The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-18

Guardian Alps Ease IrvosionJltters for Swiss
Who Know No Nations Neutrality Is Guaranteed

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III
(NEA Service Stan CorrespCndent)
OF Europe's four nervous fleutrals
Switzerland Is the least jittery, least
vulnerable and best prepared.
Politically as well as geographic
ally, Switzerland Is sitting on top
Of the world. Nature, which gave
her the Alps for q mighty fortress,
also omitted to give her rich fields
and raw materials and seacoast TO
tempt predatory feighbor.
That Is probably why Switzerland
hasn't had o serious fight on her
hands IN more than 400 years. on
and on, from the Treaty Of West
phalia In 1884 to the outbreak Of
hostilities in 1889, the great Euro
pean powers have specifically reeog-
rlized Switzerland'S neutrality.
TOUGH COUNTRY,
TOUGH PEOPLE
Every European leader knows
that this little landlocked country
has not only the toughest terrain
but also perhaps the toughest cit-
izenry on the continent. Next
August, the Swiss will celebrate. the
65lst anniversary Of their free
democratic confederacy. They have
a fierce love for this freedom and
this democracy.
They have always kept peace
among themselves, though there are
four official languages and two offl-
cial religions In q country Of only
10000 square miles. II their do
nestle tranquility Is threatened,
they are prepared to defend 1t the
hard way. Every Swiss knows that
while his country's neutrality is
recognized In this war, 1t isn't guar
anteed.
Switzerland's manhood Is one
great company Of militia. On August
%, 1941, the Federal Assembly, seeing
the inevitable course Of events, is
sued the general mobilization order.
Two days later the Assembly elected
Col. Henri Guisan general Of the
army (there is no peacetime gen.
crab. And on September 2, the day
after England declared war, 100000
trained, fully-equipped Swiss SOL
diers were at their prearranged
posts of duty. Since Switzerland's
population Is only 100000, q pro-
portionate army In the United
States would total more than 49,
100000 men.
SWISS ARMY
STARTS EN- YOUNG
This organizational feat was pos
sible largely because soldering
rivals yodeling as the Swiss national
pastime. william Tell wasn't the
country's only crack shot. Switzer-
land had its first shooting festival
in l948. A hundred years later they
traded cross-bows for firearms, and
they've been holding these festivals
regularly ever since.
A Swiss boy preps for the army
the way American youngsters play
sandlot or high school football
with ambitious eyes on the college
varsity. He begins gymnastics In the
third grade Of school, and rife drill
starts in his early teens. At 20 he
is called UP for army training, and
there are few thingfis more heart
breaking to him than q rejection.
Training and inspection 90 on
yearly until he is 4S. Every Swiss
soldier Is allowed to take his gun,
his uniform and 200 rounds OF am
munition home with him at the end
Of maneuvers. The right of free
man Is treasured and respected, and
there is no trouble.
The Swiss standing army has
been cut in half since the fall OF
France, but the country remains
alert. The small air force Is grow
ing. Ski troops keep fit and active.
Anti-aircraft and anti-tang guns
are manned. Switzerland doesn't
contemplate strategic" retreat to
I the Alps II ittack comes. The rela-
lively level northern boundaries are
both mined and manned.
But If the Swiss are belligerent
at any threat of their liberty, they
view the conflict outside their
borders without passion or partisan
birthplace OF the International Red
ship. Switzerland Is not only the
Cross. 1t has served and stands
ready to serve again as a haven for
the wounded OF all armies. It Is a
clearing house for exchange Of
prisoners. The warning world not
only respects Switzerland, but needs
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