A CITIZEN ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2622, 2 October 1909, Page 7

A CITIZEN ARMY.

SWISS SYSTEM OF DEFENCE. (Bv Rev. Frederick Stubbs, in “The dominion.”) "GENEVA, July 20. I was sitting one afternoon in a cafe in Lucerne. Near me, at a little table with his back towards me, was a young private of the Swiss army. Presently the waiter arrived, and, not knowing the German language, I had some difficulty in making him understand my requirements. Whereupon the yoang soldier turned round, and to my surprise said, with cultivated English accent: “Perhaps I can assist you, sir." This led to a conversation in which he told me that he had been born in England and until three years ago had resided there, attending one of the public schools. His father, however, who was a Swiss (the mother being English) had at length returned to his own country, and naturally -wished his son to follow him. He (the son) was now undergoing his term of service in the Army. On my expressing interest in the Swiss military system, he took me to the barracks and we spent the rest of the afternoon together. What i learned from him and subsequently from other sources, appears below. There is no military system in the world more worthy, of the study of the Australasian colonies than that of Switzerland. Switzerland is a small country, smaller than any of the Australian States with a population of less than three and a-half millions, yet it could put into the field a well-equip-ped and capable fighting force of 208 - 856 men. with an ultimate war strength of 400,000. And its ability to do this is trained at a smaller cost of the nation’s time and money, and involves less inconvenience and vexation, than in the oaso of any other State. Nay, more than this. In France and Germanv there is a universal compulsory service, but this is submitted to only a s a dire necessity. In Switzerland the contrary is the case. Owing to their possession of the referendum, the people have "the power, if they wish, to do away with obligatory service, but instead of this they submit themselves to it cheerfully and take the greatest pride and interest m thenmilitary duties. How is it that such resets have been achieved? Surely a system of defence that is at once so effective and so acceptable to those who have to hear its burdens must be well worth consideration. the boy.

The Swiss begin, as is proper, with the boy. By the time he is five years old he is carrying a knapsack on lus back-filled with books only it is true, but still he is training for the haversack When he is nine, drill with miniature rifles and gymnastic exercises will be prescribed, and these will develop his body and prepare it for the severer drill to come. He will also most certainly become a member or ,a cadet corps or boys’ brigade, though this is not compulsory. From seventeen to twenty, preparatory military training and simple drill and musketry, with two annual courses of 60 hours each. THE MAN.

When he roaches his twentieth year every citizen (with a few specified exemptions), whatever his rank, must, unless physically or mentally unfit, render military service. Every year, about 30,000 young men'thus present them.elves for educational and medical exanination, being examined in coxnposd/fiton, history, geography, mathematics, and one political question. Examination marks are given to each man, and the marks classified and published, so that a spirit of emulation is aroused. A young man likes to pass well and to do honor to his district. Of the above numbei, however, only fifty or sixty per cent, are usually accepted, twenty-five per cent, of those rejected being ordered to present themselves again, and the remainder being finally rejected. But rejection is by no means welcomed; it is considered a misfortune. The most desirable girls will not look at a fellow who is unable to bear arms. He also has to pay an exemption tax ranging from 5s to as much as £l2O a year, according to his means. Having passed the preliminary examination, the recruit proceeds at once to a military school. Here he is drilled from two to three months, at the end of which period ho is considered a soldier, and begins his military service. To suit his convenience he may apply to be sent to a particular school, so that ordinary life is interfered with as little as possible. In Germany a young man may he taken away from his home and work for three years; in Switzerland it is only for three months or less, the first year, and two or three weeks each succeeding year. During the first twelve years of sendee the citizen soldier belongs to Hie Elite, or First Army, and is called out for a short period of drill and instruction every year. When ho reaches the age of 32 he passes into the First Reserve, attending an annual exhibition of his weapons, and a few days of drill every fourth year until he is 40. when he passes into the Second Reserve, in which he remains for another eight years, after which his period of service ceases. There is little barrack life, and when he is not / on service clothing and kit are kept in the .soldier’s own house, so that he is always equipped for an emergency. On the call to arms he emerges ready for win, and has only to proceed, to the mustering place and receive his ammunition and rations.

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. Every officer rises from the. ranks by merit, training, and examination alone, remaining primarily a, citizen, vmo earns his living in trade or business ana devotes his leisure to military studies. He lias to give longer service than the private, and special schools for orncers are provided in each district, the position is much coveted, and men .wo v hard to get it. The noncommissioned officers are selected at the end of then recruit course, and are at once trainee for a further thirty days. In eve y rank extra special training is necessary. To carry out the training of the recruits and younger officers there oxis a corps of permanent officer-instru with non-commissioned assistants. I ® officers number only some zUU. , staff officers are selected from am g ordinary officers, and are' then sent special courses of instruction.. They liable to be called up for employment whenever the State requires any s ■ work to bo done. English mihtarv c tics say that the staff work is excellen .

The cavalry are maintained on ' l ‘- admirable yeomanry system. army corps iia.a a cavalry brigade oi.n squadrons, with corps and divisu < squadrons as well. 1 , The regimen, drawn mainly from the farming . c are well-mounted and fully, equipp 1 even such details as trotting,,, s _ 1 kitchens and pack-maxims having c ful attention. Men train for 80 clays on joining, and afterwards for 10 • : vLr for twelve years. The system of horsing, I am told, is particularly good.

The Government buys young houses in England, Ireland, and Hungary, and acclimatises and trains them for twelve months at Federal depots. Every youth who wishes to serve in the cavalry must show that he is able to support a horse. Forage is issued only during training. After he has ridden one of these young horses during liis training, he is to purchase it at halfcost price, but as some of the horses are more popular than others these are auctioned amongst the men,, and bring rather more than half-price. The horse is then taken possession of by the young soldier; he uses and feeds it, but for the next ten years the Government repay him one-tenth of the official halfprice, for each .year that it is fit for service, the horse, at the end of that period becoming the absolute property of the trooper. He thus gets a useful animal, which may be used for all kinds of light work, for little more than its keep, and the Government obtains a mount at a cost of £4 10s per annum. PAY.

The pay of the citizen soldier is small private receiving only 4Jd. a day, whilst at the military school, and 7id. a day afterwards, whilst on service. It is regarded simply as pocket-money with which to purchase little luxuries, but even out of this small sum most of the men save money. The pay of a lieutenant during service is from 4s. to £s. 6d. a day, and that of other officers in proportion. During service, soldiers have the benefit of free postage in sending and receiving letters. They, are also furnished, with various necessaries at a cheap rate. The young Englishman told me that he had never in his life been able to obtain such comfortable boots as those supplied to the army. The only point in which a young fellow may possibly suffer is in finding on his return, his situation filled by another, but, in the vast majority of cases, public opinion is so strong that an employer does not venture to dismiss a man on account of his being called out to service, and in many cases, employers pay their men full wages for a portion of the time. In the case of poor married men who are unable to provide for their families, or, in the case, say, of the only son of a poor widow, the law provides that the district shall give assistance whilst the bread-winner is away. RIFLE CLUBS.

In addition to the compulsory service described above, there are 3856 rifle clubs in Switzerland, with 227,741 members. These are voluntary associations and show how general is the interest that the citizen takes in the defence of his country. They are intended to assist in developing accurate shooting, and are encouraged by the Government in every possible way—by inspection, loan of arms, monetary grants, and by the insurance of instructors and pupils against accidents. Rifle shooting in Switzerland takes the place accorded to field sports amongst British communities, and it is significant that the prizes awarded in competitions generally consist of ammunition. Whilst the young Britisher plays, or more probable watches, football, the Swiss youth trains himself to bear and use arms, and finds interest and excitement in front of the target. Always under obligation to go through the annual musketry course, he generally does this as a member of a rifle club, and, in his enthusiastic desire to become a good marksman, fires away all the ammunition he can lay his hands on, the Government encouraging him by providing cartridges at cost price, one half-penny each. The shooting is done mainly on Sundays, usually in the afternoon, and, at this time, in the outskirts of any town or village in Switzerland, one can hear the ping-ping of the rifle continually. Every 3 years there is a gigantic competition, organised by the Swiss Shooting Association, in which over 20,000 riflemen take part. In this respect the Swis custom differs greatly from the British. In Great Britain and the colonies the main interest centres in the selection and training of a team, and the match is one in which a few picked men do the shooting, whilst the rest are mere spectators. In Switzerland matches are arranged as to induce the greatest amount of shooting by the greatest number of individuals. Thousands of good marksmen, rather than a few crack shots, is the object aimed at. On a single day more than 60,000 cartridges will be fired. No fancy sporting rifles, with innumerable fancy devices, are allowed. The best individual scores are' rewarded by a laurel wreath! Pothunting is practically non existent, and no drinking is allowed.. Besides the rifle associations, there are 140 volutary hospital sections, with 5500 members and the Red Cross Association with 15,000 members. Those who, from conscientious reasons object to carry a gun may serve in the ambulance.

RESULTS. What are the results obtained by the system outlined above ? 1. It gives to this little country -a defensive force of nearly half a million men, 258,856 of whom are regarded as efficient, and can be mobilised in two or three days, and this at <a cost not greatly exceeding a million pounds a year. It entails, too, but little interference with the industrial and the home life of the people. 2. It conduces to the physical welfare of the nation. The physical training and yearly exercises in the open air develop the muscular system and tenu to health. They make the men hardy; inure them to fatigue. At . the same time the periods of drill break the monotony of daily life: afford change of scene and occupation; and yield a good deal of social enjoyment.

3. There are important social and moral benefits. All classes of the community are brought together in friendly comradeship and co-operation; social distinctions are softened; the discipline enforced conduces to self control, obedience and respect for authority. You never see any- rowdyism in Switzerland; larrikinism is unknown, the law respected and obeyed. Hardly any police are required. At Lucerne, with a population of 40,000 and 200,000 visitors there are 25 policemen. Very seldom does one see any drunkenness; the absence of intoxicating liquors at the camp and miring the severe training teaches the men that they are better without alcohol when hard work is to be done. A strong sense off duty and patriotism is incaleated; military service is given, not grudgingly, but cheerfully, as a service one owes to one’s country. At the same time there is no jingoism—the music-hall patriotism which, effervesces in songs and drunkenness and shouts of delight when other men go to war. In Switzerland every man knows that war would mean service and sacrifice, possibly wounds and death, for himself; lie therefore views war soberly. Every voter iis also a soldier. The Swiss, will never go unnecessarily to war. 4. There are also educational advantages. The young man has to prepare for an educational test; during service, too, lie picks up a good deal of useful knowledge and dexterity. The weak part of the system, in my judgment, is that the periods of drill are too severe. The knapsacks, when loaded, are frightfully heavy, weighing with the rifle nearly 701bs. The marches too, are long and difficult, fit only for the strongest men. To inure hardship and fatigue is all very well, but it may be. and is, overdone. The men submit with little grumbling, but I know from their own lips that they regard it as excessive. It would be better to slightly extend the period of training and moderate its severity. It takes too much out of thp men. In other respects the system is excellent. Would the Swiss system of national defence meet the needs of the Australasian States? I believe it would, better than any other system yet devised. It is designed purely for defence; is effective; costs little; has, as I have shown, many important collateral advantages in regard to health, morals, and behavior; and exerts a minimum of interference with the life and industry of the people. Personally, from conviction and training, I hate strife, but I am persuaded that one of the best ways of avoiding war is to be prepared for war, and with this conviction I earnestly commend what I have written to the serious consideration of the Australasian people.