Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-23
Miseellaaeuus 8eading.
FEATs OF SWISS SOLDIERS.
Their Mountain Climbing and Military
Enqineerinq.

While all the European countries
whose boundaries extend to the back
bone" Of Europe have divisions Of their
armies composed Of troops trained es-
pecially for manoeuvres among the
mountains the Swiss soldier probably
this strange, says the Scientific Amer
lean, when 1t Is remembered that prac-
tically all Of this little republic is sit
uated in the heart Of the Alps, and
much of 1t is above the cloud line.
In a country where the highway may
lead over SUBMITS 1000 feet above sea
level, where glaciers may be more cas-
lily crossed than the ordinary road,
special instruction in mountaineering
is absolutely necessary as a branch of
military tactics. Hence the Swiss
soldier is as familiar with the alpen-
stock as he Is with his rifle and moves
about on skis as quickly and skillful-
ly as the Swede or Norwegian.
While numerically the Swiss army
Is relatively large, consisting Of over
100000 men. including all branches of
the service, it's mobility as a fighting
unit is really remarkable. Some Of the
feats which are performed by the va
rious commands are notable because
they would be impossible for soldiers
in other portions Of Europe.
During winter as well as summer
the Swiss soldier frequently journeys
from post to post over the snow filled
passes among the higher Alps, as al
ready stated, often crossing glaciers
and snow fields of great extent. In
descending a mountain glissading with
the aid Of skis is common. Tourists
In Switzerland sometimes witness the
novel sight Of an entire battalion slid
ing down an incline at great speed,
yet without a man losing his balance.
At the end Of the gllssade each soldier
Immediately takes his place in the
ranks, ready for the march.
So much has been written and said
Of the prowess Of the tourist guides In
Switzerland that the ability Of the
soldier in climbing difficult peaks is
comparatively little known. In exc
cutting certain orders the men are
sometimes required to climb noun
tain slopes where the Ice axe and the
rope are absolutely necessary, but in
addition to these appliances they must
carry their rifles, possibly haversacks
as we'll, thus making the ascent even
more difficult and perilous.
AS may be imagined engineering
work from a military standpoint forms
a most important part Of Alpine tao
tics. One work of the engineer is the
construction Of pontoon bridges Of suit
able size and strength to permit the
passage not only Of foot soldiers but
Of cavalry II necessary and even of
field artillery. When it Is remember
ed that the mountain streams Of this
country are notable for their swift
current and the rapid rise and fall In
the volume of water 1t will be recog-
nized that the task Of the engineer is
far more arduous and hazardous than
in the lowlands. where the streams to
be crossed have comparatively little
velocity.
Bridge building however, Is a part
of the manoeuvres frequently carried
out. The pontoons. mere flatboats, are
arranged obviously according to the
strength of the current and the depth
Of the water At times 1t is necessary
to place them but few feet apart. but
If the current is not too strong they
are anchored at distances ranging from
ten to fifteen feet of each other. the
bows. of course. pointing upstream Sc
curely anchored by heavy weights. As
fast as the pontOons are secured long
itudinal timbers are laid across them
These "balks" are secured in place by
rope lashings made fast to cleats in
the pontoons sometimes by means OF
bolts or pins which can be quickly ad-
justed.
The beams average about five inches
in thickness and are made Of seasoned
timber so that they are not affected
by dampness of the weather. Upon
them Is placed the flooring of the
bridge, consisting Of planks ranging
from one inch to one and one-half
inches in thickness and measuring
about a foot in width.
1t is a fact that no nails whatever
are used in fastening the planking to
the beams, the fastening being done by
rope lashing, so that the superstruc-
ture of the bridge can be taken apart
Immediately after the troops have
crossed. Side rails, laid along each
end of the flooring and lashed directly
to the pontoons, act as a reinforce
ment to the strength of the structure
Such a bridge will support a weight
of at least 100 pounds to every square
foot. The width depends upon the size
of the stream and the number OF men
but usually the Swiss bridges do no,
exceed ten feet in width, permitting
the passage of infantry in columns OF
fours. as well as batteries and field
pieces drawn by horses.
The pontoons are also utilized inde-
pendently of bridge work for crossing
the mountain streams, especially ir
moving artillery. The gun is detached
from the carriage. and the equipment
loaded aboard the boat. A squad OF
artilerymen then man 1t, and the
horses for drawing the gun carriage
and caisson are forced to swim across
being held by some of the men in the
pOntoOn.
Thus the Swiss soldier is drilled mo-
only in Alpine work. but as a water
man. for it is frequently necessary tt
cross rivers at points where there are
no permanent or temporary bridges
and the use of the oar is as essentia
as the use of the alpenstock.-NeW
York Sun.
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