The Washington times., 1916-03-08
SWISS CITIZEN ARMY
! IS 100000 STRONG
Peaceful Nation Is Better Pre-
pared for War Than the
= United States.

With a population OF only 1000, 900, the
little Swiss republic has a non-mili-
taristic system of national defense that
commands the respect and admiration
Of the world. says the Spokane Spokes-
man-Rev1ew.
II menaced by invasion (the Swiss
constitution prohibits wars of aggres-
our State governmonO. by the mu-
trained men to the colors in two days,
ana in a week 100000 more.
80 many illusions are made to this
guson in a recent public address which
has Just been published by Dr. Drury,
rector of st. Paul's School for Boys, at
Concord, N. H.. that 1t Is we'll to un-
IL. It is as simple as it is admirable,
combining the earliest training with
the rudiments of elementary compul-
sorry education, and keeping the adult
citizen in readiness for service without
Every school boy is taught that his
country has claim upon his services
in her defense. and Is carefully trained
by athletic exercises. approved OF and
directed by the government that Mt
him to use his growing strength to
the greatest advantage.
Athletic Training In Schools.
These exercises are not OF the ma
ture of a military 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,
. nut also accustom the children to the
common action. under skilled direction
fitting them to fall in readily with the
later technical military instruction
when the time shall come for 1t:
'aThe great value of this training of
the children by the government Is that
II co-ordinates the school with the SUB
sequent camps OF instruction, so that
ali public energies are directed to a
common advantage.
when the boys become young men.
rife shooting is most carefully encour-
aged, 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 governmental, by the mu-
INEQUALITIES and the communes. and the
Young Swiss Is taught, as our own an
cestors were i'm colonial days, 10 shoot
straight. to speak the truth and to
keep his body under subsection.
Became Recruits At Twenty.
p. "Once In every year the men of z
years of age are called upon by theil
several cantcns to meet IN centra
place In eacn canton and take series
of tests with the object OF ascertaininl
: whether they are physically ana men
tally able to serve their country
= "The recruits are then sent to train
ing camps, where they receive from
sixty to ininety days instruction, &C
cording TO the branch OF the service
= they are thought qualified to enter.
after this, for eleven wears, from
tho age OF Il to r.. the recruit Is called
out for eleven days in the year to re
fresh his training. and then he Is trans
ferred from the elite to the landweh
or first reserve. lie serves IN this fo
twelve yeas longer, being called int
the field only In alternate years, AM
then for eleven days.
"Then he passes into the !ahdsturn
or second reserve until at ~ his perlo
Of service H. competed. The GOvorn
Tnent keeps in existence the head of tn
ordnance department, the general stat
and the corps Of instructors needed 70
the organization.
Each soldier is given his uniforr
and his riNc, for the care Of which h
Is responsible. Cavalry soldiers hav
also their horses. With these In han
mobilization is immediate.
THE syst,m has not indeed, bee
tested by war, but on occasions Vhc
mobilization was necessary to prescry
- SSOaASiS @sAISaALty. AS In 1870 an