however,
must take part in a course Of a mill
tary instruction and be enrolled. Grim
mails are excluded from the military
service.
The "elite," or active army is COM
posed Of men from twenty to thirty
two years Of age. The "landwehr," or
reserves, is composed Of men from
5hirty-three to forty-five. The army is
composed Of a general staff and the
staffs of the different branches Of the
service, infantry, cavalry, artillery and
engineer corps, medical corps and ad-
mlnistration corps. The examinations
for recruits are fairly severe, and no
one is permitted to enlist who fails to
possess the requisite physical at
tributes Of soldier. The general di- !
visions of the army are governed by |
the political division of the country,
each district furnishings its quota of |
troops, so that no soldier when he goes |
to muster or drill is compelled to un-
dertake n long journey.
In all the branches of the service the
aOn-commissioned officers are promot- |
I'd by the captains on the recommended |
lions Of officers Of lesser rank. The |
corporals AID high privates are ap-
pointed from among the soldiers who |
have obtained certificates of capacity |
N the schools Of recruits. The SER
seants are taken from the corporals, |
ana the sergeant-maJors from among
Ihe sergeants. No man Is permitted to |
receive promotion without passing a |
thorough examination suitable for the |
grade to which he Is to be advanced.
The selection Of officers is made upon |
the double recommendation Of n com
mission presided over by the chief of |
the military department as well rs
that Of the commander under whose
orders the officer to be appointed Is |
70 serve. The federal council appoints
the officers Of the general staff. A spa- |
,.al section Of the general staff Is |
Sormed from the administrative and |
Damaging personnel Of railways. These |
officers direct the railway service dur |
ng war and become attached to the !
'hief OF the traffic service.
The military education Of the boys
commences with their tenth year, and |
from that time until they leave the
primary schools they attend gymnas- |
lie courses preparatory to military ser.
tice. These courses are superlntended |
" school teachers who have received |