The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-01-20
THE SWISS REPUBLIC.
Can Mobolize 24O, 900 Men in Twen-
ty-Four Hours.

the art of self-defense better ADJUST
ed itself to geographical conditions
than in the little republic of Switzer-
land" says a bulletin of the National
Geographic Society.
while the subject of national
preparedness holds such large place
in the minds of the American people,
it becomes of value to study the re-
markable system the Swiss people
have evolved-a system fitted to ma
tional ideals which do hot accept the
doctrines of militarism on the one
hand, and which reject the doctrines
of peace at any price on the other.
The Swiss system is particularly In
teresting to Americans because OF
the kindred theories of government
in Switzerland and the United States,
the similar aspirations of their peo-
pIe. and the close relationship OF
their needs.
Although they. have democratic
tendencies perhaps-stronger than
our own, although they believe in
local self-government perhaps more
thoroughly than we do, and although
they possess very deep conviction
that central authority must not en-
cYoach upon the rights of the can
tons, the people of Switzerland have
made themselves a nation under
arms, yet nation without the slight
est thought of adding a foot to its
TERRITORY or of disturbing that peace
whose blessings. it loves and appre-
ciates.
There is nothing in Switzerland
corresponding to a regular army.
One might hunt for months around
the country without finding one man
whose profession is military; yet al
most as hard would it be to discover
one able-bodied citizen who has not
had some soldier training.
while Switzerland has popula-
zion smaller than that of Massachu-
sets, with an area twice as large, it
can mobilize 100000 men in "a
hours. On the same basis, the Unit
ed States could put 100000 men
into the field, though of course it
would take longer to get them to
central points of mobilization. Be-
hind a field army of 100000 the
Swiss have reserve of equal proper
tions. The United States could, un-
der a Swiss system, have a trained
army OF, citizens reaching grand
total of / 100000 men of all arms.
Under that standard We would have
4 go trained men from every town of
Il 900 population; while a county OF
80 600 inhabitants could thus send
400 men to the front and hold as
many more in reserve.
IS There is no soldiery in the mill
stary world costing as little per man
as the Swiss.
This difference arises from the
fact that the army of the Swiss con-
federation is in truth a citizen army.
tt is organized on what has been
called the voluntary compulsory
system, to which the Swiss people
have freely resigned themselves in
order to guarantee the independence
sof their country.
2sThe Swiss boy, at the age of ten,
is put into. the gymnastic class at
school, and begins learning the ele-
ment of the soldier drill on the
schoolhouse Fairgrounds. Long be-
fore he is old enough to be called
upon for service he has learned to
do the manual exercises and to go
through much of the drill that after
ward fits him for soldier.
when a boy reaches II years he
is liable to service-a liability which
continues until he is so years of age.
Even after that he may be liable, if
he is capable of doing any other
army work than soldering, such as
acting as baker or veterinary sur
sgeon.
..Yet with all of this universal
training, the only people in Switzer-
land who make arms exclusive pro-
fession are the commander-in-chief,
selected by the federal assembly, and
the general staff. These form the
brains of the army The rank and
file belong to the cantons, just as the
militia do to the State in this coun-
try.
.At the age of 20 every able
bodied Swiss youth becomes unit
in the first line During the first
year of liability he must serve Is
days or more, and II days for each
successive year he is called to the
standard. Services in the first line
continues until the citizen has reach