The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-03-10
ADVOCATES SWISS
!. MILITARY SYSTEM


SPOKANE, March 1o.-Nat'onal EN-
cheney through an adoption OF the SWISS
military system Is advocated by inc
Spokesman Review. In Its editorial
column II says:
Switzerland seems to have solved
wisely the problem OF acquiring Tor ts
youth all tho benefits Of State training
and discipline, freed from the evils OF
military caste and aggressive miltarism
as they are exempllfied In the German
army. ...
National greatness Ia but an aggregate
OF individual vigor and efficiency. ana
individual success Is dependent on health
and discipline. without them nothing
Young men who have them In high de-
gree render high service to the family
to the community and the State. Boys
that lack them are the failures, the
noiiycoddles, the incorrigibles. tho GRIM
inals.
A training system like that Of swift
zerland gives indefinitely more to the
individual and the nation than II exacts.
Let us follow a Swiss boy through
the schools and into the training camp.
Early he is taught the elementary laws
Of health, correct gait and carriage,
attention to command and cooperative
action with his comrades.
Swiss Boys Training.
Though this preliminary training Is
not Of a military nature. 1t nts him
admirably for the military instruction
that awaits him at twenty. AT that age
he is put to physical and mental tests
to determine his capacity TO serve his
country
The tests are comparatively easy"
says DR.. Henry Ferguson. but OF suf-
ficient difficulty to exclude ounces and
weaklings, whom the confederation has
no use for. The. physical examination
consists of q test OF strength requiring
the CO ndidate to lift four times In sue
cession In each hand q weight OF about
thirty-seven pounds. He has to run
about eighty yards in fourteen seconds
or under-besides passing fairly rigid
physical examination as to the condi-
ton OF his vital organs.
The mental examination consists OF
reading. writing. arithmetic. and the
rudiments of Swiss history. besides q
short composition on some simple sub
ject, to show the candidates power Of
expression.
Those who pass are accepted for mill
tary training; those who fail to meet
these easy requirements are dismissed,
but must bear thereafter a heavier
share In the national taxation than their
more intelligent and athletic brothers
who. are able to give their personal
service"
Many Benefits Impaired.
Then follows. for the recruits, field
training for sixty to ninety days. Drill
work perfects their department and car
riage. Camp sanitation teaches them
the laws Of health. Care of uniform
and rifle teaches neatness and pride OF
pCrFdn. Rifle shooting teaches precision
and accuracy. Attention to command
teaches alertness and quick co-ordina-
ton Of mind and muscle. .... -.
BY adopting the Swiss system OF
thorough training of the country's
youth, the United States can mount to
greater heights of Industrial and bust
ness achievement. More comfort,
health. and happiness can be put into
the homes. More rugged vigor will
be impaired to the young manhood OF
our day and be made the priceless heri-
tage OF the coming generation.
With these blessings would come ma
tional insurance against invasion and
elimination OF large part Of the peril
OF war. For once II were known that
behind the long shore line stood several
miinon young men. with rifles at hand
ana knowledge to shoot straight, to
march, to maneuver and take care OF
themselves In the field. where could
be FOUND a nation SO aggressive. SO
greedy. so reckless of consequences as
States?