Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-02-18

-'"soNo " -ov,ooV.
Bat such a setback co&ld not perma-
nently discourage the real leaders Of the
people III arms In a short time IA
great change of sentiment took place
and Willie ami Gertsch came back. The
former is AT present, sine the recent
mobilization. inc General of the Swiss
army and Gertsch is commander of a
brigade.
The highest rank in the Swiss army,
when Oh a peace footing, is that of col
oncl. Even the commander Of an army
corps has only the rank I colonel. In
time If mobilization Il joint sessIn OF
the Senate ANA House Of Representa-
lives elect Il General as the chief OF
the entire army. i;dt three Swiss have
ever carried this honor. They are Henry
Dufour in 1861 when Switzerland mo
bilized against Prussia. Hans Herzog, i'll
1870. at the time of the Franco-Prus-
sian War. and now Ulrich Willie.
Within twelve years from the defeat
Of the proposed revision of the military
article a great change in sentiment took
place. The certainty was brought home
10 the Swiss people that only by "A
strong and efficient army colld the in
dependence Of the Republic be upheld.
November ,. 1907, WAS a red letter day
for the Alpine citizenry. BY an i'm
mcn>c majority the military article of
the constitution was amended as the of
ticcrs of the army desired. Here are
some of the salient features of the or
ganization as il stands today.
1t provides for three army corps.
As each division contains three bri-
gadcS. thus The Federation has eighteen
infantry ~brigadcs of the first line. In
addition four Of the divisions have each
il mountain brigade of infantry. EG.h
regiment Of infantry has attached 10
il one company with twelve machine
guns.
The Swiss army has - batteries Of
field artillery. assembled in l. regi-
mcnts and also six batteries of how
itzers for each of the six divisions.
About 5000. cavalry are in the first
line. attached To the divisions and at
the disposition of the army commander.
An infantry soldier enters service ut
his Goth year. serves for % days in a
school for recruits, and after that
serves for 13 days each year until he is
-. He belongs To the first line for four
years longer-until he is -, but is not
bound to do any early service during
that period.
From 32 To T. he belongs 10 the sec
ond line or Landwehr. In this capacity
he serves for one week every second
wear. For six years. until he is As. he
serves in the Landstrum and is called
to the colors twice for a period of one
week. In addition every Landwehr and
Landstrum soldier has to present him
self for annual inspection when he
must account for the care of his uni
form and arms.
The school of recruits for cavalry has
a period Of instruction Of 90 days. and
that for artillery of 10 days. Their sub
scqucnt yearly courses correspond pro
portionatcly
During the "a DAYS course for in
fantrv. recruits instruction is given in
Drill School of the Soldier (squad. com
pany and batallion). combat firing,
drill sham battle work. intrcnchment.
marches, camp. etc. and especial care
and time j. devoted 10 making the re
cruit a good shot.
III civil life every Swiss soldier. which
means every able Swiss citizen Of mill
tarv age. I compelled to he a member Of
i rifle club. under the supervision Of
,,l..I. In b,U a VnIarnn n xaarlx rItfa
shooting test. consisting Of exc or ~
shots with a minimum Of - per cent
hits and 90 per cent points for each cx-
%erciSc.
The distances are: 90 wards in two
positions. viz. prone and kneeling and
222 yards in standing position AT tar
get a. This target a. has an inner
black circle Of l. inches diameter. count
ing four points enclosed bv \ larger
circle of - inhcs. counting three points
4 third circle of ~ inches. counting two
points and IN outer circle IF IS inches.
cornting one point.
Target n represents the heal and
chest Of a soldier and j. IL inches high.
Hits in the head or neck count two
points. in al other parts Of the efigy
one point. The distances used for tar
get Il are 333 yards for position |
tkncelingl and IT 1pronc) and 222
wards for position III prone with sup
ported riflcl. This last exercise is more
difficult than it might appear because
most men are inclined To shoot too high.
Ito he c%ontinued.l