Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-16
THE WORLDS BEST ARMY
SWITZERLAND HAS A PRACTICALLY
PERFECT MILITARY SYSTEM.

1t is generally conceded by military
experts that Switzerland is the best
organized country in the world from
a military point of view, and that its
. laws governing military service and
the organization of the militia are
practically perfect, writes the Wash
ington correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser. These
laws could not pc adopted entire in q
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 organi-
zation which, i. is believed, will in
time be adopted by every civilized ma
ton in the world.
Switzerland has about 10000 square
miles of territory and 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
10000 infantrymen, less than 5000
cavalry, about 5000 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 $4,000
trained men in what is known as the
first reserve and 275,000 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 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 it's S7,000,000 people organ
lied on the same military basis as
Switzerland, there would be stand
ing army of over 100000 men, and
II organized on the basis of territory,
the American army would be 250 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 postoffice and
telegraph institutions, government
workshops, hospital employees, peni-
tentiary guards and customs officers
are among those exempt from this
war duty. Other exemptions are
clergymen, public school teachers, rail
road men and a number of other en-
ployments necessary to the transac-
ton of public business. Every able
bodied citizen who is exempt, however,
must take part in course of a mill
tary instruction and be enrolled. Grim
inals are excluded from the military
service.
The 'elte," 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
thirty-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-
ministration 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 a long journey.
In all the branches of the service the
commissioned officers are promot-
ed by the captains on the recommenda-
tions of officers of lesser rank The
corporals and high privates are ap-
pointed from among the soldiers who
have obtained certificates of capacity
in the schools of recruits. The SER
geants are taken from the corporals,
and the sergeantmajors from among
the 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 COM
mission presided over by the chief of
the military department as well as
that of the commander under whose
orders the officer to be appointed is
to serve. The federal council appoints
the officers of the general staff. A spe-
cial section of the general staff is
formed from the administrative and
managing personnel of railways. These
officers direct the railway service dur
ing war and become attached to the
chief 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-
tic courses preparatory to military SER
vice. These courses are superintended
by school teachers who have received
military education. Beginning with