$B 3aa ma 8061 '12 -NVP IVd *A *N: 'asnoBJi:^ SJ35[BJV[ •SOjg pJOj^Bf) The Sw^iss Army System by CAPTAIN REMY FAESCH 22NO INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE SWISS ARMY G. E. STECHERT & CO. 151-155 West 25TH St., NEW YORK. 1916. Copyright,. 1916 by G. E. Stechert & Co., New York City .^^ ^^■ A)>^«°' PRICE 25 CENTS Since the great movement for preparedness has set in in this country and since the question has arisen as to which of the European miUtary systems, if any at all, the United States should adept, considerable attention has been given to the compulsory system of the Swiss Federal Army. Swiss History. Some facts of Swiss history may explain how the military spirit has developed and has always been kept up in that little Republic, and that the actual state of preparedness is partly the result of that military spirit of the Swiss population. The foundation of Switzerland dates from the ist of August 1 29 1, when those farmers and huntsmen round the Lake of Lucerne assembled on the ''Riitli" and after deliberation took a solemn oath to defend one another and to destroy those tyrants which Austria had sent to subdue the country. ALREADY IN THOSE DAYS GENERAL CON- SCRIPTION FORMED A BASIS AND WAS A PRINCIPLE OF THE SWISS MILITARY SYS- TEM. It was a matter of course to the Swiss people that every able bodied man or boy should defend his country. For the next few hundred years we find the Swiss continuously fighting for independence against almost every power m Europe. The Swiss Regiments became quite famous and when there was nothing to fight for at home, they sold their sword abroad. We find Swiss Regiments fighting with the armies of Philipp II, Fran- cis I, and Charles V. During the terrible struggle of the French Revolution in 1792 the famous ''Red Swiss," a Regiment of body guards of Louis XVI, were entirely annihilated in the garden of the Tuilleries by the blood- thirsty mob of Paris. Today, in the great European tragedy the Swiss army 343706 CADKT CORPS INFANTRY IN TRENCHES 2 plays an important part in effectually securing the left wing of the German and the right wing of the French Army. The outflanking of their opponents by means of a short cut across Swiss territory must have appeared a tempting prospect to one or the other of the great military powers. That is why the Swiss men are still under arms. On the slopes of the Jura hills, as well as in the concreted trenches facing Alsace-Lorraine and France and on the lofty passes of the Alps looking down on the Italian plains, the Swiss soldier is watching and waiting and will continue to do so until peace dawns. G-eneral Information. Switzerland is a Confederation of 22 Cantons (States) 69 per cent, of the inhabitants speaking German, 22 per cent, speaking French, 7 per cent, speaking Italian and 2 per cent, speaking Rhaeto-Romanish. The Swiss Republic is governed by a Federal Council of seven members, elected for 3 years by the Federal Assembly., They are almost always re-elected, a fact which tends to make the Swiss Government a stable and permanent one. One of the 7 members is designated by the Federal Assembly to exercise the functions of a President of the Szviss Confederation. The Federal Assembly consists of two houses : (i) the National Council, (National-Rat) which is made up of one representative for every 20poo inhabi- tants ; and (2) the State Council, (Stacnde-Rat), made up of two representatives for every State : A total of about 250 representatives. The Swiss people have the right of referendum, — any legislative act passed by the Assembly may be subjected to recall by popular vote on the demand of 30,000 citi- zens. The total National Expenditure for 191 3, the ''bud- get,'^ amounted to $20,000,000 of which $9,000,000 was for the army. The Swiss Military Organization Laws actually in force date from the year 1850 and were revised in 1874 after the experiences of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-71. They were perfected again in 1905- 1906. Military Duties of the Swiss Citizen and the Communities. Their duties are far greater than those demanded by the authorities of any other nation. They comprise the following : 1st. Every Swiss citizen living in Switzerland or abroad has to do MILITARY SERVICE, or, if not able bodied, to pay the MILITARY TAX. (In Belgium only the eldest son does military service, his brothers being exempt.) This military tax must not be confounded with the privilege of redemption from military service (in Spain a man may buy his freedom by paying 1500 Pesetas). The yearly military tax amounts to: $1.25 a head, I 1/2 per cent, of own income, I 1/2 per mille of parents' personal and real property, divided by the number of children. This tax has to be paid until the men have reached the age of forty years. 2nd. Every soldier of the Swiss Army can be forced to become a non-commissioned officer or an officer, to accept any command with which he is entrusted by the military authorities and to perform the necessary mili- tary service prescribed by the law for the attainment of such command. (The French non-commissii)ned officer or officer may serve as a private at any tii^, whenever he may choose to do so.) "% 3rd. Every soldier is obliged to practice target shoot- ing during the year when he is not- called for service. OBSERVATION POST IN THE JURA 4th. Every soldier is obliged to keep at home in per- fect condition his uniform, equipment and arms. Sth. In times of manoeuvres the Communities are bound to hold at the disposal of the troops the necessary shelters (rooms, barns, etc.) for ambulances and staff purposes as well as for quartering the troops and horses. 6th. The owners of land are bound to hold their grounds at the disposal of the troops when wanted for INFANTRY COMPANY READY FOR INSPECTION CYCLISTS SHOOTING SWISS HOWITZER CAVALRY PATROL manoeuvres. If any damage is done to their property, they are recompensed. 7th. In times of the mobilization of the Swiss Army the owners of automobiles have to cede their machines and gasoline to the military authorities if wanted ; the horses also are requisitioned. Training of the Youth. Military preparation is begun long before the boys have reached the age of 20 years. Compulsory gymna- sium drill and physical training without arms in ac- cordance with the army regulations are established in all the schools of Switzerland, which everybody has to attend from 7 to 15 years of age. ' The execution of exercises by whole classes simulta- neously, with accuracy and snap, teaches discipline and self control. Hand in hand with this training in the schools goes the work in the Cadet Corps, which is compulsory in some of the Cantons, where marching, map reading and target shooting are taught. The Cadet rifle is a minia- ture of the regular Swiss army rifle. Whereas an average of from 4 to 8 hours a week is spent in gymnasium work in schools, the practice time for the Cadets amounts to about 100 to 200 hours dur- ing the summer. The average Swiss boy is anxious to join the Cadet Corps. After the boys have left school, voluntary work is be- gun in the Military Preparation Companies, established in almost every village and town, the instruction being given by officers or non-commissioned officers, for boys between 15-20 years of age. The benefit derived from these courses as Cadets, ^or in the Military preparation sections, is of great advan- tage to them when later they enter the Recruit School. The first training — as will be shown later — which the young Swiss soldier gets, is very brief. If despite this fact the Swiss military authorities are able to make good soldiers out of the boys it must be born in mind that it is due to the very carefully worked out system of physical development and military education for the Swiss boys between 7 and 20 years of age. THE PHYSICAL ANiD MILITARY PREPARA- TION. OF THE SWISS YOUTH IS AN ESSEN- TIAL PART OF THE SWISS MILITARY SYS- TEM. Enrollment and Recruit School. On account of the short time the Szviss soldier has to serve, the Military authorities make it a principle to use as much as possible the knowledge zvhich the boys have acquired in civil life. Sons of farmers, for instance, are enrolled into the Cavalry; mechanics, carpenters and men of sittjilar pro- fession become members of the Engineering Corps or the Artillery; students of Technology become future offi- cers in the former Corps and medical students in the x\mbulance Corps. When 20 years old, the young man receives his arm's and equipment, which he always keeps at home in good condition, ready for instant mobilization. He now enters into a Recruit School, a training which varies from 60 to 90 days, according to the branch of service. Hard work is done in these Recruit Schools ; each day, except Sunday, means 8-9 hours of drill and instruction. After having accomplished their work in the Re- cruit School the boys are trained soldiers, are enlisted in the Regiments or Batteries of their home town or village and serve their country until their 48th year. If they become officers they serve until they are 52. The Three Classes. It is only natural that the young soldier who is more active and mobile should do more service than the older INFANTRY ON SKIS, SHARP STTOOTINC; ARTJLLKRY STAFF, FIXING DISTANCES 10 Jk... ^te*^"^" -^-^-^-^^ '''^^'-i ^- *^'^' --U *^ "^^fe^^^^fes?^; '^ ' "' ^\^ ii&*^^ . . i ^1 . ^.' 1^/"^^ #^^^^p ARTILLERY STAFF, DIRECTING GUN FIRE SWISS ARTILLERY ARMORY 11 one. The Swiss military forces are therefore divided into 3 classes automatically passing from one class into the other according to their age. I.) The 1ST Class (Aiiszug) is made up of men who serve 2 zveelcs every year from their 20th to their 32nd year. These men form our ''Elite." They are young and energetic, their bodies -are strong and their muscles flex- ible. They are able to march with a heavy haversack on their back (the Swiss haversack is the heaviest of all army haversacks; about 72 lbs), and to climb hills without losing breath. Camping out and sleeping on a bunch of straw does not hurt them. Long horse-back riding on a restive horse is the young Cavalryman's delight. 2.) The 2ND Class (Landwehr) is made up of men from 33 to 40 years. They are called in for 2 weeks every ^rd year. They are less mobile than the men in the ist Class but steadier, more mature and very keen in fulfilling their duties. They are not very good marchers to begin with, being accustomed in most cases to trolley cars and auto- mobiles as means of locomotion, but after a brief training they become almost as good in this respect as the men of the 1st Class. 3.) The 3RD Class (Landsturm) is made up of men of from 41 to 48 years. They are not called into service during ordinary times. They are no longer able to run over the fields and march long distances in deep columns, but they have lived with their rifles for twenty years, their eyes are still sharp and they know every footpath and every rock in the country. These Landsturm Sections are the very men wanted to protect the Swiss Railroad Stations, tun- nels and bridges, the Alpine roads and great passes, baggage columns, electric central power stations and gun powder factories. They form the TERRITORIAL 12 ARMY, whereas the first and second classes form the FIELD ARMY. There is still another class, the non-armed Landstrum This class comprises all those physically unfit as well as those volunteers who have not reached the necessary age or who are older than the law prescribes. According to their profession or abilities they have to help wherever they are needed (as bakers, butchers, typists in staff of- fices, in ammunition factories, etc.) How Does Switzerland Procure Her Officers and Non- Commissioned Officers? Corporals. Men who excel in their military duties during their recruit school days are directed the follow- ing year to attend a school of non-commissioned officers. They are put through a grilling course of instruction of 30 days, calculated not only to teach, but to try out the metal of the man. After having successfully passed this test they become Corporals. Every Corporal is again obliged to go through a recruit school immediately fol- lowing these 30 days, where he is made chief of his squad. He may become a Sergeant and later on a Sergeant Major after from 2-4 periods of manoeuvres with his unit and after having received the training of one or two more recruit schools in the capacity of Sergeant or Sergeant Major. Lieutenant. The Corporals are very closely watched and those who by their general education and character as " well as by their military ability seem worthy to become officers, are called into an Aspirant School of 80 days for infantry, 105 days for cavalry and artillery. During these three months the future officer has to acquire all the knowledge, theoretical and practi- cal, necessary for taking a position as a superior. The future officer is taught to bear in mind that his inferiors will always be critically observing him ; his per- is MACHINE GUN, READY FOR ACTION Pi f^m ^. mmmm -'^LM, .^^^^^ :^^ ""'\'^„ju^' 4..^- wfl- .. .- ^.■'r--...,. , wmm I -«., t L^ ../ Ik ."^ ,. ^ J i n m '1. jtWK^ma^^EM .fllHt-..^ ^ ^^m \JU ;,m " FNGINEER TROOPS BUILDING BRIDGE 14 CAPTIVE BALLOON 15 ception of duty has therefore to be sharpened. To be- come an officer in the Swiss Army is not only a matter of knowledge but still more one of character. After successfully passing the requirements of the As- pirant School, the candidate is appointed a Lieutenant in the Swiss Army. While in this grade he is obliged the following year to attend a recruit school where he is responsible for his platoon. A Lieutenant has to serve at least 4 years before he is made First Lieutenant. Captains. First Lieutenants are promoted to the rank of Captain for merit only and not in consideration of their age. They must have served as First Lieuten- ants for 4 years and shown capacity in instructing re- cruits in another recruit school. Officers of higher rank have to serve frequently and those who become officers of the Gencrai Staff in particular must always be ready ' to take part in man- oeuvres, in schools of the special arms or to work in the offices of the General Staff at Bern for several weeks. There are only about 250 professional officers in the Swiss Army. They assist in the recruit schools as in- instructors and serve especially as professors in the so called Central Schools for higher officers. Some of them command Brigades, Divisions or Army Corps. General. Switzerland has no Generals in times of peace. As soon, however, as the Swiss Army m.obilizes, the Federal Assembly designates a General from among the commanders of Divisions and Army Corps. He disposes of all our military forces as well as of the economical and financial resources of the country. According to Swiss law, in times of war one man is honored and burdened with the entire responsibility. Of course, it must be the right man ! No political influence whatsoever is possible in the Swiss Army neither for becoming an officer nor for ar- riving at a higher grade. 16 >plus 2oc=fr. I. — for food. Pay. All members of the Swiss Army, officers and men are paid a salary while serving. The following are the rates of pay per day, food and board not being included in the rates for officers : General $io. — Commander of Divi- sion 6. — Commander of Bri- gade . S- — Major 2.40 Captain 2. — Lieutenant 1.40 Corporal —.30 \ p . _ X- ? m addition to quarters o^ .._ ( and meals. =80 centimes / The mounted officers receive in addition $0.75 to $1.25 a day, equivalent to the cost of hiring their mounts. Horses. In times of war the horses to be used for the Aiallery and Train are requisitioned. In times of peace they are hired for the period of the manoeuvres only. As to the Cavalry horses, the Swiss system is unique. The Military authorities provide the necessary mounts for which the young cavalry recruit pays the Govern- ment. Every year, however, i/io of this price is refund- ed so that after the expiration of 10 years the mount be- comes the man's own property. The result of this regulation is excellent. The men, after having completed their Recruit School training take their mounts home and use them for agricultural or oth- er purposes all the year ro:md. They treat and feed and stable their horses well and appear at the yearly period of two weeks' manoeuvres with a mount in perfect con- dition. 17 AMBULANCE CORPS MULES ON A GLACIER 18 TRANSPORTING HEAVY ARTILLERY ^^^^^HPI^e^^Tr^ ■^fcj^ OPTIC SIGNALLING 19 The chief of the squadron exercises a certain control over the mounts during the year. Every horse is in- sured. Military Duties of the Swiss Citizen When Not Serving and During Winter Time. Every man has to fire about sixty shots a year with a fixed minimum of points. If he misses the term he is called in for three days v^ithout pay. The non-commissioned officers attend lectures and make excursions combined with target shooting at dis- tances not known to them beforehand. The officers attend lectures. War games without troops, directed by an officer of the general staff, take place. Horse riding on horses provided by the military authorities is practiced, and night patrols for Lieuten- ants are arranged. Confederation and Cantons (States). The Szviss Army is a National Force. One member of the Swiss Federal Council is the Chief of the Swiss Military Department. He directs military matters, aided by the Chief of the General Staff, the ' Chiefs of the Infantry, Artillery, Cavalry, Engineers and other high officers and functionaries. The Cantons have to provide for the equipment (not the arms) of their contingents. The armories belonging to the Cantons are used for the storrge of reserve ma- terial. Armories owned by the Confederation are gen- erally used for the artillery and special arms. The Cantons have the right to appoint the officers of their Infantry units up to the rank of Major after the Military Departm^ent or the respective Commanders have given their consent, whereas in regard to Cavalry, Ar- tillery and Special arms, they have no power of control. 20 In case of strike the Cantons haye t^^ r^gM; £o 'mobi- lize the Infantry units located in their district.' ' ' ' ' The ''Military Director" (similar to the Adjutant General in the United States) is the member of the Can- tonal authorities who carries out the orders received from the Military Department. The Cantonal authorities collect the military tax for account of the Confederation. Size of the Swiss Army. In proportion to the size of her territory (about 16,000 square miles) and to the number of her inhabitants (about 4,86o,ooc^ Switzerland can actually put on foot the biggest army in the world (about 500,000 men.) This army can be mobilized in about 24 hours Discipline. The discipline in the Swiss Army is very strict. The Swiss Military authorities are of the firm opinion that the discipline maintained in our Republic should be equal to that maintained in the armies of the big military powers of Europe. There is but one kind of discipline, the. best. It has to be taught. Those who are not used to it in times of peace will not learn it in times of danger. The inhabitants of the two Dutch Republics of South Africa were among the best marksmen, the best riders, the best scouts; they lacked only one thing — discipline. Conclusion. General Conscription in Szmtzerland is unanimously considered to he a blessing for the population. Boys who never saw anything but their mountain vil- lage, who have never been away from mother, who are shy and not polite, sons of workmen living in the less healthy parts of the big towns, often underfed, nervous 21 and pal,e ,and iii:i,t,us€cl to i.:old water and soap, change very rapidly after d. few weeks of recruit school training. The young soldiers are taught the habit of speaking clearly, of being tidy and polite. In business they be- come very much improved. Military service does, of course, to a certain extent, interfere with business and the universities, especially when whole divisions are called in and 20 to 30 per cent, of the clerks of big business establishments or of the students are in the field. Qerks are usually paid during their military service and use their vacation for the purpose But the sacrifice of workmen who are not paid while sei-ving, or of doctors and lawyers for instance, who suffer financial loss through being' absent from their offices, is naturally considerable. The Swiss, however, knows that it cannot be helped. He considers this sort of sacrifice to be his duty for the sake of his country. Every Szviss is proud to serve and to wear his uni- form. General conscription and service for a short time adds enormously to the feeling of Na- tional Unity. It is the best education for citi- zenship, in fact it is the most thorough train- ing for life. •iZ PATROL IN THE MOUNTAINS Mm , •^'';v '■' J*W *,.,. ■ - > DANGEROUS CLIMBING 23 POST IN THE ALPS 24 RETURN CIRCUUVi^'^brory r^r-^^ R IQ; U I T 202 ^Aai PERIOD FORMNO.DD6A.20m, ^^r^^^'^'^'l' .r^LiruKNIA, BERKELEY FORM NOU-^>., ^urn, 1/83' BERKELEY, CA 94720 (g)$ U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES ,„ III '3rc M ^^01^ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW AN INITIAL FINE OF 25 CENTS WILL BE ASSESSED FOR FAILURE TO RETURN THIS BOOK ON THE DATE DUE. THE PENALTY WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY OVERDUE. MOV 1 1937 >^^