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


quently been coupled with the sueges
ton that this country adopt the mill
tary system of Switzerland. universally
pointed out a. "A model for defensive
purposes. While there is a generally
prevalent idea that the Swiss system is
as near perfection a. one could be- there
are probably but few Of the people in
tcrestcd in the question who really have
any great knowledge Of its workings.
In order TO properly approach the ques-
ton Of whether il would be adaptable
10 American needs a discussion Of the
following phases Of the matter would
IL advisable:
l. OF what does the Swiss military
system consist?
>. What foundation is laid for the ac-
tual military training and how could
that foundation be laid in the United
States?
3. Could the Swiss system be ap-
piled in whole or in part in this coun-
try and. if the latter. what modifica-
tions would be- necessary?
On the third of August last, Switzer-
land. the oldest Of Republics. showed
the world that within Il hours she
could mobilize her army of 800 900 men
aud have il distributed on the %tratcgi-
cally important points along the French
German Austrian Italian border.
IIcmmcd III among four great powers
If which three are today at war. il j.
a geographic historic necessity for the
1000, 600 inhabitants Of the Alpine re
public to bc the people IN arms. \
glance into the history Of IIclvetia ira
ces the building up of her splendid mil
itary organization from the beginning
more than six centuries 20, up 10 the
present when all the world is marvel
ling at her ability 10 mobilize and han
die her army so a. To protect her neu-
traiity from cm"roachmcnt by the giant
forces of the bclligcrcnt nations.
From the moment on August |. 1a9l.
when the three small cantonS Of Cri,
Schwyz and Unterwallcn entered into a
federation against iIapsburg, until
1867 when the Canton of \euchatcl re-
ccivcd its independence from Prussia,
the valleys of Switzerland have echoed
with the cank Of arms and the martha
songs of soldiers.
The mighty House of IIapShurg did
NJ. relish the secession Of the three can
tons in 1901 and when Luccrnc. Zurich.
GlaruS Iug aud Bcrnc joined the FEEDER
alton. the %Splcndidly equipped Austri
an army was sent against the Swiss
peasants. But al S-mpach in l3S6 and
Naefels in l3SS those same peasants
proved their worth the efficiency If
their military training 10y scoring de
c%isive Victories over the Austrian.
More friends. more enemies describes
the condition Of the cantonS in the llth
and 18th centuries. Jealous Of the
growing nation. the German Empire De
DESTROY the swiss. But the Germans
were beaten back aud suffered the loss
Of the territories of SchafTnauScn an1
Basel To the Federation.
Charles of Burgundy. the most power
ful European ruler az his time. was the
next to try conclusions with these har-
dy Alpine folk. Rui Ia the glorious bat
ties of Murtcn. Grandson and Name
the Swiss smashed y kingdom and itS
head tCharlcS f,il ~ Naucyl. Of whose
might Louis NJ of France and EmPcr
or Frederick I'll ~ Germany had trcm-
hlch. The WAR with burgundy ncttcd
substantial additions to the Fedora
tion in Sol,thurn and FIcihurg. Thus
did the H. cautnu> begun e. make them
selves felt Nv the pu'itir> 1T Europe
early in the 10th century.
In his cndcavor ~ lihrratc Italy from
the harhariau> ~ he called the Preach
tnotr the irony Of timrl. Pope Julius
IL through the Swiss Cardinal. Math
Skinner. SECURED help of the Swiss T.
public. which hy that time had 4 ZIG
army Of well trained aud war loving sol
dicr>. \ Swiss force ~ ~ nn conquered
the nuchy of Mi'ann and defeated Lon
is MIS- arm, a. Navarro III l5lf he
hlnodic>t battle IL the century. The
French losses being soon killed. II was
not until two wears later that fr1nci>
| IF France compelled the Swiss o. rtac
uatc Milano ana then only When h.
hurled a great force of 90. non against
a00o0 Swiss.
Thus. almost continual warfare made
the Swiss "A nation of warriors. There
were ~ Drawer. better trained. u herd
Ter soldiers than they. Ten. IF thou
sands If them enlisted for srt,tr with
European rulers and in numerous bat
ties Swiss fought Swiss foc he gold
Of the kings and Empcrors.
1T Swiss 20 fight the Turks. 'ilI.cnS 81
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