New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-14
MOUNT.lI.NEER SOLDIERS.
MWUeNOus NanpnJres of S7ciss
Troops IN the lips.
Sy William G.. Eitz-Geraid.


the regiments mounted on ski" in Sweden and
Norway and the cross country military armored
motor cars and trains of France, modern mill
tary manTu vres IRE wonderful examples of sci
entnc method ANA precision. But it is doubtful
whether any army in the world is called upon
for more physical eXertion, and that under re
markabe conditions rs that of the Swiss Re
public.
We are apt To think of Switzerland only a
model little state made up entirely of wild and
colossal snowcad mountains, and existing sole
b kind of playground and vacation resort
for the Of thu world AS a matter Of fact
although il is extremely unlikely that Swiss i'll
dependence will ever again be menaced these
hardy mountanccrs maintain a field army of
13l GOO men, with militia numbering 10000 and
reserves of 2I03no in addition to 4 separate
small army specially trained in mountain war
fare and able to manpuvre amid precipitous
crass which would think only accessible to
goat or channels.
Although the most peaceful of nations, little
Switzerland maintains formidable forts in the
high Alps against Italy. France and Austria
thai ancient enemy of the little republic since
The days OF William Tell These great forts are
manned by the specially trained mountain
troops of Switzerland, who may be said %
combine the wonderful mountaineering "ndur-
ance OF the best Alpine guides with the ardent
rest Of the Swiss. these thousands of soldier
mountaineers amuSe themselves by rifle shoot
ing II seems, fact il rifle clubs in Switz-
erland take the place Of golf football and base
ball in other countries. There are at present
NOR than three thousand rifle clubs in the re-
public with more than one hundred and fifty
Thousand members. ana these frequently receive
annual government support 10 the extent oil
400 900 francs
To see military manTuvres literally "ah.N'
The clouds" one should visit tn elaborate for
established against Italy on tho southern from
der mainly on Mount St Gothard. whore ad-
vantage has been taken Of vast prccIpccs Of
granite ut Airoo. in the south; east on the
Obcralp west the Furka PCS and central
and north above AuderIuAtt, itself a high lying
Village probably five thousand feet above the
surface of Lake Lucerne.
Arderrnatt lies high over the St Go'hard
tunnel through the mountain and is the II nci-
BAL village in the Urseren Valley. Winter lasts
more than eight months here. and both valley
and mountains are fairly ali.e with fortihca-
lions especially between Andermatt and Hos
pcIthal Round about the lofty plain tower
barren peaks covered with eternal snow. gls-
teniag glaciers and bald pinnacles Of rock II
b in this wild region that Switzerland has IS
txblishcd Ter artillery training camp; and the
barren gray Bazbery the Furka, the snowy
AattcrhOrn, the 10000 foot Badus, the GurSch-
enstock and other great peaks seem fairly
crawling with busy men, many Of them in gangs
hauling heavy artillery over great rocks and
precipices OF gness and granite by means OF
Ingenious block and tackle arrangements The
moment one merGcs from the GosChenen Road,
and the roaring. tumbng Reuss grows sud
denly hushed and broad. one comes upon these
mountain soldiers at work To watch them Is
10 see with ones eyes the marvels OF latter
day military science A small party OF men
suddenIy arrives at the rivers brink on the run
the sharp order is given TO bridge the quiet yet
racing torrent, and in an instant arrangements
are thrown out. Almost In less time than
Il takes TO write the words these mountain
engineers have thrown 4 serviceable temporary
bridge across the Reuss, fit for small army to
All Andermatt appears to be a military camp;
and just beyond the village church begin the
houses of stone and wood in which the Alpine
troops quartered according to the season
brief summer in these great attitudes, when all
the valley Is alive with transport animals and
men Two cOntending armies are to fight amid
those awful granite crags and make their way
ever up and up past the region of eternal
and on to tho great cleaning glaciers that show
their faces to the quiet Urserenthal
Mules are being loaded up with cases Of pro-