The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-08

representative Of the National 1mmiera.
lion League he has been In Europe many
,lmrs and Il IN close touch with affair.
and officials. Ne hss often Appeared ~
tori committees In ConGress ~ IN su.
thcdty On immigration matters and n a
writer Of wide note on erooonics. The
following Is the second of . ses4e~ Of sewn
criticize. by pr. sekely on eoadittons In
Europe.
ny DIR. bella sEkELY.
A, tie outbreak OF the war plucky
little Switzerland announced 10 the
world in uneauivocal terms that no mat.
ter which Power should venture to VIC.
late the neutrality Of Swiss territory u
would hnd half a million shareholders
blocking its way. These were not the
words used. but this was exactly the
meaning Of tho Federal Councils neu.
,ralty proclamation. BESIDES action
was suited 10 tho words. On the
hels OF the German mobilization
the Swiss trained citixenry was called
70 the colors. Not because Switzerland
was afraid Of Germany. Perhaps II
would be nearest to the truth to say
,ha, she was afraid OF everybody and
ye, feared . body.
Isaw the Swiss mountaineers in those
stirring days eagerly Fastening to Join
their regiments. saw them again q
year later just as eagerly leaving their
barracks In the early morning to 90
drilling In nearby fields. When they
marched at attention along the roads
, was not at the goose STEP" nor did
'hey carry themselves stifiy erect. but
strobe naturally. with a freedom and
vim tina, bespoke their eagerness to
serve their country. There was a grace
N the poise Of their heads. a rhythm
n the swing Of their limbs. such a.
might have been seen in the victorious
l'eions Of Cesar. And In their eyes was
, look Of determination which I never
shall forget. Serving the flag Of swift
lsrland is for these men a sacred duty
and a serious business. as well as a
privilege. Woe unto him who has the
'enerity TO attack tn ,m-every man q
dead shot. every man imbued with the
spirit, OF william Tell and more than
half a million Of them!
This is no exagReration. Nor is my
Nfl tdFlltu away WI CIiliiu~IhrIls vi
'he contrary. II is difficult for "A writer
20 do justice to the heroic spirit Of this
little country. determined 10 face any or
oil Of the great Powers IN order to MAIN
tain the i~nviolability Of it's territory.
Prcsident Proud Of Army.
I told Camille Dccoppct. President and
War Minister of Switzerland. what I
lad seen the Swiss army do al the time
~ us mobilization and "a year after
ward. and how the spirit of the men
rad Impressed me. As he listened his
coun'enance glowed with pride. w
all love the army" ne said. And why
rot9 We are the army-the Swiss peo-
pie are the army. Love of liberty is
traditional with US: 1t Is part Of our
sesn and blood.
I'm this great war the sympathies Of
the population may be divided according
20 descent; but We are all united In
ps,rio,ism. And we will all ight united.
no matter who attempts TO violate our
neutrality.
81 feel confident. however. that there
will be no need for US TO fight. But l
'eel this confidence only because We
-. preparcd to fight. In 1907 and 1908
ne r~eorganized military forces. This
entaiied large expenditures and greater
PERSONAL sacrifices on the part OF our
I. c'izens. whose time OF service was con.
s'dersb'y extended. But vents justified
NE foresight Of the administration that
Vas then in control. Now We are glad
a. What We did for the army, and above
~. 7 repeat, we admire and ardently
love ~"
Popular sentiment toward the wal
nresents a unique situation in Switzer-
'ard Il is divided according to geo.
graphic lines. being pro-French in the
west and pro-t;erman In the east ana IN
ne north. The attitude Of the newspapers
! IN strict accordance with their IAN
rlage. In reading the Journal de Generr
~ 'he Gaser~ Dc Lausanne n might
mistake either It them for a Paris paper,
m IN. other hand the N'ue Zmricher
7~funo or the Rerncr Bund might have
toeu printed in Munich for all their
EDITORIAL comments OIL III" war. But
nd 'his Is an important put
trench and German journals are narti.
sans only SO long az they deal with the
'o'e gn aspects of the war.
|, Are Al Pro.swiss.
rhe moment the vars influence upon
SnI',er!aud II at ISSUE or the interests
" he country are debated all papers
have a common viewpoint. which Is ths
Swiss viewpoint. They do not permit
'hs'r individual ~sympathies 10 interfere
Nth their patriotism. And as with thu
'"aspapers 70 with the population. The
French speaking Swiss OF Geneva oil
Lausanne would as loyalty fight agains'
~ French as the the German speak'ne
'rNahtants of Zurich or BASEL against
~" T'utonic army. should these Power
N''erp' % violate Swiss neutrality
"-Neident Decoppet, h 10 of Frencf
<fsso"nt: Mr.. Motta, ex-President anf
finance Minister, who Is OF Itaiiat
decent, and Mr.. Honfmann. Minister o.
Fore gn Affairs. also an cx-Pres'dent
rho 5 ~ German descent, work togethel
's1roriousiy. This unity OF feeling anf
,a'-!o'en not Of word but of fact hat
h"e0 demonstrated during the tediou!
ara 49, times critical negotiations be
y tween the Swiss Government and tn
AN'es Win respect 70 the organization
" an Official import trust" destined u
r'gl'a'" 'he imports OF Switzerland. II
n7de-N'lnd the importance ~ this ques
Won y Wlll he well 10 consider the aRri
cultural and industrial situation OF TN
6oprty".
Switzerland was blessed by mature
With beauty, hut Ns snow covered noun
vain T"aRs look down upon unproductiv'
toN. which grows only wheat enough u
support 'he population for seventy days
~ placing under cultivation ever!
} f1lhTs foot of tillable soil the Swiss PEG
% would have bread for nifty days more
nut hoy would 60 hungry for the re-
~'2i'rirs eight months of the year were !
"" FOR grain importations from foreigI
countries. The situation Is better will
rfn"o' 10 meat. of which IS per cent. !
rrodu"ed at home, On the other han'