New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-12
II the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The argument that preparedness and
universal service tend 10 breed miitarism
was brought up in some Of the speeches made
for the National Security League last Wednes-
day night. With so much existing proof TO
the contrary, this argument would be negH'
gible were II not that this feeling seems TO
exist TO an extraordinary degree in this coun-
try
The Swiss system OF universal service Is
held ND as a model but preparation and uni
ycrsal service in connection with the SWISS
situation to day have not been used TO point
moral.
Switzerland. through propnquity and inter-
marriage, should have tho hyphen problem to
the nth power. To the west they have France
TO the south italy, TO the east Austria-Hun'
gary and to the north Germany. Taking the
train at Geneva, where all signs are in French
and where the French language predominates,
as YOU Journey the three or four hours north
10 Basic the signs and language begin 10
change from French TO German, and the
thought that occurs 10 an American IS, How
more than extraordinary it IS that SwltZer-
land has maintained her neutrality and has
not become involved in the war
At Basic there is a salient OF Swiss land
that extends out between the French and Ger
man frontiers. This salient is occupied by
Swiss troops, and on either side are encamped
the French and Germans, constant source OF
irritation and temptation to one another, but
not a shot crosses that salient, though the
shock Of the big guns is plainly felt. The
Swiss have made no attempt TO threaten
either country as to what would happen if
they violated their neutrality, but last spring
when seven aeroplanes crossed the Swiss bor-
der while battling in the air, they were im-
mediately fred upon, and a little later when
at Lake Constance one of the Zeppeins drift
ed across the line the same thing occurred
am told the bullets were aimed to try TO
bring these aeroplanes down the moment they
crossed the border line Can any one doubt
that the reason this il possible is because
the army was mobilized; that there was an
army to mobilize, and finally that the people
were Swiss, not Swiss-GernAns nor Swiss
French?
The story told mo last summer by a staff
colonel OF the Swiss army, as we sat outside
his villa, near Bhsle, Win tue WINDOWS rat
Ting from the vibration of the big guns, was
that when the war clouds were seen TO be
gathering, about year before the war. the
Swiss invited the Kaiser 70 their autumn ma
nuuvres and showed him their army corps
equipped, armed and trained, and let him
weigh In the balance that half-million men
thoroughly prepared. against the advantages
to be gained by the use of that Rhine Valley
highway. II Was that object lesson, that dis
play of strength, the Swiss firmly believe
that turned the scale. L. IL believed by the
Swiss that tho General Stsh of the German
army compared Switzerland, with its active
army Of $4,000 men, its reserve Of nearly
100000 men. making q total of $4,000. with
a population Of 8,750000. 10 Belgium, with It's
standing army Of $4,000 men, its reserve of
about 100000. or a total Of 100000, with a
population Of 100000, and decided the les,
difficult highway To conquer ,Aas Belgium.
While the Swiss to-day are In . position OF
having to borrow . good deal OF money, be.