The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06
SWISS ARMY model
FOR. !. OTHER NATIONS ! i
Annual Maneuvers Disclose a
State Of Efficiency Which IS
Simply Marvellous
AT HOME. IN TIE ALPS
Difficulties That Beset Napoleon
tic Mcrcst1l'rihes to Trained
Swiss Soldier.

GENEVA Oct. B.
The Swiss arr,,y mnnchvers. which have
Just concluded. establish the fact that the
SWISS soldier is probably the best in'f.u-
rope, and his work upon tile sloplng leo
clad peaks of his native Alps has been
simply marvellous.
rho difficulties which bcsct Napoleon In
crossing those mountains In 1890 arc but
trlnes to tho Swiss soldier. The cnse with
which whole regiments glide down the
snow slopes is astonishing. In dolnE5this
the rifle is placed on the top OF theaknap-
sack, behind the head. leaving helnun's
arms entirely FREQ to manipulate the alp-
enstock which 10 u necessary part of
each soldiers equipment.
The ski Is also used in the army maneu-
Evcrs. and the way the soldiers glide along
on 1t Is surprising One OF tho nova
mcnts recruits practice on the barrack
SQUARE lis TO Jean on tllcir left arms on
tho ground while their right arms are
employed raising and lowering big
weights. Each man Is heavily burdencd
With rifle. bayonet. 200 or 800 rounds of
bali cartridge, several days ratlons.s n
stecl-pointed alpcnstock. some sllken or
hemp ropes. snowshoes or ski blankets
and other items. which In themselves
make UP a serious load. TO be carried mp
great mountains by paths which. TO the
unnitiated. look only ut for goats. The
soldiers become wonderfully nimblc.
A Peerless Army.
'rhe Swiss army has repeatedly IN its
history hurled back the trained legion
aries Of Europe. and today fronts the
world In It's Alpine businesses, calm and
peaceful. 1t Is decidedly more modern
In spirit and organization than any other
army In Europe. and Just now mixed
committee OF both houses of the British
Parliament IL Investigating the system.
with the object OF having It copied by
Great Britain.
Switzerland may be regarded as a ma
ton under arms. although Its object is
has Just como into being. but is only u
slight modification of tho old act. Ac-
;cording to 1t. every able bodied man must
Ecrye in the Auszug from the age OF ~
to 90. and there is no mems Of escaping
this. for the lottery system OF selection
( IL not In use.
Landwehr ahe first reserve; from 40 UP
to " he belongs TO the 1.andsturm Tor
second reservGl. Even then he may be
called upon II his country needs him.
Ing forces before he has reached the age
of % IL necessity arises. All the men
forming the AusZug are called upon for
about fortnights special service eachtI
year. and are thus kept in constant
training. On Joining the. army for the
first time a man is placed in the recruit
ing school. where he learns his drill
The period OF early training extends
over about two months FOR Infantry.
three months for cavalry and between
two and three months for artillery and
for pioneers.
To tho forces thus obtained may be
added those coH,Duratiycly few men who
being exempt for one reason or another.
still wish to serve, and are known as
tho volunteers. Every Swiss must serve.
but II he Is unfit or il unable to serve for
sornc other approved cause. he must pay
yearly militia tax. which ceases when
he is Fl. The officers are. of course. per-
the word. Switzerland has no standing
army.
Drills Severe.
begins at an early age. He learns the
Ing book. and this begins when he Is II
years old. Later rife club and gym
naslum form part of his curriculum.
When he becomcsa tiedgling in the ranks
he already. knows many OF the duties
which n trained soldier must PERFORM.
The discipline. while 1t lasts, is severe:
at the recruiting school he must drill
eight hours a day, for fortv-hvc days, IL
he be in the infantry sixty days If in
the cavalry and tifty-ilve days II In the
artillery So strong Is the military in
made In this short time s the admiration
of European military experts.
Now the total OF the army Is nearly
half n million of men. In a nation with a
population under 100000. Every man is
n trained soldier. knowing no fear, and
ever ready TO tight and die for his coun-
try.