The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-04
Compulsory Military Service
Between Ages Of 70 and 48
Is Demanded by All Can
tons.
ESCAPE IS POSSIBLE
Gymnastic Tests Fix En-
trance, While Exempted
Ones Must Pay Tax Until
40 Years Old.


Ing has been held up by Theodore
Roosevelt and other advocates Of uni
versal military education for the Unit
ed States as a model to be followed.
This little republic, with an area of
1876 square miles and a population
OF 100000. has an army-ready for
war-of $4,000 men Of all branches
OF the service and a further morgan
lied reserve Of 10000 men, who have
had military training.
The United States, with an area of
upwards Of 100000 square miles and
population of 100 900 900, has a regu-
lar army Of $4,000.
Here Is how Switzerland creates by
universal compulsory military service
and efficient army Of citizen soldiers,
for the Swiss army Is purely a mil
itia force.
Every Swiss male citizen is bound
to render personal military service be.
tween the ages of % and 49, Only
high federal officials and clergymen
not serving as chaplains, policemen
and officials of public means Of com.
munication, whose services would be
indispensable in times Of war are ex-
empted.
Every young man who has reached
the age Of 20 must report at the va
rious canton headquarters for medi-
cal and literary examination. The
gymnastic tests that qualify for the
service are as follows:
A running broad jump Of not less
than eight feet. lifting at least four
times weight of about thirty-seven
pounds In both hands at once, and
running about eighty yards in less
than fourteen seconds. Those failing
below a certain standard are exempt
ed. but may be postponed" for not
more than four years in the hopes Of
coming up to the standard.
Those who are totally disqualified
must pay a tax of francs up to the
time they are 40 years Of age, plus
~ franc for each 1000 francs Of net
francs net income.
About 10000 candidates report for
service each year under this system.
In order to keep down the expense
as much as possible the tests for en-
tering the army are made as severe
as possible. Every opportunity is Civ.
en- the young men after they reach the
age of Is to prepare for entering the
army, and the government assists
gymnastic and school organizations to
fit the candidates to pass the examina-
tons. About IS per cent Of the candi-
dates are accepted. Is per cent are
postponed" and 30 per cent exempt
ed wholly.
BY the law of 1907 the Swiss army
is divided into three classes-the Aus.
zug or elite, comprising men from 20
to 80 years of age; the "landwehr"
men from 33 to 40 years, and the land
sturm, men between II and 48 years.
The recruits serve for different pc
RODS during their first year, accord
ing to the arm OF the service into
which they are incorporated-infantr
and engineers sixty-five days, artil.
!ery and garrison troops seventy-five
lays and cavalry ninety days, while
hose in the auxiliary troops serve but
sixty days.
Soldiers in the Elite are called out
seven times during their term of SER
yice for period Of eleven days a year
fourteen days for the artillery and
garrison troops.) while the Landwehr
s called out only once for a training
period of eleven days.
Cavalrymen serve ten years in the
Elite (no service in the Landwehr)
and during that period are called out
eight times for training periods of
eleven days. Between the ages of
twenty and forty each soldier must at.
tain a certain proficiency in mark
manship while there is an annual in.
spection of arms, uniforms and equip
ment. The Confederation also makes
money grants to rifle societies which
in 1906 numbered 1882, had 229,951
members and received federal wants
to the amount of about $4,000.
Rifle and uniform become the full
property OF the soldier after he has
completed his full term Of service
Officers serve in the Elite to 3S years
of age, and the Landwehr till A, while
they remain in the Landsturm till SO
years Of age.