The Washington times., 1915-05-19
WAR COLLEGE LIKES
SWISS ARMY PLAN
System May Be Recommended
to Solve Military Problem
Confronting United States.

The impression is strong in well in
formed quarters that the War College
will recomend to Secretary Garrison
some plan based on the Swiss system
for solving the military problem of this
country.
1t Is known that many of the most
efficient and sighted of the army Of
ticers think we'll of the Swiss system.
Whether Secretary Garrison will finally
recommend this system to Congress, it
Is too early to tell, but 1t is certain that
1t will find favor among many members
Of the House and Senate.
In recent weeks, the eyes of the Amer
lean people have been opened as they
nave not been opened in years to the
defenceless state of the nation. Posi-
pilities of a war with Germany have
served to bring into the limelight the
strange inadequacy OF the American
system. To an extent, the inadequacy
Of tho navy has been revealed but every
body knows the navy in comparison
with the army Is in condition Of high
preparedness
Large Standing Army Unnecessary.
How is the United States to develop
system of preparedness without mill
tarism? How Is it to develop a demo-
cratic army?
These are questions to tax the best
brains sof the War Department and OF
Congress. Considered from the stand
point of the avoidance of militarism,
while affording defense and avoiding
extreme expense, there is little doubt
the swiss system is the best one yet
devised. The Australian is closely akin
to 1t. Secretary Garrison Is known to
regard 1t as possible solution for the
american military problem. and he is
ana the Australian system. 1t looks
to the preparedness OF the individual
without large standing army. en-
courages rifle practice, and Is based on
the theory that men owe military serv-
ice to the country as they owe taxes
Lieut.. Col George Bell. jr.. after
study of the Swiss system, said that
While the professional soldier might
nnd much to criticise about details OF
the military training, yet it had merit.
There is something about this army"
said he, which makes 1t more to be
dreaded than some regular military es-
ADJUSTMENTS which show more skill
and precision in exercises. but do not
possess the endurance. education. and
wonderful patriotism which would en-
dure anything. Any nation. however
powerful. will pause before invading
Switzerland, for this army. or nation
at arms. before being killed or annihi-
lated by sheer force of numbers, will
infiict terrible losses"
Commends Swiss System.
Col. w. c. Sanger commends the
Swiss system as proof that nation can
train all its citizens for defense and
vet escape militarsm. He calls the
Swiss forces the best militia in the
world.
Experts of the War College say the
American soldier costs twenty EIGHT
times as much as the Swiss soldier.
Mobilization can be effected in three
days. Colonel Bell gives a description
OF mobilization of a Swiss battalion. 1t
was effected in the most orderly man
ner between o'clock in the morning
and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. IT was
accompanied by the most thorough in
spection OF equipment. including arms
ammunition. and food supplies
More or less has been published IN re-
cent months about the Swiss system
The general features Of 1t are familiar.
In switzerland every citizen is a soldier
bar him from the service. Professional
soidlers are few and are assigned
Chiefly to the work of military educa-
tion. Education begins at eleven with
organizations Of boys, trained IN
marching. drills. and some exercises Of
the manual of arms. Chief attention is
given to gymnastics and shooting with
the emu IN vie" or turning out vigorous
and agile youths. Regular military
service begins for each man at the age
or twenty. Recruits are fitted out with
g complete equipment. including a rt1e.
These articles he takes home with him
and keeps until the end Of his military
service at nifty.
Must Overcome Objections.
The idea of having every citizen
train for possible military service has
always been opposed in this country.
1t WILL of course. continue to meet
strong opposition. 1t may be that il
cannot be put into effect. At the same
time, there is strong feeling in the
country today that a system which will
be at once effective and not militaristic
and which will endure must be estab-
1shed. One of the essential points Of
the swiss system and of any system
which Is likely to obtain favor with
Congress Is that young men must be
WithdraWn from civil life just as little
as possible.
/ One of the troubles of the army today
Is that too much favoritism and too
much politics obtain. Young men 60 to
west Point to become officers who NAV
not have the slightest qualification for
military command. In the opinion of
many competent men who have studied
the military, plan must be evolved
tnat VIII encourage the deyeloDment
or the young man who starts at the
potion in the army and shows that he
is endowed with the requisites of a sol
dler and then Is allowed to advance as
his merits dictate.