Evening star., 1916-04-07
HAS TRAINED ARMY
OF 100000 ON CALL
Every Swiss Schoolboy Taught
Country Has Claim Upon
~. His Services.
NATION BETTER PREPARED
THAN U. S. FOR DEFENSE
Non n-Militaristic System Is Described
in Recent Public Address by
DR.. Henry Ferguson.

From the spokane Spokesman Review.
With a population of only 1000. 900
the little Swiss republic has a non-mili-
taristic system of national defense tha,
commands the respect and admira tion
Of the world. If menaced by invasion
fthe Swiss constitution prohibits wars
of aggression. the republic can call
100000 trained men to the colors in two
days. and in week 100000 more.
so many allusions are made to this
excellent system said DIR. Henry Fer
guson In a recent public address which
has just been published by DIR. Drury.
rector of st. Paul's School for Boys at
Concord y. H., that it is well to un-
derstand explicitly what that system
is 1t is as simple as it is admira BILE
combining the earliest training with
the rudiments of elementary compul-
sorry education. and keeping the adult
citizen in readiness for service with
out serious burden.
Athletic Training for schoolboys.
Every schoolboy is taught that his
country has a claim upon his services
in her defense, and is carefully trained
by athletic exercises, approved of and
directed by the government, that fit
him to use his growing strength to the
greatest advantage.
These eXerciEes are not of the ma
ture of a milithry drill. but furnish a
progressive training, beginning when
the boys are quite young. and continu-
ing through their school life. They
not only lead to a symmetrical and
careful development of the individuals,
but also aczustom the children to the
common action, under skilled direc-
ton ntting them to fall in readily
with the later technical military in
struction when the time shall come
for it.
Co-ordinates With Camp Instruction
The great value of this, training of
the children by the government is that
it co-ordinates the school with the
subsequent camps of instruction. so
that all public energies are directed to
a common advantage.
When the boys become young men.
rife shooting is most carefully en-
couraged, and clubs, societies and asso-
Citations formed to practice this most
useful Accomplishment. Prizes are Of
fered by the federal government, by
the various cantons corresponding to
our state governments), by the munich
palities and the communes. and the
young Swiss is taught, as our own an
straight, to speak the truth and to
keep his body under subsection.
Become Recruits at Twenty.
'Once in every year the men of
twenty years of age are called upon
by their several cantons to meet in a
MI n nd "a Lo
z series of tests, with the object of
ascertaining whether they are physi-
cally and mentally able to serve their
country.
The recruits are then sent to train
sixty to ninety days instructions, ac-
cording to the branch of the service
they are thought qualified to enter.
After this. for eleven years. from the
age of twenty-one to thirty-two, the
recruit is called out for eleven days in
the year to refresh his training, and
then he is transferred from the elite
to the landwehr or first reserve. He
serves in this for twelve years longer,
being called into the field only in al
ternate years, and then for eleven
days.
Completes His Service at 45.
Then he passes into the landsturm
or second reserve, until at forty-eight
his period of service is completed. The
government keeps In existence the
head of the ordnance department, the
general staff and the corps of instruc-
tors needed for the organization.
Each soldier is given his uniform
and his rifle, for the care of which he il
responsible. Cavalry soldiers have also
their horses. With these in hand
mobilization is immediate.
The system has not. indeed. been
mobilization was necessary to preserve
the country's neutrality, as in 1870 and
at the present day, it has worked well.
and the tiny country is loyalty and Wig
orousiy defended by her own citizen
soldiers.
Ideals Before Swiss Youth.
"Onicers are made through merit, and
are given special courses and retained
in active service for longer periods
The law permits no soldier to decline
promotion with its added responsible
ties in either the commissioned or non
commissioned grades.
Every soldier is insured against sick
ness. accident or death by the govern
ment, while under Instructions. or while
engaged in any military duty.
Inc great merit Oh tne system, DR..
Ferguson then adds, lies in the very
general extent of the training, with the
minimum OF interruption to the do
mestic life and individual affairs Of the
men who are trained, and. above all, in
the ideal, which is constantly held I'D
before every normal Swiss boy, that
the defense of his country is matter
OF his own immediate concern, that his
country needs and claims not only his
love and devotion and his pride, but
also his personal bodily service"
Law of Compensation Enters.
But the great law of compensation
enters in. The nation requires service
and devotion. but it gives rugged bene-
fits in return-improved physioue
lnou-lodue of