Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-26
SwITZERLAND's CITIZEN ARMY
The Inexpensive System Whereby a Force Of
Half Million Men Can be Mustered at Amy
Moment for National Defense.

Howard d. Wheeler, in HArper's Weekly.
Switzerland, certainly the most democratic
nation in Europe, held by some writer's to
be the worlds model State since the adop-
ton of the Constitution of 1874, has no
standing army. Its only permanent military
officers are military trainers. selected by
and under the supervision OF the general
Government
With a population of about 100000, at
an expenditure Of less than $s,OOO,OOO an
nually, the Swiss Confederation can. in an
hour of need, muster fghting force of half
million men, trained and perfectly
equipped.
With a population of over sOOOOOOO it
costs the Republic of the United States in
the neighborhood of 100000 900 to maintain
a professional military organization which,
in emergency. could throw bare $4,000 men,
incompletely equipped, into line of battle.
To trace the Swiss 100000 into first
class defensive force of half million is ex-
ceedingly simple.
The money goes for training. clothing and
equipment and pay of soldiers and officers
while they are with the colors. 1t is not
wasted in politics. because it is next to i'm
possible to play politics with the Swiss mil
itary system.
Every male citizen of Switzerland who is
able. receives military training for certain
short periods between the ages. of II and
52 Every two years, for the first 10 years
that is. five times in all-he answers a
call to the colors. His period OF training
Is never more than 80 days for any one
year. and that only in the first year. If an
artillery recruit his training covers rs days;
If in the cavalry 80 days. and II in the In
fantry 80 days. The period with the colors
shOrtens he grows older. During his
third fifth, seventh and ninth years this
period OF training is from ~ to is days. He
is paid only during the time he is with the
colors. More than that. so far as is possl-
BILE, his military training Is made TO follow
the lines OF his occupation. II he is a baker,
he finds his place in the commissary; II he
Is an electrician, he can enter the engineers
or the signal corps. His commander OF
troops Is elected by the Legislature. He has
good chance OF becoming an oficer as
any OF his fellows ohioers are drawn from
the ranks according to seniority and ap-
pointed by the Government
Compulsory servicei"
Those are the other scare words the team
mates OF ''militarism."
The Swiss military training Is the law OF
the land, certainly, even II It has become so
by vote Of all the people. It's relation 10
democracy depends TO some extent on
whether you argue that a person can be
compelled TO do what he wants 10 do.
The Swiss youth. from his earliest school
days IS taught that the army Is for de-
Tense only Patriotism Is interviewer In his
development. He discerns no line between
civic duty ana military duty. He learns to
look upon each as essential to real citizen
ship. BY the time be leaves school he Is
not a raw recruit He has already had
some military training He is ready ana
eager 20 join the eolors and 70 complete HIS
edueation. Certainly he does not regard
as undemocratie or unreasonable the re-
quirement that he must know how 20 sight
"a order that he may take an intelligent part
Ia the defense Of bis country. any more
than We look upan as undemoeretie ana
unreasonable the requirement that ae must
know hou q READ Ia order that We may
take "a intelligent part ID the political af-
fairs q our country
Ihe Swiss eruy 3 the manhood 81 the
country lstaed fer niatagF defense
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