The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-12-03
THE SWISS MILITIA
Capital News

The military law of Switzerland |
has been proposed as a model
after which the United States
might prepare a system of nation
al defense. AS explained by
Colonel Feyler, an authority, the
Swiss army, recruited under the
law of 1907, embraces between
100000 and 100000 in the first
two classes and 10000 in The
third-a total Of $4,000 or about
10 per cent Of Switzerland's pop
ulatiOn. In the first class, the
elite, are men from 20 to 33 years
in the second class, the landwehr,
are those from 33 to 40. The
third class, the landsturm, in
cludes those up to AZ, the limit
Tor privates. In addition, others
are enrolled in the services COM
plementaries, in which are util-
lied professions and trades for
special work. The Swiss mill
tiaman keeps at his home, on his
own responsibility, his uniform,
arms and fighting equipment. The
cavalryman also cares for his
horse. This arrangement is de-
signed for speed in mobilization.
In actual practice this was not
satisfactory, as Colonel Feyler ad-
mits in the Century. "If the mob
ilization was rapid" he says,
there was still slOwness in gel
ting into line on the part of GER
tain troops that did not wait for
their reservists and marched with
only the effective forces in times
Of peace" Had Switzerland been
in the position of Belgium the re-
suit would have been disastrous.
"There is, therefore," says Col
Feyler, lone reform to be studied
closely. 1t would not be neces-
sary if Switzerland were in the
condition of a great country like
TIC United States, where the all
sence of neighbors on one side,
and the extent of the country on
the other, present barriers to sur
prise" There is in this a sug-
gestion that a system of national
defense which may be adopted by
this country need not copy close
ly the systems abroad.
1t is the principle which under
lies the Swiss system that inter
ests us. The Swiss has compul-
sorry military service through his
own desire. He has voted for II
directly and indirectly. On a
ballot which he casts is the ques-
ton: DO you accept the law that
makes you a soldier, which sub
iects you to the rigors of disci-
pline, and which Furnishes you if
you do not submit2" Suffrage
IN Switzerland appears to con-
firm the statement that military
service, although compulsory in
form, is really voluntary. It is
actually, an expression of the cit
izenn's sovereignty. He looks
on the duty to bear arms in de-
tense Of his country as a right
and privilege. Any one who is
familiar with Swiss history car
readily understand this senti-
ment. 1t is one which alone
would solve our problem of pre-
paredness. Were the members
OF the national guard for example
officers and men alike, to regard
their service as a privilege in
stead of a pastime, as a trust in
stead of sometimes an opportun-
ity to play politics, we should have
such a continental army" as has
never yet been proposed. The
distinct difference, as we under
stand it, between the Swiss system
and the Prussian, is that the
spirit of the former is compul-
sorry by the voters desire while
the spirit of the latter, and GER
tain other powers, is compulsor,
by the will of a highly central
lied war machine.
Conditions AFFECTING the Era nj