The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-02-11
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ING IN SWITZERLAND
SET FORTH.
START AT THE AGE OF 8
Every Citizen Physically and Mem
tally Fit Is Liable For.
Service.


obligatory military training are set
forth and explained in the following
article prepared for the American
Defense Society by the official Swiss
bureau in the United States. One Of
the interesting facts pointed out in
connection with the Swiss system of
military training for national defense
is that military training starts with
boys s years of age In the schools.
while 1t is a well-known fact, of
course, that Switzerland is a neutral
State and that her neutrality was
guaranteed long ago by her neigh
bors now involved in the war the re-
public has never taken any chances.
Switzerland fully understood that
II II wanted to preserve its neutrality
II was necessary to safeguard and
defend 1t. Before Belgium fell a
prey to her invaders the Swiss had
taken precautionary measures against
a similar fate, and that their tactics
have been successful so far is proven
by the fact that Switzerland is still
the one blissful haven Of peace in
Europe. While Switzerland is by no
means an advocate of militarism, the
very presence OF four powerful and
well-armed neighbors obliged It to
adopt a system of national defense.
The expenditure for such q defense
had. of course. to be kept as low az
possible. and yet. on the other hand.
In order to stand any chance of sue
cess. the defense scheme had to al
low for the placing Of large masses
in the field.
Swiss Army.
'The Swiss army is a citizen army.
That means every Swiss citizen is
liable. to do military service II he is
physically and mentally fit. This &C
counts for the fact that Switzerland.
with population Of 100000. main
tains the largest armed force in Eu-
rope proportionately.
France comes second and Germany
and Sweden third. The other coun-
tries maintain from one soldier to
every ITO Inhabitants. as in the case
OF Great Britain.
Statistics show that the per capt.
tn cost OF the Swiss army is about
s2.25; of the British army. 81; of
the French army. s3.35. and Of the
German army, -$2.10. The per capt.
Ia expenditure of the United States
army is about 81, and, according to
statistics, this country possesses an
army Of 176,016. including the Ma
tional Guard, all noncombatant
troops and the Coast Artillery Corps.
THE Swiss military forces" the
article goes on. consist of three diff
ferent divisions. There are the So
called Auszug or elite, the Land
wehr and the Landsturm. To the
Auszug belong the young men from
20 to 32 years OF age; to the Land
wehr the soldiers from 33 to 40
years Of age. and to the Landsturm
the men from Al to 4s years of
age.
Swiss Citizens.
"Swiss citizens who are unable to
do their military service because o.
residence in a foreign country, have
to pay a regular military tax. Previ-
GUS to the war this tax was francs
per man per year, but 1t has been
doubled. temporarily, on account of
the nations great expenses brought
on by the war. In addition to this
modest tax there is also taxation
at the rate of $50 francs per 1000
francs OF private fortune and, in GER
tain cases on every 1000 francs Of
half of an inheritance coming to a
man from his parents or grandpar-
ents. The maximum military tax In
normal tines is 5000 francs yearly.
'rhe maximum under temporary war
taxation is 5000 francs.
AT the age of s years the Swiss
scLoolhoy begins his course of phSsi-
cal training. which is gradually de-
veioped until he is sixteen years oil.
Tatn come the cadet corps. In which
the bcys undergo all the preliminary
exercises and whers II ey receive
tncrough and systematic instruction
in line shooting.
Smaller Weapon Used.
The rifle used in the cadet corps Is,
of course. smaller and lighter model
than the regulation army rife. Rife
practice for the youngsters is accord
ed in regular military fashion, includ-
ing range and field work. Prepare
tory work for young men between
the ages of 16 and 20 years includes
athletics, marching. care and use of
the service rife and target practice.
These preliminary training courses
are taken usually by young men who