The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-09-03
THE WORLDS BEST ARMY
SWITZERLAND HAS A PRACTICALLY
PERFECT MILITARY SYSTEM.

Might Copy with Advantage-A Re
markabio Condition OF Preparedness.
1t is generally conceded by military
/ experts tina: Switzerland is the best
organized country I'm the world from
n military point Of view. and that its
laws governing military service and
| the organization OF the mllltin are
practically perfect, writes the Wash
ingtOn correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser. These
laws could not De 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 organi-
zation which. It 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 49,
OOO 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
6OOO engineers. The sanitary or medi-
cal and administrative troops number
400. This, the peace strength OF
Switzerland. is practically 10000
men. The war strength of that coun
try is about 100000, not ON paper. but
in actual soldiers. for there are 50. 900
trained men i'm what is known rs the
first reserve and 2T5.0OO in the second
reserve. These two reserves compose
what is known as the "landwchr."
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 $1,000 900 people organ
| lied on the same military basis as
! Switzerland. there would be a stand
ing army OF over 100000 men. and
| If organized on the basis of territory.
I the American army would be go times
| rs 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 I'M
/ til his forty-fourth year. Government
! officials, employees o. the postohice ana
! telegraph institutions. government
workshops, hospital employees. peni-
/ tertiary guards and customs officers
are among those exempt from this
war duty. Other exemptions arc
! clerSymen. public school teachers. rail
road men and n number of other en-
Payments necessary to the uansac-
ton o. public business. Every able
bodied citizen who is exempt. however.
must take part in a course of n mill
tary instruction and be enrolled. Grim
! inals 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
thirty-three to fOrty-fve. The army Is
composed Of n general staff and the
stars of the different branches of the
service. infantry, cavalry. artillery and
/ engineer corps, medical corps and adj
go - '.ioi 'o'pS' ne examinations
- u.'' "'r i"iiIy severe ana no
Pc -, '''''.Vu W ei'i'S' VINO rams TO
tt,.i,,,,. ,n' eIu.'i'e phSS'c"I at
,',.;o. 20 81 9'u'''I' me Senerai dl-
49,, any are E"Nerheu Oy
80, 'S 5,"..' ..iSioh Vi ,le country,
o','e' NJ MUSINGS us quota OF
- 49,. nv '"'''''. u[n lie goes
Ia.4l $50 vi Va III ~ VoulPe'eu 10 uA-
In oil tho I,,S,,,,,,.. 80 -.
non.cor,,nissio,,,do NJ. ~
ed Inv fin. lontoi,,s 49,, en-, ,.,,,,.,,,,-,,,,
tiops Of officors Of Lee. ,.o',,. ,ri.
corporoIs and bigb nri,.o+oa ono
Doinaad f~o-n ou,r,c. tI,o at -
have obtained no....r. ,,.. ~ ..,,,.,..'...
in tho s.,ools ~ ,o,r,,i... ,,,,.o a.
ge9nts 1r, 4..c, r-o,, ,,, ,-..,,.,r.
ana tnn eerpaout.r,,iors iron, ~,
1 the sargoopts No ma, ID. ,,,,.,,,itt,,i -,
receive promote, vvitbout r,sein,. ~
thorough examination suitobIa for tho
grade 10 which ba is n mo odvoncod
The selection ~ officers is rnodo mo,
the double recommendation of CON,
missiou presided over Inc ,,c chioe 90
the military department os v.su 40