

*'*v 



Photo by Arthur A. Porchet 

 SWISS SOLDIERS OX SKEES OX THEIR WAY TO THE? HOSPICE, WHICH CAN BE SEEX IN 



THE DISTANCE 



one, and the average young man in Swit- 

 zerland looks upon his time spent in 

 training camps as a pleasurable vacation, 

 profitable to the safety of his country. 



Service in the "Auszug," or "Elite," 

 continues until the citizen reaches the age 

 of 32. Thereafter he passes into what is 

 known as the "Landwehr," or First Re- 

 serve, where he remains until he has com- 

 pleted his 44th year. He must give in 

 that time nine days of service during 

 each four years that he belongs to the 

 "Landwehr." After he has passed 44 

 he goes into the "Landsturm," or Second 

 Reserve, where he stays until he is 50, 

 and even beyond that if national necessity 

 calls him. 



At the various stages in his career 

 proper exemptions become the lot of the 

 soldier. Those in the employ of the 

 State, railway and steamboat men, hos- 

 pital officials, and others reach their ex- 

 emption early ; preachers, doctors, prison 

 officials, postal and telegraphic officials 



are exempt ; but the man who has to go 

 into the field has the consolation that the 

 man who may stay at home also has his 

 burden to bear, for, in addition to all 

 other taxes, he must pay a special mili- 

 tary poll tax of $1.20, a military property 

 tax of 15 cents per $100 (with property 

 under $200 exempted), and a military 

 income tax of 1^ per cent. The total 

 tax thus paid by any one person cannot 

 exceed $600. The assessments are rigor- 

 ously made and every penny exacted. 



XO CRACK REGIMENTS 



Rich and poor serve side by side in 

 the Swiss army, and there is none of the 

 "crack" regiment idea to be found. 

 Neither is there any picking and choosing 

 in the service ; each man is placed where 

 he can serve best. There is only one 

 general, and he is picked from a nation 

 of soldiers ; nor is his remuneration 

 lordly, for his salary is only $10 a day. 



The caste system has not been permitted 



505 



