1 Yo) hal aoa wy
Cornell Mniversity Library
BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME
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1891
MASIY GIP
iii
We
ee
THE ARMED STRENGTH
OF
SWITZERLAND.
PREPARED IN THE INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
OF THE WAR OFFICE,
BY
COLONEL C. W. BOWDLER BELL,
Deputy Assistant Adjutant- General.
(WITH A MAP).
S\" pe
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN’S LANE,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY,
And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Hazpina Sreret, Fuzut Struzt, E.0.3 02
ADAM anp CHARLES BLACK, 6; Norra Baipex, EDINBURGH; or
HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., 104, Grarron Strzzt, DUBLIN.
1889
Price Sevén Shillings and Sixpence.
THE ARMED STRENGTH
OF
SWITZERLAND.
PREPARED IN THE INTELLIGENCE DIVISION
OF THE WAR OFFICE,
BY
COLONEL C. W. BOWDLER BELL,
Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General.
(WITH A MAP).
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN’S LANE,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY,
And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Harvine Srrzet, Fret Street, E.0.; 02
ADAM anp CHARLES BLACK, 6, Norra Buipaz, EDINBURGH; or
HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., 104, Gzarron Strzet, DuBLIN.
1889.
Price Seven Shillings and Sixpence.
(Wt. 8462 300 8|89-H&S 2745)
LIST OF AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
OFFICIAL.
‘“‘Bundesverfassung der schweizerischen Eidgenossenschatt,”
29th May, 1874. (“Constitution fédérale de la con-
fédération suisse.”)
“ Militérorganisation der schweizerischen Hidgenossenschaft,”
13th November, 1874.
“ Schweizerisches Militiér-Verordnungsblatt,” 1874 to 3rd July,
1889. (The French edition is termed the * Feuille
Militaire Fédérale,” and is designated in this work
by the abbreviation F. M. F.).
“ Bundesblatt,” 1860 to 1889. (‘Feuille Fédérale Suisse.”)
Official Regulations, notably—
« Verwaltungs-Reglement,” 1886.
“ Dienst-Reglement,” 1866, with amendments.
“ Anleitung fiir die Stabe,” 188%,
“ Bundesgesetz tiber die Strafrechtspflege,” 1851.
“ Exerzir-Reglements” for the various arms,
“Schiessinstruktion fiir die schweiz. Infanterie,”
with appendices.
“Dienstanleitung fiir die schweiz. Truppen im
Felde,” 1882.
“ Kintheilung der schweizerischen Armee,” 188%.
“Die schweizerischen Armee-Fuhrwerke,” 1882.
(Photographs of the principal military carriages.)
Annual Budgets and Reports of the Federal Military
Department.
UNOFFICIAL.
Feiss.—“ Das Wehrwesen der Schweiz,” 1880. (The French
edition, “ L’Armée suisse,” is dated 1883.)
Feiss.—“ Die schweizerische Infanterie,” 1886.
Joenike.— Le Guide de l’Officier Suisse,” 1888.
“ Handbuch fiir schweiz. Artillerie-Offizicre,” 1887, &e.
Schmidt.—* Allgemeine Waffenkunde fiir Infanterie,” 1888.
“Taschenkalendar fiir schweizerische \Wehrminner” (Annual),
1877-89.
“ Revue Militaire Suisse,” various numbers.
(2745) A 2
PREFACE.
“THe Armed Strength of Switzerland,” issued by the Intelli-
gence Branch in 1880, having become obsolete owing to the
numerous changes in the organisation and material of the Swiss
Army which have taken place since that year, the present
edition, which is an entirely new work, was written by Colonel
Bell, who spent some time in Switzerland with the object of
studying the details of the military system.
The whole of the information coilected in this work has
been gathered from published sources, or is the result of pér-
sonal observation and enquiry, and in the latter respect Colonel
Bell desires to acknowledge the cordial assistance rendered
him by many Officers of the Swiss Army. He particularly
wishes tu express his obligations to Colonel L. A. Des Gouttes,
First Secretary to the Military Department; Colonel A. Pfyffer,
Chief of the Office of the General Staff; Colonel A.
Schumacher, Chief Instructor of Artillery; Lieut.-Colonel
A. von Tscharner and Captain R. Brunner of the General Staff.
He desires also especially to acknowledge the great assistance
he has derived from Colonel Feiss’ standard book on the
organisation of the Swiss Army, from which the form of most
of the tables in the following pages has been adopted.
H. BRACKENBURY,
Lieut.-General,
D.M.I.
Intelligence Division,
War Office,
August, 1889.
CONTENTS.
Chapter. Page
I. Tue Swiss ConFEDERATION.—General Statistics.. ee an 9
II. PotiricaL CoNsTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT .. oe oe 15
III. Generat PRIncIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION ve 17
IV, TeRRITor1at Division ve e ve oe oe ey 29
V. Oxszigatory SERVICE AND EXEMPTION .. Pr i ae 36
VI. ReEocRUITING .. ne ss e oe we ve ane 39
VII. ORGANISATION oF THE TROOPS BY ARMS oe ta ee 52
VIII. InstRvcTION oF THE ARMY.. a8 7 a os -. 118
IX, APpPorIntMENT, PRoMOTION, AND RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS
AND Non-CoMMISSIONED OFFICERS. .. oe oe « 51
X. Murtitary Reeisters.—Contréles .. a oe e «=: 159
XI. Pay, ALLOWANCES, AND PENSIONS.. a e on + 162
XII. Rarions, ForaGE, AND QUARTERS,. a os oe os 172
XIII. Transport .. we te ae aa oe ve 1 =o 178
XIV. Crtoruine anp Personat EQUIPMENT .. 7 ve + «©1822
XV. Corps EQUIPMENT .. oe oe oe is we =: 198
XVI. ABMS AND AMMUNITION as i ae ae ve +. «=—.206
XVII. Mitirany EsTaBLisHMENTS.. ae ae ae “ia oe = - 228
XVIII. Starr Dorizs .. ava ti ao isa a ne +. = 228
XIX. Sanrrary SERVICE .. ie an ae aa oe +. 286
XX. Provision or Horses 7 se ee oe . ee «= 244
XXI. Mosizisation .. oe ais wa ue ee oo +. =: 251
XXII. Tereiroriat anD Rartway SeRvice anp Linz oF ComMMUNI-
CATIONS ie a ae ou oe ee ae «= 255
XXIII. Mrizirary Law se << ai a oe oe oe =: 262
XXIV. TacricaL Notes 3 oe oe ee ae oe es 268
ee ee 280
XXV. MIscELLANEOUS ee as oe ae oe
THE
ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER I.
THE Swiss CONFEDERATION.
General Statistics.
Tue Republic of Switzerland is a confederation of 22 cantons,
officially styled the Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, or Confédéra-
tion Suisse. Three of the cantons are divided into half cantons,
as will be seen from the table on page 11. Each canton
is made up of a certain number of communes. The commune
is the basis of the republican institutions of Switzerland, and is
in itself a miniature republic.
Placed in the centre of Europe, between France, Germany,
Austria, and Italy, the military importance of Switzerland is
very great and out of all proportion to the extent of its terri-
tory, the number of its inhabitants, or the strength of its army.
A power which should be master of Switzerland could debouch
on the theatres of operations of the Rhéne, Sadne, Po, or
Danube. Thus, from Geneva an army can march on Lyon;
from Basle it can gain the valley of the Sadne by the troude of
Belfort ; from Constance and Schaffhausen the valley of the
Danube could be reached and the line of the Rhine turned,
while Italy can be invaded by the Alps, and the lines of
defence of that country against France and Austria can be
turned.
In consequence of the exceptional importance thus conferred
upon Switzerland by her geographical position, the eight
signatory Powers of the Treaty of Paris of 1814 affirmed in
their declaration of the 20th March, 1815, that the general
Civil division
of the country.
Military
importance of
Switzerland. |
Area and
population.
10 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
interest demanded that she should be constituted an indepen-
dent and neutral State, sufficiently strong to ensure her
independence and to maintain her neutrality; and, by the Act
of 20th November, 1815, Austria, France, Great Britain,
Prussia, and Russia, formally acknowledged the perpetual
neutrality of Switzerland and guaranteed the integrity and
inviolability of her territory. :
Switzerland occupies au area of about 15,965 square miles
(41,3847 square kilometres), of which 4,521 square miles, or
28 per cent., are unproductive — lakes, rivers, glaciers, &e.
(Bureau des Bauwesens). ;
The total population, according to the census (1st December,
1880), was 2,846,102, of whom 2,831,787 were classed as having
their domicile in the Confederation. It was calculated in 1884
that the population had then reached 2,906,752. This would
give an average of 182 per square mile.
The census is taken every 10 years, on the 1st December,
and the next census would, in the ordinary course, be taken
in 1890, but as it was considered necessary to re-adjust
the Federal electoral districts without delay, a census was
taken in 1888, the details of which, however, are not yet
available.*
The following table gives the area and population of each
of the cantons for the last three decades :—
* Since the above was written it has been officially announced that the gross
population on the 1st December, 1888, was 2,934,057.
11
THE SWISS CONFEDERATION.
tt! 4, 4 4 £ 4 ane ae wee wee wee sae wee wae ae eee wee
201'9#8'2 | Let'e99'% | OLT‘LIS‘s ¢96‘ST see Sven Te10L
“oToNIRD
Ges‘ TOT 6e2'e6 eze'28 UBUOY ‘quBIs9}0IT oo ‘op LOT oo ae aes ee wee ae ae
ave oer ate yey ae. s, BARTS
2eL‘e0T 782‘L6 298'L8 queysojoid oe ee ale ne dimquoney | “+ Snquanen v4 jeryaonen,
yeqy
912‘00T 188'96 9c%‘06 “* aoyyeg usuroy | ‘uemtog ‘youery 9202 uaggig | eet aa 8 a a
curses | Gnuités | seats fo aamemoadt [oma | nest f= saineney fe pe fee ae. wae Fee am gee
eae 69 6IT 182 911 fo oTOTIGD URULOYL ake UBC 880'T * “" BUuOZUTLIE ee oe va ulssay, |** oes (ouyory, *[e4z) Issey,
ogg 16 008 £6 EL 06 es ‘Op OD: ve ‘op 18¢ ene prayuoneny j" ae “ nesimyy se aTAOSINGL
CFO 861 $18 861 200 $6 op op UvULaY) me ney |" oh a oe
oo ; ‘ ne 208 : 3 CFS Vv nesiey atAosy
6 Z8L'16 GLL'88 igus youary ‘ues PGLS 7 — “emyg | ae as tepunqne.y 1 De a SuOSIIy)
T6P ‘ore et0't6t #29081 uewoy “jueysojorg | a “op 6LL ee * verren “ag ove ase aa . oes ae
ewe aie ee x Te) 9S cee TBH Ure
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G ae as 3 ae ae 4 4 STL
op op @ : naant uopoyy-sassuy [[ezueddy |" sainateixq-sepoyy [lezueddy
SFE Se ToL Le TL¢"Ge had ie ‘op ne A ‘op ell oR uasneyyeyog ae see tasneygeyos |*** mt ans “* gsnoqygeyog
ZLe'F21 ies‘tot. «=| e'se §= ft gaeysagOrg ftp gut { Tame Pimms lh: oududure-o1ye
, ’ ee sii sy ul ee OE os ee a
dovert | ses‘ort | oossor “ob Geutenrasuaie'| eos uNTAOTOS “Tr munmoros “ emojog
: ; oos‘sor v ULIE) ‘youaty ¥H9 Banqyout Ss Sinqiiy smmoqug
¥66'2 £66'0Z 96‘6T oypougeD weUtoy ‘op 26 re “Bg re ang, sno
£12 F& Ost'ce sie ee ia “* quyysoqoig |" s, ‘op 99% we SNnieyy) “fe snie[y) pe Re anes
8Fe'LZ 9IT'9z pess2 |" ‘op pe EP) 6p 962 { aonne Gee UOPIGADIN ‘**8Uq-9]-TepUaLloqU
‘ t see . wee ‘ wee wee oon eee OPIBAAO FNVY-O[-TepTBM107C,
gea‘tg son'e L00'cr ‘op a ‘op ose " z&aqog mee a kastog fee ae Sei Anoe
¥69 8% LOT 91 160 FI op op SIP Hopuy |" a ne nee “Bt at . OM
908 eT BEE eT 26908T a SOG. WBULTa) 619 tte usezny |" ane a 8 woz rae e anttone
POL'ze¢ ¢9F'904 TIs‘997 weMoy ‘quaqsa101g * youany ‘umn 699'z wee “Ua vee ane see vee wee one aoe
ie | ree | le a abet Fo neat | Bee coun | ssa Cape, Bie Re: | ee
; ome, é :
' “0881 , “O18T “0981 *kqoleyy + Aqrofeyt ena : i NC WOT) ale Touely
vorendog | ‘uoyemdo,s | ‘uoyemdog | — 4 uorSTIIY jo oduaguey ese: oaye)
: “SNOLNVO,
Language.
Religion.
Education.
Occupation,
trades, &c.
12 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
“The average density of the population in 1880 was 177 to
the square mile, but it varies considerably in different parts of
the country, being least in the region of the great Alps, and
greatest in the Swiss plain. Thus the density in the Grisons
is only about 34 per square mile, and in the Valais about 49;
while in Zurich it is 477; in Neuchatel, 332; in Basle, 706;
and in Geneva, 959. :
The increase of population has been very steady in recent
years, the excess of births over deaths in 1884 being recorded as
23,270.
The average annual increase of population from 1870 to
1880 was about °66 per cent.
The population of the Confederation being composed of
four distinct ethnical elements, the languages in common use
correspond in the main to the racial origin of the inhabitants;
thus, according to the most recent official returns,—
The common language of 71-3 per cent. is German.
“ * 21°5 99 French,
35 5 57 5 Italian.
5 <3 15 ‘5 Romansch
(Ratoromanisch).
German, French, and Italian are equally held to be the
official languages of the State.
In studying Swiss official regulations it is advisable to use
the German edition, as they are invariably drawn up in that
language in the first instance, and French translations are
frequently inaccurate and misleading.
According to the census of 1880, 1,667,109 inhabitants
professed the Protestant faith, while 1,160,782 were returned as
Roman Catholics, and there were 7,373 Jews. In round numbers,
therefore, the Protestants form nearly three-fifths of the popu-
lation, the Roman Catholics two-fifths.
The system of public instruction has received great develop-
ment in Switzerland. Primary education is compulsory in all
the cantons, and provided free for all classes at the expense of the
Government. The result of this wide-spread and compulsory
diffusion of education, so necessary in a nation where the
government is completely in the hands of the majority of the
entire people, is seen in the fact that the returns of the contin-
gent for military service in 1885 showed only 0:3 per cent. as
weak-minded or illiterate.
According to the census returns for 1880, the chief occupa-
tions of the Swiss population were as follows :—
Dependent on agriculture and dairy
farming .. -. 1,188,678
3 manufactures.. te 971,052
= commerce .. ae 206,003
ie transport os a 112,440
THE SWISS CONFEDERATION. 13
Depeadent on public service és 42,879
Fe private incomes or pen-
sions ii i 56,055
f alimentation .. is, 86,837
4 personal service es 30,616
Without calling a is 24,926
Engaged in mining and professions . 176,616
2,846,102
The number of persons of Swiss nationality who emigrated
from the country during the past seven years is as follows :—
In 1879. 6s ie oi oe 4,288
1880... eb ae + es 7,255
1881... sé aE a8 ». —-: 10,935
1882... $i ce a -. 10,896
1883. de ; a os 12,758
1884. i oe a cis 8,975
1885 .. as : ee se 6,928
The great majority of Swiss emigrants settle in the United
States.
The total length of the railways open for public traffic in
1888 was 1,754 miles. They are in the hands of more than 15
Companies, and the number is constantly increasing. It is
probable that all lines will ultimately be taken over by the
Confederation, which at present merely exercises a general
control and inspection.
The Telegraph Service is very extensive, and, with the
exception of the railway telegraphs, is entirely in the hands of
the State, being administered by the Department of Posts and
Railways. The total length of telegraph and telephone lines in
1888 was 4,418 miles, the length of wire being 10,768 miles.
The financial year commences on the Ist January, the
Budget being voted at the beginning of December.
The revenue of the Confederation, which is derived chiefly
from the produce of the real property of the State, Customs,
Postal, and Telegraphic Services, powder manufactories, and tax
for exemption from military service, has for some time past
averaged about 2,000,0007. a-year. The estimated revenue for
1887 was 2,088,1601, and the expenditure 2,102,1602.; for 1888.
the estimated revenue and expenditure were 2,242,640/. and
2 274,6401. respectively ; for 1889, 2,428,000. and 2,470,3201.
With regard to purely military expenditure, the total
amount for 1889 is shown in the Budget as 8§92,6612, and
_ the receipts as 228,2551., leaving a net estimated expenditure of
664,4062. This sum, however, does not accurately represent
Emigration.
Railways.
Telegraphs.
Financial
year.
Revenue and
expenditure.
Military
expenditure.
the total military expenditure, as many small items, such as...
maintenance of public offices, buildings, roads, &c., are included
under other heads in the Budget, and similarly with regard to
Public debt.
Metric
system.
14 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
receipts. If these sums be taken into account, the estimated net
military expenditure for 1889 may be put down at 671,304/.
The corresponding total for 1888 was 622,591/., which again
exceeded that for 1887 by about 70,0002. The great increase
of estimated military expenditure in the last two years has
been chiefly owing ‘to special provision of war material and
clothing and the fortifications in connection with the Gotthard
Tunnel; but, apart from these exceptional circumstances, the
Budgets of recent years have shown a constant increase.
The average military expenditure of the cantons cannot
be exactly determined, but it was estimated in 1886 to be about
48,0002. and the total public military expenditure of the whole
country, Confederation and cantons together, during recent
years, has been calculated to be at the average rate of nearly 4s.
per head of the population.
From the national economist’s point of view, however, there
must be taken into consideration the value of the time lost
by the population while performing military service; into this
field of inquiry we need not enter, but it is interesting to
observe that, assuming the average annual number of days’
service rendered by all arms to be about 1,700,000, the Swiss
National Army of, in round numbers, 200,000 men (exclusive of
Landsturm) does the same amount of military duty as would be
rendered by a standing army of 4,657 men.
The Public Debt on 1st January, 1886, was 1,428,5392,
against which the State property is estimated at 20,000,000/.
Each canton has its own Budget of revenue and expenditure,
not included in the above, and some of the cantons have
public debts, which are covered by cantonal property. The
total of these cantonal debts does not exceed 10,000,0002. or
12,000,0002.
The French metric system of weights, measures, and money
obtains throughout the Confederation.
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. 15
CHAPTER II.
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.
THE Republic of Switzerland, which formerly consisted of a
league of semi-independent States, a Staatenbund, became a
united Confederacy, or Bundesstaat, in 1848. The present
Constitution (Bundesverfassung), however, which is based on
fundamental laws passed in that year, did not come into force
until the 29th May, 1874, having been sanctioned by a general
vote of the people taken on the 19th April, 1874.
Tn accordance with the Constitution, the supreme legislative Federal
and executive authority, under reserve of the rights of the assembly.
people and the cantons, is vested in a Parliament of two
Chambers, respectively termed the State Council (Stinderath, or
Conseil des Etats) and the National Council (Nationalrath, or
Conseil National). These two Chambers united are called the
Federal Assembly (Bundewersammlung, or Assemblée Fédérale),
which represents the supreme government of the country.
The State Council consists of 44 Members, two from each of State Council.
the cantons and one from each half canton of the Confederation.
The regulations as to the mode of selection of Members of this
Council, the duration of their term of office, and the pecuniary
compensation allowed them are entirely in the hands of each
canton.
The National Council consists of 145 Deputies (Vertreter, National
députés), elected by universal suffrage in the proportion, in each Council.
canton, of one Deputy for every 20,000 souls. The electoral
districts, at present 49, are fixed by the Federal Assembly after
every census. They cannot be made up of parts of difterent
cantons, but fractions of 20,000 over 10,000 souls in each canton
are reckoned as 20,000, so that the smallest canton has at least
one Deputy in the National Council.
The election of representatives in this Council takes place
every three years. Every citizen who has attained the age of
20, and possesses active rights of citizenship according to the
. Constitution of his own canton, is entitled to a vote, and any
voter who is not a clergyman or an official appointed by the
Federal Council (Bundesrath, hereafter described) is eligible for
election as a representative.
In June and December of each year the two Chambers Duties and
above mentioned, which choose their own President, Vice- aaa the
President, and Tellers, are summoned simultaneously for their Assembly.
sitting, so forming the Federal Assembly.
The Assembly not only occupies itself with legislative
matters, but also controls the general administration of the
Federal
Council.
Duties, &e., of
the Federal
Council.
Departmen‘s
of State.
1b THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Confederation, the administration of justice, and that of the
army. Its control over the army will be more particularly
described in the next Chapter. It is responsible for the main-
tenance of the independence and neutrality of the Republic, and
it alone has the right to declare war, to make peace, or to
conclude treaties and alliances with foreign Powers. No law or
resolution has force until it has been assented to by both
Chambers.
The Constitution provides for the proper carrying out of the
executive duties of the Government by allowing the Assembly
to depute its superior directing and executive authority to
a Federal Council (Bundesrath, or Conseil fédéral), which consists
of seven Members, who are elected for a term of three years by
the Federal Council. Any Swiss citizen who is eligible for
election as a Member of the National Council can be elected to
the Federal Council, but no canton can have more than one
citizen in the latter Council. The Members of this Council
receive a salary of 4802. per annum. aa :
The President of this Council, who is chosen by the Federal
Assembly at a united meeting of the State and National
Councils, from among the seven Members of the Federal Council,
is also the President of the Confederation. The Vice-President.
of the Council is chosen in the same manner. These, the First
Magistrates of the Republic, can hold office for one year only,
ist January to 3lst December, and cannot be re-elected within
one year of the expiration of a term of office. The President
receives a salary of 540/. per annum.
The seat of government is at Bern.
The special duties of this Council are divided among
administrative Departments, one of the Members of the Council
being charged, as Minister, with the responsible direction of each
Department. ‘These Departments are :—
1, The Foreign Department, hitherto usually presided over
Ly the President of the Confederation.
2. The Home Department.
The Department of Justice and Police.
The Military Department.
The Financial and Customs Department.
The Department of Industry and Agriculture.
The Postal and Railway Department.
SV ost
=~
The Federal Tribunal (Bundesgericht, ov Tribunal fédéral),
consisting of nine members and. nine members-in-waiting,
elected for a term of six years by the Federal Assembly, is
charged with the decision, in the last instance, of all matters of
dispute between the cantons, ox between the cantons and the
Federal Government, and acts in general as High Court of
Appeal. The Tribunal comprises a civil and a criminal court.
and in the latter capacity is divided into three sections, viz., a
POLITICAL CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. 17
chamber of accusation (Anklage Kammer), a jury department
(Kriminal Kammer), and a court of appeal (Kassationsgericht).
The seat of the Federal Tribunal is at Lausanne.
Each canton has its own particular local government. The
cantonal constitutions, which are in every case based on the
principle of the absolute sovereignty of the people, are not all
alike, and they are frequently revised. Each canton and demi-
canton is “souverain,” so far as its independence and legislative
powers are not restricted by the Federal Constitution.
The Federal Constitution itself can be revised, under certain
conditions imposed by the Constitution of 29th May, 1874, and
it should be noted that even the laws voted by the Federal
Assembly can be vetoed by the popular voice. Thus, when-
ever a petition demanding the revision or annulment of a
measure passed by the Legislature is presented by 30,000
citizens, or the alteration is demanded by eight cantons, the
law in question must be submitted to the plebiscite or direct
vote of the entire nation. This principle, which is termed the
referendum, has frequently been had recourse to. Thus in 1882
the nation rejected by a vote of 300,000 against 170,000 the
federal decree which attempted to place the schools through-
out the Confederation under the superintendence of a special
functionary.
For further particulars regarding the civil institutions of
the country, the reader is referred to the authoritative work
entitled “The Swiss Confederation,” by Sir F. O. Adams,
K.C.M.G., C.B., and C. D. Cunningham, 1889.
CHAPTER III.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION.
AN excellent account of the rise and development of the Swiss
Military System will be found in “L’Armée Suisse, son his-
toire,” &c., by Captain A. Heumann: Paris, 1888.
In this Chapter the main principles of the military organisa-
tion as it at present exists will be described.
I.— Constitutional Basis of the Military System.
The organisation of the Swiss Army is based on certain
articles of the Constitution of 29th May, 1874, and regulated
by the Federal Law of 13th November, 1874, which still repre-
sents the framework of the military organisation of Switzerland.
Federal laws have from time to time been promulgated which
(2745) B
Cantonal
Constitutions.
Exceptional
powers of the
people.
Constitutional
basis of
military
system.
18 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
modify or supplement the fundamental law of 13th November,
1874, notably that of 4th December, 1886, which introduced
the organisation of the Landsturm; but as the provisions of
these laws are worked out in detail in the following chapters,
it will be sufficient here to reproduce the Articles of the Con-
stitution above referred to, which are as follows :— ;
Art. 18. Every Swiss citizen is liable to military service.
Persons in military employment, who, through military
service, lose their lives or suffer permanent injury to their ,
health, are entitled to assistance from the State for themselves
or for their families, should they require it. ; ;
Every soldier will receive his first issue of clothing, equip-
ment, and weapon gratuitously. The weapon will remain in
the hands of the soldier, under conditions to be fixed by
federal law.
The Confederation will issue uniform regulations as to the
tax for exemption from military service.
Art. 19. The Federal Army consists of (a) the military
forces of the cantons; (b) all Swiss citizens who do not belong
to such forces, but are liable to military service.
The control and disposal of the Army, and of the material
of war provided by law, are in the hands of the Confederation.
In time of danger the Confederation has the sole and imme-
diate right of disposal of the men who are not incorporated in
the Federal Army, as also of the whole of the military resources
of the cantons.
The cantons dispose of the military forces of their territory,
in so far as this right is not limited by the Constitution or by
federal laws.
Art. 20. Laws regarding the organisation of the Army
emanate from the Confederation. The execution of military
laws in the cantons is carried out by the cantonal authorities
within the limits to be fixed by federal legislation and under
the surveillance of the Confederation.
The entire military instruction and the armament are in the
hands of the Confederation.
The cantons are responsible for the provision and main-
tenance of clothing and equipment; but the expenses incurred
thereby are reimbursed to the cantons by the Confederation in
accordance with regulations to be prescribed by the latter.
Art. 21. So far as military considerations do not prevent it,
the various corps shall be composed of men from the same
cantons.
The composition of these corps, the maintenance of their
effective strength, and the nomination and promotion of their
officers, are in the province of the cantons, regard being had to
general regulations to be issued by the Confederation. .
Art, 22. The Confedevation has the right to make use of the
places of arms and buildings for military purposes in the
cantons, with their accessories, on payment of an equitable
indemnity, or to assume proprietorship over them.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION. 19
IL—The Federal Military Authorities.
The sovereign authority, as before stated, is in the hands of
the Federal Assembly, subject to the rights of the people and
cantons. The Assembly exercises this authority immediately
and directly over the army in the following respects: it alone
can declare war or conclude peace ; it fixes the military budget
and ratifies the financial accounts; it exercises supreme control
over the entire military administration and the application of
the military penal code; and, lastly, it elects the Commander-
in-Chief of the army, who, however, cannot be nominated
unless it is intended to place several Divisions on the war
footing.
The Federal Assembly issues laws and decrees.
The highest executive military authority is the Federal
Council, which is elected by the Assembly in the manner
described in the previous Chapter, and for the better carrying
out of its control over the army this executive power is exer-
vised on behalf of the Council by the Military Department,
under the direction of one of the members of the Council.
Important questions concerning this department are, how-
ever, decided by the Council itself.
In case of urgent necessity, the Federal Council is authorised
to mobilise and dispose of a certain number, of troops. When,
however, the strength of these troops exceeds 2,000 men, or
the term during which they are to be employed on service will
exceed three weeks, the Federal Assembly must be immediately
convoked.
The Federal Council issues decrees and regulations (arrétés,
ordonnances, regulations, and prescriptions).
The Military Department, which is located at Bern, is
charged with the carrying into effect of the law on the military
organisation, and especially with the military territorial division
of the country; recruiting; organisation of the army; nomi-
nation and retirement of officers and nomination of corps
commanders ; instruction, including preparatory instruction and
military education at the Polytechnic School; clothing; arma-
ment and equipment; pay and subsistence; administration of
military law; topography; fortifications; mobilisation of the
army; the instructions to be given to the General; measures
for maintaining the strength of the army in the field; military
pensions, and surveillance over the execution of the law regard-
ing the military organisation by the cantonal administrations ;
collection of the tax for exemption from military service; and
administration of powder establishments. ;
_ The Military Department issues réglements, instructions,
and prescriptions.
As before stated, the head of the Military Department,
officially styled “ Chef du département militaire,” is a member of
the Federal Council. He and his deputy are military officers.
In his office or chancellerie are three secretaries, military
(2745) B2
Federal
Assembly.
Federal
Council.
Military
Department.
Head of
Military
Department.
Heads of
departments,
Chef d’arme.
General
duties,
20 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
officers, the senior being styled “ Chef de bureau,” three clerks,
and a concierge.
In order to facilitate the discharge of the duties of the
Military Department it has at its disposal the following heads of
departments (Abtheilungschefs ; chefs de division), nominated by
the Federal Council; the heads of the departments dealing
especially with the four arms—Infantry, Cavalry, Artillery, and
Engineers—are termed Waffenchefs (chefs d’arme.)
1. Head of department for the administration of the Infantry
(Chef darme de Vinfanterie).
2. Head of department for the administration of the Cavalry
(Chef @arme de la cavalerie).
3. Head of department for the administration of the
Artiller (Chef @arme de Vartillerie).
4. Head of department for the administration of the Engi-
neers (Chef @arme du génie).
5. Chief of the Office of the General Staft (Chef du bureau
d’état major).
6. Chief of the Topographic Bureau (represented by the
Chef @arme of Engineers).
7. Administration of war material.
a. Chief of the Administrative Section.
6. Chief of the Technical Section.
8. Surgeon in Chief.
9. Chief Veterinary Surgeon.
10. Chief Commissary.
11. Chief Auditor.
12. Director of the Remount Department (régie).
1 to 4.—Heads of Department for the different Arms (Chefs.
d@arme).
The Chefs @arme, in addition to certain particular duties
devolving upon each of them, are responsible for enquiring
into, reporting upon, and making proposals regarding the
following matters which come within the scope of the Military
Department, so far as their own arm is concerned :—
Recruiting and maintaining the effective strength of
corps.
Nomination and dismissal of officers and non-commis-
sioned officers.
Instruction in general; instructional: staff, proposals for
the annual exercises of the troops and school
courses, plans of instruction, organisation of the
courses Of instruction, including summoning the
officers, non-commissioned officers and men, through
the cantonal authorities.
“N
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION. 21
Armament and equipment of the troops; equipment of
corps and other material of war.
General orders and regulations.
Preparation of the Annual Budget.
They correspond in the name of the Military Department
with the federal and cantonal military authorities and officers
on all matters in their respective spheres.
The Chef d’arme of the Infantry, in addition to the carrying
out of the above duties in respect of his own arm, is specially
charged with the consideration of all questions which concern
the army as a whole, such as the calling out, assembly, and
equipment of the forces, effective state and equipment of the
staffs of the higher units, manoeuvres of combined troops.
The Chef d’arme of the Cavalry pays special attention to
matters connected with the horses of the Cavalry and recruiting
for the Guides.
The Chef darme ot the Artillery, besides having the special
control of Artillery personnel and matériel, is responsible for the
recruiting for the park columns, companies of artificers, and
army train.
The Chef d’arme of the Engineers is charged with the
superintendence of fortifications and the consideration of all
subjects connected therewith.
The personnel of the Corps of Instruction, which will be
examined in detail in Chapter VIII, is placed under the orders
of the Chefs @arme of the different branches of the Service.
Each Chef d’arme has a secretary and clerk (the Artillery
Chief has two of the latter).
It may be mentioned here that the usual office hours in
Government establishments are from 8 a.m. to noon, and 2
to 6 p.m.
5.—Chief of the Office of the General Stag’ (Chef du bureau
@ état major).
The chief of the office of the General Staff is, in time of
peace, the head of the General Staff, and is responsible for the
‘conduct of all business connected with the personnel of that
body, including the organisation and routine duties of the office
and the instruction of the officers of the corps.
The General Staff bureau elaborates schemes for the
defence of the country, and directs and carries out all prelimi-
nary work connected with the mobilisation and movements of
the army, and with the working of the railways in time of war.
It also collects and collates reports and studies connected with
the home and foreign armies, and draws up regulations for the
General Staff and higher commands.
For the above duties a certain number of General Staff
Officers are attached to the office from time to time according
‘to the work in hand and the funds available.
Special duties.
Clerical Staff.
Office of
General Staff.
Topographic
bureau.
Technical
section of
Administra
tion of war
material.
Administra-
tive section.
22 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
According to the Law of Military Organisation of the Con-
federation, 13th November, 1874, the superintendence of the
national topographic survey and of the topographic bureau
devolves upon the chief of the bureau of the General Staff; but
since 1881 the Chef darme of the Engineers has been charged
with the superintendence of the topographic survey of the
Confederation.
The bureau of the General Staff also has the care of the
military library and archives.
1.—Chief of the Topographic Bureau.
This office consists of a chief (the Chef d’arme of Engi-—
neers), a clerk, and two topographers.
An additional sum of 1,500 francs (60/.) yearly is paid to
the Chef @arme of Engineers for his extra work as chief of
the topographic bureau.
A short account of the work done by this office is given in
Chapter XXV.
8.— Administration of War Material.
A. Chief of the Technical Section.
This section prepares the orders and regulations regarding
the entire material of war, viz., armament, clothing,* equipment
(personal and of corps) and ammunition.
It is charged with the purchase and repair of all matériel
which has to be provided by the Confederation, such as small
arms, guns, carriages, ammunition, &c.
All the manufactories established by the Confederation for
the construction and repair of war material, viz., the ammunition
factory and constructional department at Thun, and the small
arms factory at Bern, are placed under its superintendence.
Further, the control of ammunition at Thun is under this section.
In the office of this section are an accountant, two clerks,
a storekeeper, and a controller of arms, and in the clothing
sub-section a chief and a controller of clothing.
B. Chief of the Administrative Section.
The chief of this section is charged with the superintendence
and custody of all the war material in hand, or which may be
taken over from the chief of the technical section.
He is responsible for the distribution of arms and equipment
to the cantons and to federal arsenals, and for the issue of the
material required for the courses of instruction, for manoeuvres,
and tor mobilisation. :
* It is understood that the clothing is about to be transferred to the Central
Commissariat.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TH MILITARY ORGANISATION. 238
Under the chief of this section are an inspector of material,
an assistant, secretary, storekeeper, and three clerks.
The post of Inspector of Material was created in 1881. The
special duties of that officer are to superimtend the keeping up
of war material, and to regulate the expenditure of the money
voted for this purpose.
Further, the ammunition depdt at Thun and the 21
magazines of federal war material, each under an Intendant,
are subordinate to the chief of this section, and the cantonal
arsenals are under his general superintendence.
9.—Surgeon in Chief.
The Surgeon in Chief (Oberfeldarst ; Médecin en chef) directs
the entire sanitary service of the army in time of peace, includ-
ing recruiting and maintaining the effective of the Sanitary
Corps and the control of the material of the department.
He superintends the instruction of the medical personnel, and
ten sanitary instructors (Chapter VIII.) are under his orders.
In his office are an assistant (Chef de bureau), a secretary
and clerk, and he is assisted by a staff apothecary (a Major) in
matters connected with the supply of drugs.
He is a Colonel in the army.
In time of war he will be assisted by a deputy, a chief of
the hospital service, a chief of the voluntary sanitary service,
and the staff apothecary. He must be distinguished from the
Principal Medical Officer of the Army, who is at the head of the
medical service in the field. (See Chapter XIX.)
10.—Chief Veterinary Surgeon.
The Chief Veterinary Surgeon, who is a Lieutenant-Colonel
in the army, directs the veterinary service during time of
peace.
In his office are an assistant and a secretary.
11.— Chief Commissary.
The Chief Commissary is the head of the military adminis-
trative service, and exercises the supreme control over all
matters connected with the pay, subsistence, housing, and
transport of the troops, and military accounts of every nature,
including the preparation of the Annual Budget for the entire
military service. He is charged with the administration of the
military printing office, barrack and field material, reserve sub-
sistence magazines, and other provision depéts that may he
formed. In view of mobilisation, he is responsible for making
all preparations for supplies, &c., in accordance with the plan
Chief
Veterinary
Surgeon.
Chief
Commissary.
24 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
of mobilisation of the General Staff, and when the army 18
mobilised, he (or his deputy, if he should be selected as Com-
missary of the Army) is also charged with the administration of
all military establishments which are not placed immediately
under the Commander-in-Chief, or some other administrative.
department, such as recruit and remount depots, reserve
magazines, &c., and with the procuring of all supplies required
for the army. For the carrying out of the above duties, he
has under his orders—
1. The central commissariat. |
2. Certain special administrations.
3. The administrative troops.
The central commissariat in Bern comprises a correspond-
ence office, accounts office, inventory office, control of the tax
for exemption from military service, and printing office, with an
establishment of 24 functionaries and employés. _The organisa-
tion of the establishment is shown in the Annual Budget.
The special administrations comprise the Commissary at
Thun (also chief instructor of administrative troops), and the
Intendants of the federal barracks and magazines at Thun,
Herisau, and Frauenfeld.
The Chief Commissary stands in the same relation to the
administrative troops as the chefs darme to their respective
branches, and is similarly responsible for their instruction.
12.—Chief Auditor.
Chief Auditor. The Chief Auditor is charged with the superintendence of
the administration of military law.
13.— Director of Remount Department.
Régie des The “Régie des chevaux” at Thun is presided over by a
chevaux. director (a Lieut.-Colonel), who has under his orders an assistant,
an accountant, and a certain number of grooms and trainers.
The establishment is intended to provide saddle horses for
officers, the horses being sold or let on hire; to train horses
for use at instructional courses; and to teach equitation to
officers, &c., other than those of Cavalry. (See Chap. XVII.)
IIL—The Cantonal Military Authorities.
Bsa Under the superintendence and control of the Confederation,
military the military authorities of the cantons are charged with the
authonties. following duties :-—-
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION. 25
To assist in the business of recruiting.
To take the necessary steps to prevent persons evading
their obligations to serve in the army.
To nominate the officers of the cantonal troops.*
To call out the troops on mobilisation.
To provide for the clothmg and equipment of the
troops, and hand over war material to the corps
called out for service.
To furnish the horses required by the cantonal troops,
excepting the squadrons of Dragoons.
(The mode in which horses are actually furnished
at the present time is described in Chapter XX.)
To take charge of articles of equipment for the use of
corps. :
To collect the tax for exemption from military service.
The cantonal government is in every case the supreme
military authority of the canton, and one of its members, styled
the Military Director or Chief of the Military Department, is
specially charged with the military administration of the can-
ton. He may be a civilian, but is usually a military Officer.
He controls all military matters in his sphere of jurisdiction,
subject to the approval of the cantonal government. In most
of the cantons he is assisted by a Commissary, who represents
the cantonal commissariat, and an Arsenal Intendant, both of
whom are generally officers of the army.
The cantonal Commissary (Kriegscommissdr ; Commissaire
des guerres) superintends, on the part of the canton, the supply
and storage of clothing, and keeps the cantonal military
accounts. Considered in their relation to the central commis-
sariat, the cantonal commissariats are the intermediaries
between the federal military administration and the cantons,
communal authorities, or private individuals. Thus, all claims
against the federal administration made by the communes,
hospitals, intendants of cantonal arsenals and individuals, and
all indemnities granted to these, pass through their hands;
when detachments have to be sent from the cantons for military
duty, the cantonal commissariats arrange for their transport to
the barrack town or other place of assembly ; and when troops
are to march through the cantons the Commissaries inform the
communes what transport, &c., they will be called on to supply.
They further keep the accounts regarding the clothing of the
troops required by the central commissariat. For these services
they receive no indemnity from the Federal Government. On
the other hand, they are paid at a rate laid down in F.M.F,
No. 7, of 1883, when employed by the central commissariat as
experts to value horses, or to perform duties for the central
* For the distinction between Cantonal troops and troops of the Confederation
see next chapter.
Cantonal
Commissary.
Cantonal
Arsenal
Tntendant.
Commandants
of recruiting
districts.
Dual nature
of Military
Administra-
tion.
26 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
commissariat not specified above, such as requisitioning and
hiring train horses and carriages, assessing damages to property,
and billeting troops. :
The Arsenal Intendant (Zeughausverwalter; Intendant) is
charged with the care of armaments in the charge of cantons,
and m many cases acts also in the same capacity with regard to
federal stores preserved in cantonal arsenals.
Tn gome cases there is also an overseer of material and work,
termed a Zeugwart, or Directeur des Arsenauc.
The commandants of recruiting districts (Kreiskommandanten ;
Commandants d’arrondissement), who are nearly always field
officers, and their chefs de section, are also subject to the
orders of the cantonal administration. The latter are usually
officers or non-commissioned officers, but in some cases are
civilians. Each recruiting district for the Infantry has at
its head a Commandant d’arrondissement, who is responsible
that no citizen evades his obligation to serve, controls the
recruiting service and the storage of articles of armament
and clothing given in by the troops, is the organ for trans-
mitting orders for calling out the troops, and regulates the
infliction of fines and punishments for infringements of the
regulations regarding registration of men lable to service.
He is assisted by a certain number of Chefs de section, one
for each section into which his district may be divided
(Chap. IV.).
These cantonal authorities receive their orders as such
from their respective cantons, quite apart from their position
in the army. They are, as a rule, men liable to service
in the Landwehr, but are not incorporated in any corps of
troops.
IV.-— Observations on the Relations between the Confederation
and the Cantons.
It will be gathered from the preceding sections of this
chapter, and an examination of the following pages will still
further bring into prominence the fact, that notwithstanding the
improvements introduced in the military organisation on the
reconstruction of the Constitution in 1874, dual government
and decentralisation are still a marked peculiarity of the Swiss
military system.
It will be seen that the cantons are responsible for the
recruiting and for the maintenance of certain portions of the
military forces, corresponding to the cantonal area, the cost of
which they bear; moreover, the appointment of certain of the
officers for those units of the army is vested in the cantons.
On the other hand, the Confederation is responsible for main-
taining certain other units which have no special local connection
and which are recruited throughout the entire country anal
commanded by officers selected by the central militar
authorities. y
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE MILITARY ORGANISATION. 27
According to the 13th Article of the Constitution, no
canton or demi-canton can have more than 300 men of
permanent troops without the authorisation of the Federal
power, exclusive of gendarmerie.
Again, after defining the Federal Army as consisting of
(a) the cantonal corps and (0) all Swiss citizens who do not
belong to those corps, but are nevertheless liable to military
service, the 19th Article states that the right of disposing of the
army and the material of war provided by law belongs to the
Confederation; that the Confederation has the exclusive right,
in time of danger, of disposing of all men not incorporated
in the army and of all the other military resources of the
cantons; but that the cantons dispose of the military forces
of their territory, in so far as this right is not limited by the
Constitution or the federal laws.
Lastly, under the 20th Article, the Confederation issues laws
as to the organisation of the army, provides the armament
of the troops, and undertakes their entire instruction; while the
cantonal authorities are to carry the military laws into execu-
tion, to keep up the clothing and equipment (the actual cost
being reimbursed by the Confederation), to maintain the effective
strength of the cantonal troops, and to nominate and promote
the officers of those troops in accordance with certain prescrip-
tions issued by the Confederation.
It may be foreseen from a consideration of the above facts
alone that friction between the central and cantonal authorities
would not improbably arise in case of the military forces of the
country being mobilised ; and even if no-diiiiculties of this sort
occurred, the’ subdivision and decentralisation of authority
cannot fail to give rise to delays and inconveniences in the
working of the military machine.
In 1848, when the first Federal Constitution was discussed in
the Assembly, the proposal was made that the Confederation
should be charged with the entire military administration, with
the instruction of the army, and with the national defence.
The proposal was rejected, the majority being unwilling that the
powers of the cantons should be restricted.
In the debates preceding the Constitution of 1874 a
reaction was observable, with the result that the most impor-
tant powers were vested in the Confederation, while other
attributes of military sovereignty were‘still retained by the
cantons.
Within the last few months significant signs of a further
reaction have shown themselves, and the Canton of Bern has
lately proposed to transfer to the Federal Council all the
privileges of military control which were vested in it by the
revised Constitution of 1874; and, further, the question of the
complete unification of the military administration in the hands
of the Confederation has been recently mooted in the Grand
Councils of Lucerne and Schaffhausen. As the cantons cannot
absolutely resign their military powers without a revision of the
Proposals for
centralisation
of military
control.
28 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Constitution, the Canton of Bern has merely moved that its
military rights should be delegated to the Confederation. A
few months ago the question of the complete centralisation of
the military organisation was brought before the National
Council, but owing to the clouded state of the political horizon
it was adjourned on the ground that it would be dangerous to
meddle with the military organisation at a time when the
Confederation might at any moment be called upon to mobilise
its forces. It must, however, be observed, that there is a
considerable amount of opposition to the scheme in several
of the cantons.
TERRITORIAL DIVISION. 29
CHAPTER IV.
TERRITORIAL DIVISION.
Ir has already been stated that the military forces of the pistinction
Republic are composed of two distinct classes of troops—troops between
of the Confederation and cantonal troops. oT é
Each of these classes of troops is again sub-divided into j2q cantonal
Elite and Landwehr, the first category being composed of men troops.
in the first half (12 years) of their term of military service, the
second consisting of trained men who have passed through the
Elite and are in the second half.
To these classes must now be added the Landsturm, a
cantonal force which is not subject to military training in time
of peace, and is composed of all able-bodied citizens, between
the ages of 17 and 50 years, who are not incorporated in the
Elite or Landwehr, and are not exempt from service, as well
as volunteers under 17 and over 50 years of age, and officers up
to 55 years of age.
The cantonal troops consist of the following units :—
Arm. Elite. Landwehr.
Infantry, Fusilier battalions ..- .. ve 96 96
» Carabinier battalions oe oe oe 8 8
Cavalry, Dragoon squadrons .. ae oe aie 24 24
Artillery, Field batteries . es oe ee 48 8
» Mountain batteries .. os oe a 2 2
» Companies of position .. oe 10 15
The troops of the Confederation are as follows :—
Arm, &e. Elite. Landwehr.
Cavalry, Guide companies .. an 12 12
Artillery, Park columns a a) oe 16 8
» Artificer companies .. a oe ee 2 2
» Train battalions 38 a3 oe oe 8 8
Engineers, Battalions .. +e os oe oe 8 8
Sanitary troops, Field hospitals a ae ee 8 -
: 3 Ambulances .. as es i = 16
si Transport columns .. oe ss 5
i Sanitary trains (Railway) .. be _ 3
aa Hospital sections .. oe an = 8
Administrative troops, companies .. ae 8 8
The territory of the Confederation is divided into eight military
Divisional Districts (Divisionskreise; Arrondissements de Division), division of the
to each of which a Division of the Army corresponds. These °™ty-
districts were fixed by an Ordonnance of the Federal Council,
of the 15th March, 1875, and were arranged in such a way that
Infantry
districts.
30 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
each should furnish all the battalions of Fusiliers of the same
Division, the other troops of each Division being as far as possible
recruited in the same district. The territory of each canton 1s
included, as a rule, in one and the same divisional district, but
exceptions to the latter arrangement occur in the case of Bern,
Schwyz, and Valais, as will be noticed in the following table.
To facilitate the formation of battalions of Infantry
(Fusiliers), the divisional districts are subdivided into recruit-
ing sub-districts (Arrondissements de recrutement), which are
arranged so that each of them furnishes one, or at most
three, battalions of Fusiliers, Elite and Landwehr. The
recruiting sub-districts again are divided into several sections;
in some cantons these sections correspond to the communes,
while in others they embrace several of the latter.
The Carabiniers and special arms are recruited in a special
manner, which will be explained hereafter; the following table,
therefore, will be understood as showing the location of the
Infantry (Fusilier) battalions only :—
TABLE SHOWING THE DIVISIONAL DISTRICTS AND THE FUSILIER
BATTALIONS (ELITE AND LANDWEHR) FURNISHED BY BEACH.
Resident
population
Canton. Fusilier Battalions. a ian
‘ excluding
foreigners.
1st Division.— (6 recruiting districts.)
Waadt (Vaud) ae a ..| 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9. 219,099
Genf (Genéve) oe Pr +.| 10,13.* 61,805
Wallis (Valais) i ew «| 11,12. 50,593
331,497
2nd Division.—(Q9 recruiting districts.)
Freiburg (Fribourg) .. om «.| 14, 15, 16, 17. 112,813
Neuenburg (Neuchatel) ae ../| 18, 19, 20. 92,803
Bern (Berne) .. fs a «.| 21, 22, 28, 24. 92,039
397,655
8rd Division.— (12 recruiting districts.)
Bern (Berne). .. «+ «| 28, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, | 324,640
32, 33, 34, 35, 36.
4th Division.—- (12 recruiting districts.)
Bern (Berne).. os : -.| 37, 38, 39, 40. 99,541
Luzern (Lucerne) .. a ..| 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 95,892
Unterwalden (Unterwald) oe | 47. 26,879
Zug (Zoug) .. ue oe | 48. 21,781
: ene 244,043
5th Division.—(9 recruiting districts.) :
Solothurn (Soleure) .. a4 ..| 49, 50, 51. 78,091
Basel-Land (Bale campagne ..| 52, 58. 55,152
Basel-Stadt (Bale-Ville) ae oe] 54, 42,086
Aargau (Argovie) .. ae ..| 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 46.+ 193,158
368,487
* The 18th Battalion forms part of the 2nd Division.
+ The 46th Battalion forms part of the 4th Division,
TERRITORIAL DIVISION. 31
Resident
population
Canton. Fusilier Battalions. of oe
excluding
foreigners.
6th Division —(8 recruiting districts.)
Schaffhausen (Schaffhouse).. «+ {| 61. 33,856
Ziirich (Zurich) i oa ..| 62, 68, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 288,723
69, 70, 71.
Schwyz (Schwyz) .. a | 72. 28,665
346,244
7th Division.—(8 recruiting districts.)
Thurgau (Thurgovie) ae | 78, 74, 75. 91,799
St. Gallen (St. Gall) .. . ..| 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82. 197,423
Appenzell (Appenzell) a , | 88, 84. , 62,926
352,148
8th Division.—(12 recruiting districts.)
Glarus (Glaris) es ‘e «| 85. 33,204
Schwyz (Schwyz) .. 4a --| 86. 24,794
Uri (Uri)... “s a «| 87. 17,426
Wallis (Valais) os a ..| 88, 89. 46,515
Graubiinden (Grisons) ad ..| 90, 91, 92, 93. 87,583
Tessin (Tessin) oe oe o»| 94, 95, 96. 109,923
319,445
Previously to 1883 the 13th Fusilier battalion (Geneva)
and the 46th (Aargau) formed part of the 1st and 5th Divisions
respectively, and the total number of battalions in the Con-
federation was 98; but owing to various causes, and chiefly to
the increase of the special arms, it was found that the proper
effective strength of the Infantry could not be maintained in
certain Divisions, and consequently the battalions were reduced
to 96, and the transfer of the battalions above referred to was
decreed on 6th March, 1883.
The actual population of the recruiting districts corresponds
generally with the number of battalions of Fusiliers furnished
by them; but the special arms are recruited more in certain
districts than in others, which materially affects the numbers
of Infantry recruits available in them, and in case of mobilisation
might necessitate the incorporation of men of the youngest
classes of the Landwehr, in order to bring the battalions up to
war strength.
Roughly speaking, the average population of the recruiting
districts in which one battalion of Elite and one of Landwehr are
recruited is 27,000. It is, no doubt, perfectly equitable in
theory that each canton, or portion of a canton, should furnish
a number of men proportionate to its population, but the poorer
mountainous districts have much difficulty in maintaining their
quota of men, while the richer districts could easily bear a
larger share of the common burden.
As before stated, the Carabiniers and special arms are
Carabiniers,
Cavalry.
Dragoons.
Guides.
Artillery field
batteries.
32 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
recruited in a different manner from the Fusilier battalions ;
the necessity for this depending not only on the difficulty of
raismg men with the necessary qualifications for particular
branches of the service in some of the recruiting districts, but
also on the fact that corps already in existence had to be taken
into consideration. :
The mode of recruiting the special arms will be explained
in Chapter VI. ; it will be sufficient here to indicate the Divisional
Districts by which they are furnished.
The Carabiniers of Geneva and Valais (Ist Division) are
incorporated in the 2nd instead of in the Ist Division.
The following recruiting districts do not furnish any
Carabiniers :—
1. The arrondissements of Bern which are included in the
2nd Division.
. Unterwald-le-Haut in the 4th Division.
. Bale-ville in the 3rd.
. Schaffhausen and Schwyz in the 6th.
. Appenzell-Rhodes-Intérieures in the 7th.
. Uri and Haut Valais in the 8th.
Dragoons.—Each Army Division is provided with one
regiment of three squadrons, both Elite and Landwehr, but the
squadrons are not in all cases provided by the Divisional District
to which they are assigned :—
Vaud supplies the 3 squadrons for the 1st Division.
. Freiburg supplies 2 for the 2nd Division, the 3rd being
provided by Vaud.
. Bern supplies the 3 squadrons for the 3rd Division.
. Bern supplies the 3 squadrons for the 4th Division.
Argovie and Soleure each 1 squadron for the 5th Division,
the other being raised in Bern.
. Schaffhausen supplies 1 and Zurich 2 for the 6th Division.
Turgovie supplies 1, and St. Gall 2, for the 7th Division.
. None of the arrondissements of the 8th Divisional district
supply the Cavalry of the Division, the 3 squadrons
being furnished by Lucerne, Argovie and Zurich.
Thus, the cantons of Geneva, Valais, Neuchatel, Zug, Unter-
wald, Bale, Schwyz, Appenzell, Tessin, Grisons, Uri, and Glarus -
supply no Dragoons. ;
The personnel only of the Landwehr Dragoons exists, the
squadrons not being mounted in time of peace; indeed, there is
no prospect of mounting them even in time of war.
Each Divisional District furnishes one company of Elite and
Landwehr for the corresponding Army Division, each of the
remaining four companies, which are at the disposal of the
General, or General Commanding the Army, being supplied by
two Divisional Districts conjointly.
Only the personnel of the Landwehr Guides exists,
Six field batteries of Elite are designated for each Army
Division; they are furnished as follows :—
Sp Ov 09 dO
Or 99 bor
AND
TERRITORIAL DIVISION. 33
. The 1st Divisional District supplies its own 6 batteries.
. The 2nd provides 4, the remaining 2 being supplied by
Vaud.
The 3rd furnishes its own 6 batteries.
The 4th supplies 4, Argovie finding the other 2.
. The 5th provides its own 6 batteries.
. The 6th finds 4, Argovie the other 2.
. The 7th supplies 5, Zurich providing the 6th. |
. The 8th provides only 1, the remainder being made up by
2 from Lucerne, 1 from Zurich, and 2 from St. Gall.
NS
I Sd Or od
The following cantons do not furnish Field Artillery
batteries:—Zug, Unterwald, Schafthausen, Schwyz, Appen-
zell-Rhodes-Intérieures, Uri, Glarus, Valais, and Grisons.
The eight Landwehr field batteries are supplied as follows :—-
Vaud, Bern, Lucerne, Zurich provide the battery for their own
Divisions (1, 3, 4, 6), but the 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th are supplied by
Soleure, Argovie, Thurgovie, and Vaud Peek Only the
personnel is organised in time of peace; the batteries are not
organised and equipped until war isimminent. The number ot
Landwehr field batteries being less than that of the Elite,
the companies of position are more numerous; and such of the
gunners and train soldiers of the Elite field batteries as are
not incorporated in the field or mountain batteries on their
passage to the Landwehr are transferred to companies of
position, park columns, or train battalions.
The two mountain batteries of the Elite and the two
Landwehr batteries are supplied by Valais and Grisons.
' Of the 10 companies of position of the Elite, 3 are raised in
the 1st Divisional District, 1 each in the 2nd, ard, and 6th, and
2 each in the 5thand 7th. The 15 Landwehr companies are
raised in 10 of the cantons.
One artificer company (both Elite and Landwehr) is recruited
in Bern and Lucerne; the other in Argovie, Bale-ville, Schaff-
hausen, Zurich, and St. Gall.
One train battalion, Elite and Landwehr, is raised in each
Divisional District.
Two park columns, Elite and Landwehr. are raised in each
Divisional District.
The eight battalions of Engineers of the Elite, one for each
Army Division, are recruited in the corresponding eight
Divisional Districts, the 2nd, 4th, and 8th battalions also drawing
from portions of the Ist, 5th, and 6th districts respectively.
The eight Landwehr battalions are similarly.recruited.
The eight field hospitals of the Elite and the corresponding
pairs of ambulances of the Landwehr, are recruited each in a
Divisional District. The other sanitary troops of the Landwehr
are provided by the whole of the Divisional Districts collectively
see p. 86).
The aah administrative companies are furnished by the
eight Divisional Districts.
(2745) C
Mountain
batteries.
Companies of
position.
Artificer
companies.
Train
battalions.
Park columns.
Engineers.
Sanitary
troops.
Administra-
tive troops.
34 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
TABLE SHOWING THE UNITS, ELITE AND LANDWEHR, FURNISHED BY |
DER SCHWEIZ,”
Titantey: : Engi-) Sanitary |‘
ine try ‘Cavairy: Artillery. neers.| ‘Troops. ©
Admini-
strative
Troops.
ELITE.
Dragoon Squadrons,
Field Batteries.
Fusuier Battalions,
Carabineer Battalions.
Guide Companies.
Mountain Batteries.
Companies of Position.
Park Columns,
Train Battalions.
Artificer Companies.
Engineer Battalions.
| Field Biiaie
Transport Siicsng
Administrative Com
: ‘+ panies.
Confederation aadlh 3%
Cantons—
Zureh os est (20
1 3 a 6 Cl 1 ae eee oe eee wee on
Berne... «| 20 + 7 ¥ 10 ‘ 1 8 03 < ‘ va ;
Lucerne .. a) 5 cay | et 8 | rade ast. Ves WP ase [ae tae | as =
Sehwyz ... ..) 2 4 | as was we we one on i . : .
Unterwald-le-Haut oh oe Pe bet asi aes ae an ate és sis a 3
Unterwald-le-Bas... 3 FY ses ea is f i é sie 25 ‘ : 2
Glarws Sw} 3]... aes ose ee a a ‘ ;
Zug... at vet oD ove ove as oon ne oe oon ‘i Ase ies i .
Freiburg .. 0] 4 3 2 aus 1 ‘eee 1 se an ee ae : ‘ ie
Soleure .. | 8 a] 1 os Belg i acs re : a we ase
Bale-Ville ... ove 1 one a on 1 ate 1 te c ae ee
Bale-Campagne ...| 2 4]... aide 1 | ie as < ‘ ‘i a
Schaffhausen wal sey 1 ie aes ees ove one ay toe . we
Appenzell Rh. -
Exterior.
Appenzell Rh. -
alo
al
-
w
alo
Interior. 7 7
St.Gall ... an 7 2 2 ets 4 oes 1 . ov aa a
Grisons ... cool +]... es es 1 or d a Fe és co “oe os
Argovie .. | 7 37) 27]. 6). Pyoiw |. oe is ‘
Thurgovie.. «| 3 4) 1 oe 2] ow. . . ‘ as 3
Tessin .. -»| 38 a] ww oe 1 . wee = ais a
Vaud oe 9 1 4 « 6 ‘iw 2 . Ha ae et ‘i a i
Valais aie ap 4 +] o. ae on 1 Ge one sce ae Be :
Neuchatel... «| 8 EY] owe . Bp we Pe Poe : : s
Geneva «. «| 2 BE] we | nee 2] 1 ‘ " ; Ne af =
wo
a
oo
=
e
no
Total ... aes
35
TERRITORIAL DIVISION.
THE CONFEDERATION AND CANTONS, FROM Fetss’ “ DAS WEHRWESEN
CORRECTED.
te
*sdoory a
eugene sorted ae oP Pop Ps : : oo
surmpy | “WO earvensraTmpy :
*suoT}o0g JeyTds0H o i zo: : : o
p a “suIVIy, AreqyuRg ot : i i 5 po: i on
=o
as * +suumyjog yodsaery, se i "e
‘goounmqury: os i : ie
BB “SUOILEIIEg JOOULsU o as
ad
‘sotusdm0g 109pnLy a ie ie
« eo . eo
suoTTeyqeg UTelL, :
B ‘suumMop HIE 2 i i oI
vo
a
4 “uosog Jo sorredutog ae rid LP mM opa rad = | os
‘so]1eqyeq UTeUNOTL i aoe) 23Gb 2G a ; et gfe
“solto}Ug PIL : ee i pimi: : ara re: ©
5 ‘soyaedm0g opmy sg i : 2 & i bose i i 8
8 :
° “suoipenbg u00deid i ohm Z PO eee Se ee ee a
5 “suoTeNea seomrqereg : a oe Cal ott nit te cenit ote oh : le ee St rit ote 4 et tt rte oe
Z a whe ote ole a
a ‘guorpeyseg sorsnd esguena AA ton ae| Rt nm OM HOON 2
i Piiigg Pia. : 3
a
aa 3 8 B
é 8 i222 ae : Ya Oe : a :
Piigs Pa oe Bae ek pb :
= @ ‘3 ‘d w og Hs OF BS > 8 3
5 E baeG : BEba FS5S6 8 ceZefbs.2e 2
S 3 Ree RAPES AGES BSE RAE Se BE
s PaESSEESSSEGRES S Paseeissie
C2
(2745)
Liability to
service.
Exemptions.
36 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER V.
OBLIGATORY SERVICE AND EXEMPTION.
EvERY Swiss citizen is liable to military service from the
commencement of the year in which he attains the age of 20
years, and this obligation continues until the end of the year
in which he becomes 44 -years old; there are consequently men
of 25 classes of age in the army. : .
The following persons are exempt from military service
during the time they are fulfilling their official functions or
employed in the manner specified, on condition that, if recruited
since 1876, they must have passed through a recruit’s school
and have been incorporated in a corps:—
1. Members of the Federal Council, the Chancellor of the
Confederation, and the clerks (Greffiers) of the Federal
Tribunal.
2. Persons employed with a permanent tenure in the postal
and telegraphic services, administration of the material of war
of the Confederation, powder administration, federal military |
workshops, and federal and cantonal arsenals, and cantonal
commissaries. ;
With regard to employés of the postal and telegraphic
services who are not exempt, they may be authorised to render
military service when it will not interfere with their civil duties,
and in that case they are free from payment of the tax for
exemption for the year in which they perform military service,
and also for the following year. Asa rule, postal and telegraph
employés who are engaged in the telegraph service, are
recruited for the Engineers. 5
Workmen in the federal laboratory and powder factories
who are incorporated or are to be incorporated in the Artificer
Companies will be called out for instruction if it will not inter-
fere with the work of the establishments they are engaged in,
and if the men do not demand exemption.
3. Directors and attendants who are indispensable to the
working of the public hospitals, directors and warders of
prisons, officers and men of cantonal police, custom house
officers and frontier guards.
4, Ecclesiastics who do not serve as Chaplains in the
army.
5. Teachers in public schools, who have passed through a
recruit’s school, and the nature of whose duties renders it ‘
necessary that they should not perform military service.
‘6. Certain railway employés charged with the repair,
maintenance, and superintendence of the roads, employés
engaged in the traffic of the lines, the personnel of the stations,
OBLIGATORY SERVICE AND EXEMPTION. 37
and such officials and employés at the administrative head-
quarters of the railways as are engaged for a fixed time by
contract; further, certain employés of the steamboat companies
which have received concessions from the Government.
In order to keep up the railway section of the Pioneer
companies, the railway companies are bound to furnish work~
men who are employed in the repairing sheds or in keeping up
the roads, and these workmen are consequently not considered
exempt from military service. :
When the transport service by rail and steamboats is
organised in time of war, the employés concerned are held to
perform their military service in the working of the lines and
boat services, and are free from any military tax during the
continuance of such transport service.
7. Members of the Federal Assembly are exempt from
military exercises during the time it is sitting.
8. Persons who are below the minimum standard of height
for recruits, or are physically or mentally incapable, or suffer
from infirmities which render them unfit for military service,
are exempt, temporarily or permanently.
Persons who, in consequence of penal judgment, are
deprived of their rights as citizens, cease to be eligible for
military service; but if they become reinstated in their
rights of citizenship, they thereupon become liable to military
service.
TAX FOR EXEMPTION FROM MILITARY SERVICE.
Tn accordance with the law of 28th June, 1878, every Swiss
citizen, whose age renders him liable to military service, and
who does not perform personal military service, is subject to an
annual tax (Militdrpflichtersatz ; Taxe dexemption, or Taxe mili-
taire) in lieu thereof; and this whether he reside within the
territory of the Confederation or out of it.
Foreigners who reside permanently in Switzerland are liable
to the tax, unless they are exempt in virtue of international
treaties or belong to a State where the Swiss are exempt from
all service or tax of exemption.
The military tax is dispensed with in the following
cases :—
1. Paupers dependent on public charity, and those who
from physical or mental infirmities are unable to support them-
selves and their families.
2, Those who have been disabled in the military service. .
3. Those Swiss citizens who, resident abroad, are forced
to serve or pay a tax of exemption in the country of their
adoption.
4. Employés of railways and steamboats, if they are
exempted from military service; moreover they do not pay tax
for those years in which they perform their military service as
Tax for
exemption.
38 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
employés on railways and steamers which are used for the con-
-veyance of troops, &c., in time of war. a
5. Gendarmes, police agents, and guards of the frontier.
The tax consists of a personal charge of 4s. 9d.,* and a
supplementary tax in proportion to the fortune or the income ;
in no instance, however, is the sum total for which one
individual is liable to exceed 120/. in the case of persons liable
to service in the Elite, ic. up to the age of 32 years, nor is it
to exceed 601. in the case of those who are liable to service in
the Landwehr (32 to 44 years).
The following is the scale for the supplementary tax :—
Per 402. of fortune, net te -» 1s. 23d.
» 4l. ofincome ,, ei .. Ls. 24d.
No fortune under 40/. is liable to the tax, and in assessing
the tax 24/.is to be deducted from the net income of every
person who is liable.
Detailed rules are laid down in the law above quoted for
estimating the fortune and revenue of individuals.
Parents are responsible for the payment of the tax for such
of their sons as are minors, and for those who, being of full age,
live with them as members of the family.
The following classes pay only half the tax to which they
would otherwise be liable :—
(1) Persons liable to military service, who have served for
eight years, and have become unfit for service for the rest of
their term of liability to military service, or have been appointed
officials or employés exempt from service.
(2) Persons temporarily relieved from liability to military
service.
(3) All persons liable to military service between the com-
pleted ages of 32 and 44 years.
In years in which the greater part of the troops of the Elite
is engaged in an unusual manner owing to active service, the
tax for exemption may be doubled.
The cantons collect the taxes for exemption from military
service and remit half the amount to the Confederation.
The amount thus credited to the Confederation for the
financial year 1886 was 51,0241. The approximate share of the
Confederation (half the total amount of the tax) for 1887 was
52,802/., the average amount of tax levied being about 8s. 4d. a
head of those actually taxed.
It should be observed that the Federal Council in its report
to the Assembly for the year 1886 calls attention to the fact that
in some cantons the proportion of persons who are exempted
from taxation is still very high. This is especially the case in
Unterwalden-le-Haut, Tessin, and Vaud, and it is believed that
in some cantons the total military expenditure is more than
covered by the product of the military tax.
* In the following pages, 25 francs are considered equivalent to £1,
RECRUITING. 39
CHAPTER VI.
RECRUITING.
THE business of recruiting may be considered under
the following heads:—(1) The number of recruits annually
required for the different arms; (2) the mode of calling in
and selecting the men; (3) the instruction of the recruits;
(4) the incorporation of instructed recruits in the army.
The system of instruction, and the mode of appointing
officers and non-commissioned officers, will form the subject of
separate chapters.
: Number of Recruits Required Annually.
The number of units of the various arms and departments eek ayn
of the service which are to be maintained by the Confederation recruits,
and cantons, as well as the effective strength of each of those
units, is laid down in the Law of the 13th November, 1874. It
is further enacted by that Law (Art. 21), that the full numbers
prescribed for the ranks and cadres of the different units are to
be kept up, and that the Confederation will decide in what pro-
portion the men who are in excess of the numbers required to
maintain the regulation strength of the forces are to be distributed
among the different corps, &c.
The number of recruits examined in 1886, with a view to
incorporation in the army on the 1st January, 1887, was 30,323,*
and this roughly represents the average number of men who
become liable to service every year, or rather present themselves
for examination.
The number of recruits annually examined increased
steadily from 1877, when it was 26,282, until 1885, when it
stood at 380,713. In 1886 the number fell about 300, in
1887 it was 29,611, and it is calculated by the Statis-
tical Bureau that a slight diminution may be expected for a
year or two.
The recruits of 1887, 1886, and 1885, were classified as
follows :—
* According to the “Rapport” of the Federal Council for 1886; in the
“ Resultats de la Visite Sanitaire,’ the number is given as 30,391.
40 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
1885. 1886. 1887.
Recruits fit for service .. ue a8 14,986 15,239 15,432 -
3 put back for re-examination
next year .. zs ate 6,173 6,109 5,691
55 unfit for service ee aN 9,553 8,975 8,488
30,712 30,323 29,611
The proportion of men found unfit for service in 1886 and
1887 is somewhat less than in the previous 10 years, but this is
probably owing to a slight relaxation of the medical standard,
and the Statistical Bureau finds no ground for considering
that the general standard of physique has improved of late
years.
Of the recruits found fit for service in 1887, the great
majority were men born in 1868, who would therefore attain their
20th year during the year 1888; but the number of men of
greater age who, from having been put back or having failed to
present themselves as recruits in previous years, were included
in the category of recruits of 1887, is by no means inconsider-
able, as will be seen from the following table.
It further appears from this table that the recruits of the
last class formed about three-fourths of the total number
examined. ;
RESULTS OF THE AUTUMN RECRUITING OF 1887.
(By classes of Age.)
Men born in
Previous Total
1868 1867 | 1866 | 1865 | 1864 | 1863 | 1862 | 1861 | 1860
years.
Fit for Service | 11,776 | 2,012] 1,011] 3386] 114] 75 42 23 15 28 15,432
The following table exhibits the results of the classification
of the recruits by arms according to the qualifications shown b
them at the examinations held by the recruiting authorities, and
which will be explained in detail hereafter. This table must
be understood ag showing the proposed distribution only; the
ultimate classification of the men not being made until ‘after
they have actually passed through a recruit’s school, and go
become qualified for actual incorporation in the army :—
41
RECRUITING.
6es'ST | SIL | eP STZ 090°2 eee OPo‘TT ** OSS UT
o ola a8 Lg1'% aie Z69'TL
? NIC a NIE a i= eM aS =y
ser‘st | SOL] Shh | set | ert | err}; L63/ 99 | PET] set} FOZ | OG | O89] eso] Ze) sez! e 689‘1T |** [e0J,
sI9t | FL | 8g | 8 ot | 29 | &F “* | 08 | 6L | ot | se] zt | ot | 2 He og 96a'T |°"* 9 ** “IITA
o4s'tT | OT | So | 6T |} OT | OF | Te | & 1 | 8t | og "| 68 | O4 | @ 9 " ) eestt ptt TA
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AIN'T | 9 Ig | or | 8 zs | Ze |] 8 eS | Sl | Iz "* | gg | wg | ¢ 8¢ fo) TEE pet Be PAT
zoe'tT | of | 2G | 4L | @@ | 99 | 98 | Of | Fe } st | at “1 go, | 49 | 8 LP - | top fest ca
SL6T | Sz | eG | FT | ST | SF | 68 ) ye | 6t | Zt + | eg | ge |] e IZ Jouget foc IT
Tero | It | o9 | To | Fe | FO | 8E “" | 68 | 61 | 8¢ | go | 66 | 88 | 9 Ts “| gest pet tt UT
: I i) Z 5 Cc)
Pile lel ele ELE be let el Ble) el ela |e) eB
fe | ele tee ee eee me el et eB) a le | |
E 5 8 a td 3 mn we S = i 8 8 3 a E
a < a 5 g 2 K S SQ, 5. 2. 3 a : 5 5 5
& we a + Q a BY 3 5 2 é 5 :
e | Ble} @ | ele | eg '
--.
RECRUITING. 51
Recrues” for 1886 and previous years, published by the
Statistical Bureau of the Federal Home Department.
As soon as the medical and educational examinations are
concluded, the Recruiting Officer, assisted by the President of
the Medical Board and the Commandant of the recruiting dis-
trict, proceeds to tell off the men to the different arms in which
it is proposed that they shall serve.
The personal qualifications of each man and the result of
the medical examination are entered in each man’s small-book
(Dienstbiichlein ; livret de service), and if he has been adjudged fit
for service the arm in which he is to serve is also entered
there.
Similar entries are made in the muster-roll (conérdle) of the
recruiting district in which the man was examined; this roll is
kept by the Commandant of the recruiting district, and serves
as his authority for subsequently summoning the men to the
“various recruit schools.
As before stated, the recruits are bound to present them-
selves at the levy in the canton where they reside, and, as a
rule, they are equipped, enrolled, and instructed in the district
in which they reside; if, however, a man who is found fit for
service is about to change his domicile permanently to another
canton or another recruiting district, he will be transferred
= enrolment, &¢c., to the district in which he proposes to
ive.
If a man is unable to be present at the levy, but wishes to
undergo the next year’s course of instruction for recruits, he
can apply to the Divisional Surgeon, who will convene a
Medical Board, composed of himself and one medical officer, for
the purpose of examining the applicant. The expenses con-
nected with the special examination must be defrayed by the
applicant, according to a fixed scale.
Again, if any man between the date of recruitment and the
commencement of the recruit’s course of instruction wishes to
be transferred to an arm of the service other than that to
which he has been told off, he can apply to the chief of the
latter arm, and if both Chefs darme concerned agree the
transfer can be made. Appeals against their decision can be
made to the Military Department.
The arm and corps to which a recruit is told off at the con-
clusion of the medical and pedagogic examination are provision-
ally entered in his small-book, such telling off being neces-
sary to facilitate the equipment of the men: but the definite
incorporation, with certain exceptions, does not take place until
the conclusion of the recruit’s course of instruction, when each
man is finally brought onto the strength of the Elite and
posted to a definite unit (Circular of the Federal Military
Department, 8th March, 1876).
As before stated, the Medical Board examines and pronounces
definitely as to the fitness to serve of men already in the service
who may present themselves before it.
(2745) D2
Telling off
recruits to the
different
arms.
Expenses of
recruiting.
Ranks in the
Swiss Army.
52 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
The following are the chief provisions regarding indemnity
for expenses incurred in connection with the annual levies :—
The Recruiting Officer, Divisional Surgeon, or his deputy,
and the scholastic expert, each receive 15 fr. (12s.) a day.
The medical members of the board receive 12 fr. (9s. 7d.) a
day.
"The scholastic assistants and the two secretaries employed
by the Recruiting officer receive 10 fr. (8s.) a day.
The above officers and officials also receive travelling
allowance, but pay is not allowed for days when they are
travelling.
The Recruiting Officer and secretaries are allowed pay, not
exceeding ten days altogether, for work done before and after
the actual levy. The Divisional Surgeon is allowed pay for
five days beyond the period of the levy for the preparation of
his reports.
Men bound to attend the levy are granted travelling allow-
ance if their home is more than 12-4 miles from the place of
levy, but receive neither pay nor subsistence.
The Commandants of the recruiting district, their Chefs de
section, the two secretaries furnished by the cantonal authorities,
and the non-commissioned officers told off to maintain discipline,
are paid by the cantons.
The sum of 65,000 fr. (2,6007.) is provided in the Budget for
1888 to meet the expenses of the levy.
CHAP. VII.
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS.
I.—The Military Merarchy.
The ranks in the various branches of the Swiss Army are
as follows :—
Officers.
Oberst Colonel Colonel
Oberstlieutenant Lieutenant- colonel Lieutenant-colonel
Major Major Major
Hauptmann Capitaine Captain
Oberlieutenant Premier lieutenant First lieutenant
Lieutenant Lieutenant Lieutenant
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS.
Adjutant-unterofiizier
Fahnrich*
Stabssekretar +
Feldweibel
Fourier
Wachtmeister
Train-Wachtmeister
Kanonier- Wachtmeister
Park-Wachtmeister
Bicker-Wachtmeister
Metzger-Wachtmeister
Waften-unteroffizier t
Pionnier-unteroffizier
Warter-unteroffizier
Trager-unteroffizier
Gefreite
Soldat
Fiisilier
Schiitze
Dragoner
Kanonier
Parksoldat
Trainsoldat
Sappeur
Pontonnier
Pionnier
Telegraphist
Feuerwerker
Warter
Trager
Trompeter
Tambour
Biichsenmacher
Hufschmied
Schlosser
‘Wagner
Sattler
Schreiner
Backer
Metzger
Magazinarbeiter
The troops of
Non-Commissioned Officers.
Adjutant-sous-officier
Porte-drapeau
Secrétaire d’état major
53
Adjutant N.C.O.
Ensign
Staff clerk
Sergent-major (Maréchal- Sergeant-major
des-logis-chef in cavalry)
Fourrier
Quartermaster-sergeant
Sergent (Maréchal-des-logis Sergeant
in cavalry and train)
Maréchal-des-logis du train Train sergeant
Sergent de canonniers
Sergent du pare
Sergent maitre-boulanger
Sergent mattre-boucher
Sous-officier d’armement
Sous-officier de pionniers
Sous-officier d’infirmiers
Sous-officier de brancardiers Bearer
Soldiers without Rank.
Appointé
Soldat
Fusilier
Carabinier
Dragon
Cannonier
Soldat du pare
Soldat du train
Sapeur
Pontonnier
Pionnier
Telegraphiste
Artificier
Infirmier
Brancardier
Trompette
Tambour
Armurier
Maréchal-ferrant
Serrurier
Charron
Sellier
Menuisier
Boulanger
Boucher
Ouvrier de magasin
Sergeant gunner
Park sergeant
Sergeant baker
Sergeant butcher
Armourer non-commissioned
officer
Pioneer
officer
Hospital attendant non-
commissioned officer
non-commissioned
non-commissioned
officer
Lance corporal
Private
Fusilier
Carabinier
Dragoon
Gunner
Park soldier
Train soldier
Sapper ‘
Pontonier
Pioneer
Telegraphist
Artificer
Hospital attendant ~
Bearer
Trumpeter
Drummer
Armourer
Farrier
Locksmith
Wheelwright
Saddler and collar maker
Carpenter
Baker
Butcher
Magazine workman
the Confederation rank before cantonal
troops, and the various arms of the service take precedence
among themselves in the following order :—Infantry, Cavalry,
Artillery, Engineers, Sanitary troops, and Administrative troops.
It will be observed that the rank of General does not appear
in the above list. In time of peace the highest commands are
* One (an Adjutant N.C. Officer) on the staff of each Infantry battalion.
+ Some of these are officers (Lieutenants).
ty May be sergeants or corporals.
54 | THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
held by Colonels, each of the eight Divisions being commanded
by a Divisional Colonel (Oberst-Divisiondr, Colonel-Divisionaire),
and each Infantry Brigade by a Brigadier Colonel (Oberst-:.
Brigadier, Colonel-Brigadier), When the mobilisation of several
Divisions is contemplated, the General Assembly elects one ot
the Colonels as Commander-in-Chief, and he is then styled
General. On demobilisation, the General reverts to ordinary
duty as a Colonel, retaining, however, the honorary title of
General. Thus the only Swiss General is Colonel Herzog, who
was elected General on the mobilisation of the Swiss Army at
the outbreak of the Franco-German war, and is now Chef
darme of the Artillery. This officer is, however, styled Colonel :
in the official Army Lists.
Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, and Majors are termed Field.
Officers (Stabsoffiziere) ; Captains, 1st Lieutenants, and Lieu-
tenants are classed as Subalternofiziere.
Combatant Another peculiarity of the Swiss Army is that all officers of
rank of non- the various departments of the army, except Chaplains, hold
combatants. actual military rank and are addressed by their military titles.
The ranks of Medical Officers range from Ist Lieutenant to
Colonel, those of Apothecaries from Lieutenant to Major, of
Veterinary Surgeons from Lieutenant to Lieutenant-Colonel, of
Administrative Officers from Lieutenant to Colonel, and of
Judicial Officers from Captain to Colonel.
Il.-—The Units of the Different Arms.
Distinction | According to the Law of Military Organisation, the troops
i io of the different arms of the service are classified as units
corps, (Linheiten; unités) and combined bodies (Zusammengeseate Trup-
rps. ; 5
penkérper; Corps de troupes combinés), the latter term being
applied to all formations which comprise a staff and several units.
The units of the different arms are as follows :—
(a) Infantry: the battalion of Fusiliers or Carabiniers,
consisting of four companies.
(b) Cavalry: the squadron of Dragoons and company of
Guides.
(c) Artillery: the field battery, mountain battery, com-
pany of position, park column, artificers’ company,
and train battalion.
(d) Engineers: the battalion.
(e) Sanitary troops: the field hospital, and (in the
Landwehr) transport column, ambulance, sanitary train, and
hospital section.
(f) Administrative troops: the company of administra-
tion.
The combined bodies are :—
(a) Infantry: the Infantry regiment (Fusiliers), consist-
ing of three battalions; the Infantry brigade, of two
regiments.
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS. BY ARMS. 55)
(b),Cavalry: the Cavalry regiment, of three squad-
rons.
(c) Artillery: the Artillery regiment, of two field bat-
teries; the Divisional park, of two park columns;
the Artillery brigade, of three artillery regiments
and a divisional park; the Division of Artillery of
Position, of two or three companies of position; the
Mountain Artillery regiment, of the two mountain
batteries.
(d) Eight Army Divisions, each consisting of two Infantry
brigades and a proportion of troops of all arms.
_ Although no regulations have been published regarding any
organisation higher than the Army Division, the General of the
Army is empowered to combine two or more Divisions under
one command, so as to form Army Corps, whenever he thinks
necessary; and it is directed that in the formation of the higher
staffs and the instruction of Staff Officers the possibility of such
combinations being made is to be borne in mind.
The following tables (pp. 56 to 96) show the normal
strength of the different units and combined bodies, and it
should be observed that only one establishment is known in the
Swiss Army for both the Elite and Landwehr, that, namely,
which is prescribed by the Law of Military Organisation, and
which corresponds to the war strength of the troops of standing
armies.
The number of men who turn out for the repetition courses
does not accurately represent what may be termed the real
effective of battalions, &c., owing to the dispensations granted
to the oldest classes in peace time, and to unavoidable absentees ;
it varies considerably in the different Divisions and in the same
Division in different years, being much affected by the nature of
the occupation of the mass of the population, the spirit ani-
mating the cantonal authorities, and various other causes which
need not be entered into here; as a rule, however, the turn out
of the different courses may well be looked upon as satisfactory
in all respects. As an example, at the manoeuvres (repetition
courses) of the Vith and VIIth Divisions of the lite in 1887, a
total of 22,398 of all ranks was present, the normal effective of
two Divisions being 25,616. Considering that two yearly cate-
gories of non-commissioned officers and the oldest four classes
of men were excused attendance, as has hitherto been the prac-
tice, it may fairly be assumed that in case of war, when all these
classes would be called in, there would be little difficulty in most
of the Divisions in bringing the corps of Elite up to the normal
establishment. In order, however, to meet this contingency, it
is provided that, in case of war, the several units of the Elite
can be completed or reinforced by men of the Landwehr of any
canton.
* The turn out of the Landwehr troops at the repetition
courses is also generally satisfactory, although it is evident that
No distinction
between peace
and war estab-
lishments,
56 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
in the course of years there must be a great number of casual-
ties among this class of troops.
A. INFANTRY.
ESTABLISHMENT OF CoMPANY OF FUSILIERS OR
CARABINIERS.
Officers. N.C.0.’s. Men.
Captain A as ae ie 1 . e
1st Lieutenants ae i ee 2 on :
Lieutenants .. ae ss oe 2 . e
Sergeant-Major oe ee ve ne 1 oe
Quartermaster-Sergeant .. . ee 1 ee
Sergeants .. a ar aa ae 8 ae
Corporals .. e an es oe 16 +e
Pioneers! ., we we oe ais a 4
Trumpeters .. ee oe ee is ee 33
Drummers .. se an ws oe +. 2?
Hospital Attendant? ee ve ee ais 1
Privates ve ee “ oe a 144
5 26 154#
1 Attached from Engineers.
2 Carabinier companies have no drummers, but have four in place of three
trumpeters.
3 Attached from Sanitary Troops.
* Total establishment of men of Carabinier companies is 153.
Of the above, 8 sergeants, 16 corporals and 144 men = 168
of all ranks, armed with rifles, carry 100 rounds of ammunition
each, viz., 40 in the pouch and 60 in the knapsack; the 4
pioneers, who, however, are not considered combatants, carry
40 rounds each. Thus, for the company, the ammunition ordi-
narily carried on the person is 16,800 rounds for combatants,
and 160 rounds for pioneers.
The entrenching tools carried by the men in each company
are as follows:—40 Linnemann _ spades, 20 picks, 8 small axes,
and 4 jointed saws; the latter, however, may be carried in the
battalion fourgon. Landwehr Infantry do not carry pioneer
tools.
Companies are numbered 1 to 4 in each battalion.
A company marching singly is entitled to a requisitioned
one-horsed cart for the conveyance of officers’ baggage.
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS.
ESTABLISHMENT OF BATTALION OF FUSILIERS OR
57
CARABINIERS.
Horses.
Battalion Staff. g 3 Le 2 &
qe / S| g¢@}s]8 | &
° a a mn A 5
Battalion Commander (Major).. 1 is es 2 Bay | he
an Adjutant (Captain) .. wail) ~ ab ve te 2 ve .
Quartermaster (Lieutenant, 1st Lieu-
tenant, or Captain)! .. a a 1 oe 1 ve *e
Medical Officers (do.)* .. oe ars 2- oe sia 2 oe ee
Ensign (Adjutant N.C. Officer) well we 1 ate oe “8 a
Armourer N.C. Officer .. or ee] ve 1 oe sre oe .
Pioneer N.C. Officer? .. ne cal oe 1 se “8 sts :
Lance-Corporal of Train et lll! “aes He 1 a oe o
Train Soldiers* .. 323 ne oe{ ae oe 6 ee es oe
Trumpeter Corporal .. ‘ ee] cee 1 we Sie os ve
N.C. Officer Hospital Attendant! oe| oe 1 os as oe oe
Hospital Attendants? .. ets ater} “isis ee 2 MS “ an
N.C. Officer Bearer .. ia, || aie 1 ae ie a's a
Bearers* .. ve oe as o| as 12 se ia oe
Armourers- ee as oe ‘ ee ais 2 3s he a
Ammunition Wagons .. a ool oe oe e sie 4 2
Battalion Wagon (fourgon) .. col Gee Se oo as 3 1
Baggage Wagon® os ee eee “abe is iy is 2 1
Provision Wagons® ie ie aul hes ee as ve 4 2
Total, Staff .. . | 5 6 | 23 7 | 13 6
4 Companies, as above .. . +e] 20 | 104 | 616°] .. 3
Total Battalion .. oe «| 25 | 110 | 6397 7 13 6
All Ranks. Horses.
Officers .. Si os 25
N.C. Officersand men .. 749
774
1 Attached from Administrative Troops.
2 Attached from Engineers.
3 Attached from Artillery (Linientrain).
4 Attached from Sanitary Troops.
Saddle .. ne ig
Draught
5 No regulation baggage or provision wagons have been issued; on mobilisation,
therefore, country carts must be requisitioned. According to a law passed
in June, 1889, each battalion is to be at once provided with the following
carriages, in place of those enumerated above :—Iwo new 2-horsed ammu-
nition wagons ; five 2-horsed company wagons for corps equipment, baggage
and provisions; there will also be three 2-horsed requisitioned carriages
for cooking utensils and blankets; total, 10 carriages and 20 horses.
As soon as the new carriages are provided, the Line train will be increased
to ten men and a lance-corporal (see page 202). These carriages are already
being manufactured.
6 612 in Carabinier Battalions.
7 Total establishment of men in Carabinier Battalions is 635,and total all
ranks 770.
Of the above, the following are considered non-comba-
tants :—
58 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Medical Officers 2 3 a Cavalry.
© Staff Clerk Corps.
As there are only 4 combatants on the Brigade Staff (in-
cluding the Train Lieutenant), the total number of combatants
is 4,330; the total of effective rifles, 4,032,
The appointment of a brigade Medical Officer was sanc-
tioned in 1837, but as yet only about half of the brigades have
been provided (1888).
All the above establishments apply equally to the Land-
wehr, the highest combined unit of which is the brigade.
The brigades are numbered I. to XVI.; the Ist and IInd
belonging to the Ist Division, [[Ird and IVth to the IInd, andso
on throughout the 8 Divisions.
In order to ascertain to what regiment, brigade, or Division
a given Fusilier battalion belongs, it is sufficient to divide its
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS. 61
number (as shown by the shoulder straps) by 3, 6, or 12. The
quotient, if there be no remainder, is the number of the regiment,
&c.; if there is a remainder, the battalion belongs to the next
higher regiment, &c.
B. CAVALRY.
ESTABLISHMENT OF SQUADRON OF DRAGOONS.
Horses.
e;/o/|s/3/e | &
° a a n A 5
Captain .. site an 1 ns sie 2 es oe
1st Lieutenant .. 1 . ‘ 2 . .
Lieutenants 2 . ‘ 4 oe ee
Veterinary Surgeon! 1 a i 1 . oe
Sergeant-Major .. aD és sel oe 1 as 1 +.
Quartermaster-Sergeant.. ve oe] oe 1 as 1 ee
Sergeants .. . oe o. 3 a 3 oe ve
‘Corporals.. os oe . 12 ve 12 . oe
Hospital Attendant! .. . a6 ae 1 1 4 oe
Farriers .. aie ee +. ae'| Sea is 2 2 a .
Saddler .. o. as os se] oe oe 1 1 ae a
Trumpeters os .. oe asf one oe 4 4 ee .
Dragoons .. a ats . vel ee dia 90 90 a on
Train Soldiers? .. aw . aa) ie 4 a es ae
Provision Wagons* a es sa] ee + ve 4 2
Field Forge “e a is ae 4 1
5 | 17 | 102 | 124 8 | 38
All Ranks. Horses,
Officers .. os ac 5 Saddle .. as +. 124
N.C. Officers andMen .. 119 Draught .. ee Sie 8
124 132
1 Attached from Sanitary Troops.
? Attached from Artillery (Linientrain).
3 Not yet issued ; must be requisitioned on mobilisation.
The veterinary surgeon, quartermaster-sergeant, hospital
attendant, 2 farriers, saddler, and 4 train-soldiers being con-
_—sidered non-combatants, the squadron counts 114 combatants,
of whom 105 (viz., the sergeants, corporals, and dragoons) carry
carbines with 60 rounds. The 5 officers, the sergeant-major,
quartermaster-sergeant, and 4 trumpeters, carry revolvers with
60 rounds. Thus, for the squadron, the ammunition ordinarily
carried on the person is 6,300 rounds for carbines and 660 for
revolvers.
The pioneer tools carried by the squadron are as follows :—
62 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
: g
mo o
aes s a s :
5 a S 3 E
aja fi[4]h|4
In provision wagons =e an oe . . . 8) ..
In field forge .. 7 “ ie 1 1 2 te, 1
Carried by N.C. Officers ve oe on| ve ee . 15 ee
Carried by farriers and saddler.. cade he oe 3]. ‘
Total 1 1 5 15 1
1 Only in case of regulation wagons being issued.
2 On saddles.
3 Under consideration.
For the carriage of squadron officers’ baggage, a 1-horsed
cart may be requisitioned.
Squadrons are numbered 1 to 24, 1 to 3 forming the Ist
Regiment, 4 to 6 the 2nd, and so on.
ESTABLISHMENT OF DRAGOON REGIMENT.
Horses. |
‘cain . : a
3 = d is| 8 EB
4 o 2 3 g 3
° ai a n A 5
Regimental Commander ee 1 . oe 3 ee '
(Lieut.-Colonel or ats)
Adjutant i . wef 1 ee we 2 “
(Captain or Lieutenant)
Quartermaster! .. as 1 7 1 a .
(Captain)
Medical Officer’. . oe ee 1 a . 1 . ‘
Total Staff 4 ‘is oe Di Sy “
8 Squadrons, as above.. aa oe| 15 51 | 306 | 372 24 9
Total regiment ..| 19 51 | 306 | 379 24, 9
All ranks. Horses,
Officers ee 19 Saddle ., sie ee 879
N. C. Officers and men ss 867 Draught .. a we 24
376 408
1 Attached from Administrative troo
? Attached from Sanitary Troops. =
The total number of combatants, including: 2 officerg
Regimental Staff, is 344, The total arhtathition, ee
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS. 63
18,900 rounds for carbines, and 2,100 for revolvers. The reserve
ammunition (7,500 rounds for carbines, 8,000 for revolvers)
is carried in a special wagon in the Divisional Park. There is
no regimental carriage.
In peace time the baggage of the staff is carried in one of
the squadron wagons. On active service a light 2-horsed country
cart would be requisitioned.
Regiments of Cavalry are numbered from 1 to 8, each
belonging to the Division bearing the corresponding number:
ESTABLISHMENT OF COMPANY OF GUIDES.
Bic). lad
e Q 8 | 35
o|/a4/] sa |aw
Officers (Captain, Ist Lieutenant, or Lieutenant) .. 2 . . 4
Sergeant-Major .. , battery store wagon 3 1 7
» 9, field forge 2 1 1
i cas baggage wagon .. 1 1 1
» 99 provision wagon.. a 3
Total per battery os 25 16° 28
In the case of the Landwehr batteries the cantons provide
the personnel only, horses and matériel of every kind being fur-
nished by the Confederation.
There being only one field battery in each Landwehr
Divisional District, there are no combined units of Artillery
in that force.
(2745) E
66 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Field batteries of the Elite are numbered 1 to 48. Nos. 1 to
6 belong to the Ist brigade of Artillery, and consequently to
the Ist Division; 7 to 12 to the IInd brigade (and Und
Division), andsoon. Further, the batteries with the two lowest
numbers in each brigade form the 1st regiment of that brigade,
those with the next highest numbers the 2nd regiment, the
other two batteries the 3rd regiment of the brigade. Excep-
tions occur in the Vth Division, where the 25th and 28th
batteries form the Ist regiment, the 26th and 27th the 2nd;
and in the VIIth Division, where the 37th and 41st batteries
form the 1st regiment, the 38th and 39th the 2nd, and the 40th
and 42nd the 3rd.
The Landwehr field batteries are numbered 1 to 8, ‘and do
not oe to the Divisional Districts bearing the same
number.
IL.—Park Columns.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PARK COLUMNS.
Columns A and B each.| Column A./ Column B,
a 3 a
5 & ai g a
— B.| 2 | 8 5
at) & | 2 letra le
ie lea) 2 | 218) 2 ts
g10 oo = ao 3 ap 3s
5 Og rel B . 3 i
a/O/es| 3] 8 || & /E
O;4]xH n A Oo) a 1S
Captain .. dis +e wal] Laie 2 on ve oe fae
1st Lieutenants .. oe awl) 2] ies oo 2 ee seo fe
Lieutenants oe oe 2)... oe 2 ate .
Medical Officer! .. oe eof Lee o 1 +. eo | oe | oe
Veterinary Surgeon! +e oof L].. . 1 +e ve a
Adjutant N.C. Officer .. va 1] .. 1 a ce fae
Sergeant-Major .. se +e De aie 1 ee | oe .
Quartermaster-Sergeant .. 9 || aes Ei wee 1 ee a we Pie
Sergeant of Train? oe as ell. ats 1 os * eo | oe
Sergeants of Park.. a eof 5 | oe . 3 : a jpeg
Corporals of Train? 3s Oe 4) .. 4 te : we a
Lance-Corporals of Park.. sa fie 10 . . . .
Lance-Corporals of ‘Train cel ve | oe 16 ie * ae .
Hospital Attendant! as cefoe | oe 1 as : .
Bearers! .. a as ae |e. ba 2 <9 ed Shae Wess
Farriers .. . oe we] ge ee 2 oe oe ‘ os oe
Saddlers .. oe oe sefice Loe 2 i a i a oe
Trumpeters oe a a ei
Collar Makers ,. . em wf ee oe 2 i . os
Grain Soldiers: 65 sy ew ke we ft aw FBO | ae | ome | oe
Horses .. oe . oe aia xa oe oe * 114 ie
Total, 1st Division i 3 7 81 12 | 114 88
' Attached from Sanitary Troo i
. h ps. The Medical Officer Adj
mae st TOO} 7 d r goes as jutant to
ea ot Staff when the divisions join Engineer battalion and Administrative
a ean of this division among the companies of Engineer battalion
* For carriages see Engineer battalion,
78 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
@
g ; Horses. .
Ba F
. . Q
—_— - 8 ~ 3 a 3} 3s 8
8 ° gs | sp |) 8
a/o|es)3 |e] 3
° a 4 mn A |] Oo
IInd DIVISION.
(Attached to Administrative Company.)
Captain .. i or eo| 1 ve on 1 “ .
Lieutenants .. ee oe ve 2 ee we 2 3 je
Veterinary Surgeon’ ., . we] 1 se e 1 ae ai
Sergeant-Major .. ae ae ee] ove 1 : 1 ots a
Quartermaster-Sergeant 7 eel oe 1 e 1 ois ea
Sergeants... *s oa oe ae] oe 3 ee .3 ne .
Corporals ee oe, oe ail) os 6 oe 6 i ve
Lance-Corporals.. .. ue cel as oe 18 ee ‘ as
Trumpeters ee . eal cats an 3 3 ve
Farriers .. a a ais wel se as 3 es ; ve
Wheelwrights .. ats ee sof oe os 2 a a ni
Collar Makers .. se we ael| ces “ 2 ar . a
Hospital Attendant! ., . eo] ee aa 1 se 4 iss
Train Soldiers .. "6 ae seh ae oe 76 oe a oh
Draught Horses. . oe oe of ee oe . oe | 154 .
Total, 2nd Division ..| 4 11 | 105 |- 18 | 154-4 -40%
IInd DIVISION OF LANDWEHR
TRAIN BATTALION.
(Attached to Elite Field Hospital.)
Captain or Ist Lieutenant .. ae 1 oe : 1 9 a
Lieutenant ae +e . ae 1 ee oe 1 a ‘e
Veterinary Surgeon! .. oe as 1 es ste 1 ee
Sergeant-Major .. ‘ . wal Gis 1 a 1 a on
Quartermaster-Sergeant a colt ws 1 oi 1 we we
Sergeant .. oe ve oe sof oes 1 oe 1 oe on
Corporals “is es an gist] ass 4 ae 4 a3 te
Lance-Corporals. . an oe aa ats we 14 is ae a
Trumpeters oe ve an wn| a an 2 2 ais a
Wheelwright .. a8 o ail, - are . 1 se ae a
Farriers.... je ae oe ae l-\ Ss a 2 as sie .
Collar Makers .. we a wy) as ws 2 on ‘
Train Soldiers .. a oe So: See a 60 te ie -
Draught Horses,. ve o ve] oe . Se ove 106
Total, 2nd Landwehr Division elie 7 81 12 | 106 | 388
», Staff (as above) | 8 os rr 4 a “
» Ast Division ws 3 i 81 12 | 114 30
» 2nd Division >, 4 11 105 18 154 40
» 2nd Landwehr Division .., 3 7 81 12 | 106 38
Total, Train Battalion --{| 18 25 | 267 46 | 374 | 708
1 Attached from Sanitary Troops,
® For carriages see Administrative Company.
3 For carriages see Field Hospital (Elite).
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS. 79
All ranks, Horses.
Elite -. 10 Elite «. 84
Officers a ** | Landwehr 3 Saddle.. °* | Landwehr 12
Elite ee 204 Elite: «. 268
N.C. Officers and men } 744 dwehr 88 Draught -© 1 Landwehr 106
305 420
All the officers, non-commissioned officers, and trumpeters
carry revolvers, with 40 rounds each; total, 1,800 rounds.
A one-horsed cart will be requisitioned for the carriage of
the officers’ baggage of each division.
The establishments of the Ist and 8rd divisions of a
Landwehr train battalion are the same as those of the Ist and
2nd divisions of an Elite battalion respectively. .
The Train battalions are numbered I. to VIII.; the divi-
sions are numbered 1 and 2 in the Elite, and 1 to 3 in each
Landwehr battalion.
VIII.—Artijficer Companies.
ESTABLISHMENT OF ARTIFICER COMPANY.
Officers. N.C.0.’s. Men.
Captain ue . os 1 °
Lieutenant... os oe 1 oe ee
Sergeant-Major .. ee se An ee 1 :
Quartermaster-Sergeant .. . a oe 1
Sergeants .. ss 2 oa . oe 10 as
Hospital Attendan oe oe we we on 1
Trumpeters os . oe oe oe oe 2
Artificers .. v se oe oe oe +e 143
Total ee 2 12 146
Artificers, as a rule, move only by railway.
Men of the Artificer companies are neither trained nor
armed as soldiers, their instruction being confined to the follow-
ing duties: fitting up improvised field workshops, working the
transportable machines for the manufacture of ammunition,
making up expended ammunition cases, &c., for Infantry and
Artillery.
The Artificer companies of both Elite and Landwehr are
numbered 1 and 2 respectively.
IX.—Depét Parks.
On mobilisation, a depot park for the supply of ammunition
(Depotpark ; Pare de a) is formed for each Army Division,
under the command of a Staff Officer of Artillery, the personnel
being provided by the Landwehr park columns. These parks
80 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
have no establishment of horses, and the ammunition will
therefore be fetched from them by detachments of the Divi-
sional parks or pushed forward by rail, or by means of
requisitioned horses. .
Each depot park is provided with 13 Infantry ammunition
wagons, one for each battalion of the Division, each of-which
contains 12,000 rounds of rifle and 200 rounds of revolver
ammunition; total, 156,000 and 2,600 rounds respectively, or
about 19 rounds per man, ready for immediate transport. There
are, moreover, 93,000 rifle cartridges, 7,200 for each battalion,
or about 11 rounds per man in magazine, packed in cases ready
for transport by rail or requisitioned carriages.
For the Elite Artillery each depdt park is provided with 12
Artillery ammunition wagons, two per battery, and six spare
limbers. Each wagon carries three chests, containing 40 rounds
each, and 2 case shot are carried in the wagon limbers, giving
a total of 244 rounds on wheels, or 403 rounds per gun. In
addition, 100 rounds per battery gun are kept in reserve in the
magazine of the depédt park and 400 rounds for the 7th (reserve)
gun. For the Landwehr 8-4 cm. guns a similar reserve is
maintained. For the Mountain Artillery the reserve is 800
rounds per battery.
D. ENGINEERS.
I.—Engineer Battalion.
ESTABLISHMENT OF ENGINEER BATTALION.
‘3 Horses.
ee
ag
62 Fe os ° g : n
g 2 19 ; Re o
£10 /s8ls |? 4
S/2 \2°\ S18 | 3
2 42 |aA wR A 5
STAFF.!
Battalion Commander (Major) 1 a 2
Adjutant (Captain) .. oe 1 oe 2
Quartermaster? 1 7 25 1
Medical Officers* See be «.| 1-2 . bea 1-2
Armourer an . o oe 1 oe
Locksmiths : 2
Wheelwright .. avs . 1
Staff Wagon ( fourgon).. os saul li tees aa ae a6 3t 1
Ammunition (Miners’) Wagons aa} | 98 ee oe oe 4 2
Baggage Wagon.. oe is a ee ie 7 2 1
Total, Staff ..) 5 | .. 4 7 9 4
1 Attached of 1st division Train battalion
1 saddle-horse, 9 draught-horses.
? Attached from Administrative Troops.
3 Attached from Sanitary Troops.
‘4 The Train draught horses are inserted in this table merely to show how the
Engineer wagons are horsed.
:—1 corporal, 1 lance-corporal, 8 men,
ORGANISATION OF THE TROOPS BY ARMS. 81
x]
g ; Horses.
Fa é
— $ a i 3 o
glslez;a]/e] 2
eloSlie*igle| &
° 4 |x n A o
Ist COMPANY (SAPPERS).!
Captain .. wa ee aD vs, od mo we 1 se aa
1st Lieutenant .. ne oe oe 1 ae ats 1 oe ae
Lieutenants is ae ae o 2 oe oe oe o. i
Sergeant-Major .. a ee se| oe 1 ee +e oe oe
Quartermaster-Sergeant 5 ve] one 1 se ee a i
Sergeants” any ae aie sel ee 10 ate oe «s as
Lance-Corporals. . ae an eo] ee oe 10 oe oe a
Drummers se 26
3. ,, father or mother, up to .. i be 8
» both together, up to ae a i 16
4, ,, each brother or sister if orphans, up to.. 4
» brothers and_ sisters, orphans, together,
upto... te an os % 10
5. ,, a grandfather or a grandmother, up to.. 6
‘5 * and grandmother, together,
upto .. ie a is as 10
The amount of these pensions and indemnities may be
doubled if the invalid or deceased soldier voluntarily exposed
himself to great danger for the benefit of his country.
Applications for pensions and indemnities must be made
through the cantonal governments within one year of the
occurrence or alteration of health on which the claim is founded.
They are addressed to the Federal Council, which is the supreme
authority in all matters relating to pensions.
Every three years the Council nominates a commission, Pension com-
which sits under the direction of the Military Department, and ™**°™
investigates all claims on behalf of the Council. This “Pen-
sions-Kommission ” consists (1889) of the Chief Medical Officer,
a Brigadier Colonel and a Lieut.-Colonel of Infantry, and a
Medical Officer.
Pensions are granted for one year only, and the pension list
is revised annually with the object of determining whether they
shall be continued or modified. They are not subject to any
tax, and cannot be seized or impounded for debt.
The amounts paid by the Confederation in 1888 for pensions
and indemnities were as follows :—
£ sd.
79 indemnities to invalids ne 1.017 0 0
147 pensions to orphans .. es 1,129 12 0
Tell 5, we £oi46 12 0
The expenditure under this head is met by the revenue of Invalid funds.
the invalid fund, which is principally kept up by fines, and by
sums voted in the Budget. In December, 1887, the fund
amounted to 15,7210.
There are several other invalid funds created by private
individuals and administered by the Confederation, of which
the most important are the Grenus Fund and the Winkelried
Foundation. The former is restricted to the relief of sufferers
by war, and cannot be employed until the Confederation has
itself made sacrifices. In 1887 it amounted 184,717/. The
Assistance to
relatives of
soldiers dur-
ing war.
Three modes
of subsisting
troops.
Rations in
kind.
172 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Winkelried Foundation, supported by voluntary contributions,
amounted at the same time to 22,2931.
The cantons are bound to give sufficient material assistance,
and to provide counsel and protection, to all relations of soldiers
who are reduced to want.owing to their natural protectors
being employed in military service; but it is forbidden to the
cantons and communes to give any assistance in cash to men
who are serving.
CHAPTER XII.
RATIONS, FORAGE, AND QUARTERS.
1, Rations.
THE subsistence of men and horses is provided for, according
to circumstances, in one of the following ways :—
(a.) Issue of rations and forage in kind (Naturalverpflegung ;
Subsistance en nature), when the troops draw the articles of food
through the contractors, from army magazines, or by
requisition.
(b.) Subsistence in billets (Gemeinde- or Quartierverpflegung ;
Subsistance par les habitants), when the troops are fed by the
inhabitants.
(c.) Self-subsistence (Geld- or Selbstverpflegung ; Subsistance en
espéces), when a money allowance is given to the troops in lieu
of provisions.
Issue of Rations in Kind.
On active service the daily ration (Mundportion, Ration)
consists of 1lb. 100z. bread, 13:1 0z. fresh meat, 5:2 to 7 oz.
vegetables (peas, rice, barley, &c.), 0°7 oz. salt, 0°5 oz. roasted
coffee, 0°7 oz. sugar; 11b. 1:6 oz. biscuits may be substituted
for 1lb. 10 0z. bread, and 9:7 oz. salt meat, or 8°8 oz. smoked,
dried, or tinned meat, or bacon, or 8:8 oz. cheese, for 13:1 oz.
fresh meat.
American corned beef was issued occasionally at the courses
and manceuvres in 1880-7, and favourably reported upon, and
it is proposed to keep up a supply of 100,000 rations. Experi-
RATIONS, FORAGE, AND QUARTERS. 173
ments are also being made with a Swiss preserved meat, which
requires heating.
When the troops are exposed to severe work or very cold
weather, extra subsistence may be. issued, consisting of an
additional 4:4 oz. meat or its equivalent, or 2°3 to 4-4 oz. cheese,
and 0°52 to 0°88 pint wine, or 0-1 to 0:17 pint spirits; or the
wine alone may be issued.
The emergency ration (Nothportion, eiserne Portion ; Ration de Emergency
réserve), Which is carried on active service and only used by ™#0-
special order, consists of 11b. 1:6 oz. biscuit or flour, or 1b.
10 oz. desiccated bread, 8:8 oz. smoked, dried, or preserved
meat, 0°5 oz. salt, 0°5 oz. roasted coffee, and 0-7 oz. sugar. Fresh
or preserved vegetables can be substituted for 1:76 oz. meat.
For purposes of calculation the weight of this ration is taken as
1b. 12-2 oz.
The daily allowance of wood for cooking purposes is 1:3
cubic yards for 120 men in bivouac with open fire, for 180 men
in camp with field kitchens, or for 240 men with built kitchens,
_ In time of peace the daily ration consists of 1 Ib.. 10-5 oz.
bread and 11:28 oz. meat. Asa rule the troops find their own
fuel and vegetables, receiving a daily indemnity of 118d. per
man in recruits’ schools, and 145d. in other courses. Officers
are entitled to this allowance when they draw rations.
Extra subsistence is seldom issued during peace time, and
is principally restricted to divisional and brigade exercises.
A daily deduction of 13d. to 113d., at the discretion of the Messing of
Commanding Officer, is made from each man’s pay for messing, '°OP®-
ie., to cover the expenses of preparing the meals, viz., breakfast
(chocolate or café au lait), dinner (soup, meat, and vegetables),
and supper (thick soup), and to provide various small necessaries,
such as cleaning material, &c.
Each company or smaller independent detachment forms a
mess (Ordindre ; Ordinaire), managed by a non-commissioned
officer, and under the special superintendence of the Quarter-
master, Company Chief, or Officer of the day. Besides the daily
deduction from the man’s pay, above mentioned, the mess fund
receives the indemnity for vegetables, coffee, salt, and wood, in
cases where any of these are provided by the troops.
If the men cook their own food, the arrangements for cook-
ing are made either by messes or companies, and in this case
the Commanding Officer decides whether the officers sha!l form
a mess or contract for the supply of their meals.
In all the large barracks where instructional courses are
held, furnished mess rooms (Kantinen) are provided for officers
and for non-commissioned officers, meals being provided at a
fixed rate by contractors.
Subsistence in Billets.
_ Officers and men, when quartered on the inhabitants, may Subsistence in
demand the customary food of the country, which will consist billets.
Self subsist- i
ence,
Field forage
ration.
174 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
of breakfast, dinner, and supper. Ifthe troops have rations of
bread and meat issued to them, they are entitled to prepare
their meals in their billets, or to have them prepared gratis by
the persons on whom they are billeted. Ifa general cooking
is ordered for troops in billets or temporary quarters, the com-
mounes have to supply suitable cooking places and utensilg
gratis, and the necessary salt, vegetables, and wood, receiving
for the latter the amount authorised by the Federal Council in
time of war, and the market price in time of peace.
The indemnity paid by the Confederation to the communes
for the subsistence of troops quartered on them is 98d. daily for
rations, if the full meals are provided.
Self Subsistence.
The troops find their own subsistence for man and horse’
when for any reason they cannot be provided with rations in
kind or be billeted; ¢eg., during assembly and dismissal, and in
the case of men travelling singly or in detachments of less
than 10 men. Troops on the march, who are only partially
subsisted by the communes, receive a money allowance for the
meals or portions of meals not provided by the inhabitants.
During instructional courses, officers receive the money allow-
ance in lieu of rations, unless the Commandants of the courses
direct that subsistence in kind shall be issued.
The daily allowance for rations for all ranks is 9$d., but the
Federal Council may increase the amonnt in time of war or in
case of provisions being exceptionally dear.
2. Forage.
Forage rations for horses (saddle and draught horses, and
pack animals alike) are of three kinds.
(a.) The field ration (Feldration or starke Ration; Ration de
campagneor forte) consists of 11 lbs. oats, 13-2 Ibs. hay, and 7-7 Ibs.
straw. It is issued in the field, and in time of peace during
the following courses and exercises, when the horses are liable
to heavy work: all repetition courses, the 2nd half of recruits’
schools of all arms, the last 3rd of remount courses, and during
marches and reconnaissances.
(b.) The ordinary ration (Schwache Ration ; Ration faible or
ordinaire) consists of 8°8 Ibs. oats, 11 lbs. hay, and 7:7 lbs.
straw. It is issued during all other courses than the above. If
it is considered necessary to increase this allowance within the
limit of the field ration at any particular part of the course,
school commandants must obtain authority from the Military
Department.
‘An equal weight of old baked bread, maize, barley, and in
time of scarcity rye or wheat, may be substituted for the oats,’
RATIONS, FORAGE, AND QUARTERS. 175°
or 1} times its weight of bran, or twice to 24 times its weight
of hay. If the hay cannot be provided, the oats may be in-
creased to 15°4 Ibs. at the outside, but in that case straw or
green food is to be given. The equivalent weights of other
substitutes are given in the “ Stalldienst-Reglement.”
Experiments were made in 1886-7 with turf-litter, but the
results do not appear to have been very favourable.
(c.) The emergency ration (Nothportion ; Ration de réserve) Emergency
which is carried by mounted troops on active service, consists fT? tation.
of 13:2 to 15-4 Ibs. oats, or even 11 to 13-2 lbs. old baked bread
or an equivalent amount of forage biscuit.
In the Cavalry, horses are fed with oats and hay three times
a day in equal portions. In the Artillery and Army Train, oats
are given three times a day and hay four times, in equal
portions.
The daily allowance in lieu of forage as fixed in 1887 was
1s. 64d.; for 1889 it is 1s. 52d.
The forage rations are as a rule provided by the Military
Administration in time of peace. In time of war the proprietors
of localities in which troops may be quartered, if the communes
do not undertake the entire subsistence of the horses at the
above rate, are bound to find 7:7 lbs. straw for each horse daily
inreturn for an indemnity of 25 per cent. of the market value
and the used litter.
If cattle for slaughter have to be fed by the Commissariat,
33 Ibs. hay, or their equivalent, are required for every 1,103 lbs.
live weight.
There are federal forage magazines at Biére, Bern, Thun,
Herzogenbuchsee, Lucerne, Brunnen, Olten, Aarau, Zurich,
Winterthur, Komanshorn, Rorschach, and Luziensteig. At the
end of 1887 there were 74 million lbs. of oats in store at these
places; hay and straw at Thun.
3. Quarters.
In accordance with Art. 221 of the Law of Military Organi- Modes of
sation, the quartering of the troops devolves upon the Con- ee
federation, and it is carried out in one or other of the following ros
manners :—
1. In barracks or buildings used as such.
2. In cantonments, which are classed as (a) Bereitschaftslokale,
Locaun provisoires, temporary quarters ; and (b) Alarmquartiere,
Quartiers d’alarme, alarm quarters.
By Bereitschaftslokale are meant public buildings, dancing
rooms, empty manufactories, barns, &c., suitable for occupation
by troops. Troops are said to be in Alarmquartiere when
complete detachments, sections, pelotons, companies, &c., are
quartered in buildings in such a way that their tactical unity
and preparedness for action are not interfered with.
3. In billets with the inhabitants.
Barracks,
Cantonments.
Billets.
176 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND,
4, In temporary camps—(a) Bivouacs, and (b) Ortschaftslager,
Camps de localités—and standing camps.
The term Ortschaftslager is used to denote a combination
of close cantonments, as defined below, and Alarmquartiere
with bivouacs in and about the locality occupied.
Barracks.
Troops are quartered in barracks whenever there is sufficient
accommodation. During instructional service each man has a
claim to a single bed, unless the assembly of large bodies of
troops necessitates the use of straw in place of beds. Officers,
and when possible the higher non-commissioned officers, are
accommodated apart from the men. Frequently two or three
officers occupy the same room, but superior officers have sepa-
rate rooms.
The Confederation pays a fixed indemnity for the housing of
troops in cantonal barracks during instructional service ; in time
of Aa indemnity is paid for lighting, heating, and cleansing
only.
Cantonments.
In the “ Verwaltungs-Reglement” a distinction is drawn
between—
(a) Extended cantonments (Weite Kantonnirung ; Cantonne-
ments étendus), which are more properly termed quartering on
the inhabitants, when one Infantry soldier is told off to one
fireplace or to five inhabitants, a Cavalry man being reckoned
as two Infantry men, and two Artillerymen as three Infantry
men ;
(b) Close cantonments (Enge Kantonnirung ; Cantonnements
serrés), which principally take the form of temporary quarters,
when there are a8 many as five men to a fireplace, or one per
inhabitant.
The superficial space allowed per man in cantonments is
6-9 ft. x 2°1 (or 2-4) ft.; for each horse, 8-8 (or 9:8) ft. x 4:1 (or
4-9) ft, The stables must be at least 6-9 ft. high. Straw for
the men is reckoned at 17°6 lbs. per man for the first 5 days and
54 lbs. extra every 5 days; for horses 7-7 lbs. daily.
Billets.
Men in billets have a right to healthy and clean sleeping
accommodation. Officers can claim private rooms, with beds,
lights, and firing.
When troops are in billets or cantonments, the cantons are
beund to supply gratuitously (1) quarters and offices for the
staffs; (2) quarters and accommodation for the troops; (8)
RATIONS, FORAGE, AND QUARTERS. 177
stabling and stable necessaries; (4) kitchens and utensils for
cooking the meals; (5) guard rooms and workshops; (6) sick
rooms for corps and suitable places for establishing field
hospitals ; (7) space for parking wagons, &c.
Camps.
In camps, all officers are with or close to their men, and as
a rule live in exactly the same manner. Straw for the men is
allowed as in cantonments, but 17°6 Ibs. per man may be issued
in severe weather. Straw for horses (5°5 lbs.) is only very ex-
ceptionally allowed. 1:3 cubic yards of firewood for bivouac
fires are authorised for every 80 men, or 4 watch fires; double
the quantity being, however, allowed in very severe weather.
If the straw and wood are not supplied by the military adminis-
tration, they are found by the communes at market price.
During time of war, all buildings in the communes can be
utilised for the troops, such sleeping and cooking accommodation
being reserved for the inhabitants as is absolutely necessary.
The communes provide the following requirements in return
for an indemnity paid by the Confederatim:—(1) Straw for
cantonments, guard and sick rooms, and bedding for stables
(unless men and horses are subsisted by the communes at the
regulated rate); (2) lights for the same and for offices and
workshops; (3) fuel for offices, guard and sick rooms and work-
shops; (4) necessary alterations or temporary arrangements,
such as stands for arms and latrines; (5) camp arrangements
for men and horses: (6) wood for huts and field hospitals ;
(7) fuel for field kitchens and bakeries, straw and firewood
for bivouacs.
In time of war the communes or cantons supply gratui-
tously for the erection of standing hospitals (1) suitable build-
ings, for the interior arrangement and ultimate disinfection of
which the Military Administration is responsible; (2) suitable
ground for the erection of temporary buildings.
Any injury to cultivation and property caused by camps,
&c., is assessed in the same manner as at manceuvres.
(2745) M
Camps,
Obligations of
communes
and cantons,
Bequisitioned
carriage.
178 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XIII.
TRANSPORT.
THE communes are bound not only to provide all the requi-
sitioned carriage laid down in the regulations, for which they
receive an indemnity, but also to comply without delay with all
requisitions for transport for military purposes. Under the
latter head are included (a) provision and baggage wagons for
corps, (6) wagons for the sick required by the field hospitals
and transport columns of the sanitary reserve, (c) harness and
wagon covers for the above, if they cannot be furnished from
corps matériel, (d) wagons, horses and drivers for provision
eolumns and lines of communication carriage parks, (e) the
same for the transport of detachments and single soldiers, sick,
baggage, &c, for which army transport is not provided,
(7) horses for assisting transport to ascend steep hills, (g) pack
animals, carriers, guides, workmen, to clear and repair roads,
é&c., (h) transport boats.
In time of war, the carriages and harness under the heads
(a), (6), and (¢), forming part of corps matériel, are collected at
the same time as the horses and together with them valued by
the “ Valuation Committee,” assembled under the secret
“Reeulations for Mobilisation,” before being distributed to
corps. All other requisitioned horses and carriages which are
likely to be used for any length of time in the service arp
similarly valued.
In time of peace, the provision and baggage wagons,
attached to the troops as corps matériel, are valued and hired
for the particular service by the Cantonal Commissary, the
rate of hire being fixed by the Military Department.
The maximum value is fixed as follows :—
£ os. d.
For a J-horsed cart i es as 10 0 0
29 2 ” oe en oe 16 0 0
” 3-4 9 ao ee ee 22 0 0
» setof harness .. i a 216 0
When the service is completed, all requisitioned carriages,
horses, and harness, are again valued, and the assessed damages
paid-by the Military Administration.
Drivers, carriers, and guides are under military superinten-
dence and jurisdiction.
Requisitioned carriages, besides being of suitable form and
make, must fulfil the following conditions as to width of tire
and weight :---
TRANSPORT. 179
1-horsed carts must have 2 inches width of tire, and
weigh 5 cwt. 3 qrs. 17 lbs. to 7 cwt. 3 qrs.
14 Ibs.
2-horsed carts must have 23 to 3 inches width of tire,
and weigh 9 ewt. 3 qrs. 10 Ibs. to 11 cwt. 3 qrs.
7 Ibs.
3-4-horsed carts must have 22 to 34 inches width of tire,
en 13 cwt. 3 qrs. 3 lbs. to 17 cwt. 2 qrs.
24 Ibs.
The maximum loads, varying with the nature of the road,
&c., are to be for a pack animal 2204 to 3303 lbs., for a draught
horse 882 to 1,102 lbs., exclusive of weight of carriage.
The requisitioned carriage allowed for the transport of
officers’ baggage has been enumerated in the establishment
tables of the various units and staffs.
The limits for the baggage of officers and others are as
follows :—
lbs.
For a Colonel .. sie we ae os ie 110
» Other Field Officers a 8 si .. 88
mounted Captains es - 3 66
unmounted Captains and mounted Lieutenants 55
unmounted Lieutenants and Staff Clerks .. 44:
» Adjutant N.C. Officer .. .s ws .- =—-.22
The regulation size of the officers’ trunks is about 231” x 15”
x124”. Field officers are allowed two such trunks, other officers
one a-piece.
Regimental transport employed from stage to stage is paid
for at a fixed rate by the distance, either in cash or by coupons,
which latter must be forwarded by the communes to the Cantonal
Commissariat within 14 days for payment.
Transport required for any length of time is paid for by the
day, and drivers, carriers, and horses are subsisted like the
troops.
The rates of hire of wheeled and water transport are laid
down in the “ Verwaltungs-Reglement ;” in both peace and wat
time, however, transport may be provided by contract at the
discretion of the Military Department.
Military persons travellmg on duty in peace time by
steamboat, or crossing rivers by ferries, pay only half the
usual fares; detachments of ten or more men travel on routes.
Transport by Rail.
In time of peace, the federal and cantonal military
authorities are entitled to employ all Swiss railways for the
transport of troops and war material, and the railway companies
are bound to provide and keep up, at the cost of the Military
(2745) M2
Railway
transport.
180 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Administration, any special rolling stock, stations, lines, or
ramps which the Military Department may require for purely
military purposes.
Military persons travelling singly require tickets, and pay
only half the usual fares, detachments of ten men or more
travel on routes, and the companies are not bound to convey
parties of over 60 men by ordinary trains.
In time of war, when the railways are worked by the
military authorities, the rates for the carriage of troops and war
material are half of the ordinary peace rates, and sick and
wounded are carried free.
The railway carriages consist of passenger coaches, Ist,
2nd, and ard class (4 or 2-axled), goods wagons (covered or
open), platform trucks, and baggage vans (all 2-axled). Officers,
as arule, travel lst and 2nd class, non-commissioned officers and
men 3rd class. The space allotted to each soldier is the same
as in the case of ordinary passengers. If men have to travel
in goods wagons, they must be lighted and provided with six
transverse seats. Horses and cattle, as a rule, travel in covered
goods wagons, exceptionally in open wagons, in either case
usually six horses per wagon. Open goods wagons are used
for war material, and platform trucks for guns and military
carriages. Ammunition is carried in covered wagons provided
with spring buffers. Covered wagons measure about 17 feet
8 inches inside length; open wagons and platform trucks about
19 feet 8 inches. Details as to the number of guns and army
transport carriages that can be loaded on open wagons and
trucks, and precautions to be taken in the transport of gunpowder
and dynamite, are given in the “ Reglement fiir Militartrans-
porte auf Hisenbahnen, &c.,” 1885.
For military purposes the average rate of trains is taken as
15 miles per hour.
Calculations of the transport required for troops are made by
axles, and based on the assumption that 18 men, 3 to 34 horses,
4 to ? military carriages (or 1} axles of carriages that can, and
1 of such as cannot, be unlimbered), and 8,818 lbs. of provisions
and material, can be carried per axle of rolling stock.
The number and size of the trains required for the transport
of an Army Division are laid down in the “ Dienstanleitung fir
die Schweizerischen Truppen im Felde, 1882,” from which the
following table is extracted. It should, however, be observed,
that it is considered possible to reduce somewhat the number of
axles by employing composite 2nd and 8rd class carriages, in
which officers can be accommodated together with a certain
number of men. A detailed statement of the minimum transport
required for the various units, considered singly, is given in
Joenike’s “Guide de lOfficier Suisse.”
TRANSPORT. 181
NUMBER AND COMPOSITION OF RAILWAY TRAINS REQUIRED FOR
THE TRANSPORT OF AN ARMY DIVISION.
—e
Axles Required.
No. of 5 Goods Wagon
Trains. Unit, &. Passenger ‘Axles. Total Axles.
Coach
Axles,
Covered. | Open.
1 Divisional Staff ... ais ees 4 10 4 18 sy
Guide Company, No. i ats see 4 14 ee 18 ions
Staff of 1st Artillery Belgade te aes 4 4 2 10 a
Ambulance, No.1... eae ay 2 4 8 14 60
2 Staff of Ist Infantry Brigade .. was or 4 2 6
Infantry Battalion, No.1 . ie Ss 44 6 12 62 68
3 Staff of Ist Infantry Regiment soe ae a 4 2 6 -
Infantry Battalion, No.2 . ar Be 44 6 12 62 68
4 Infantry Battalion, No. 3 S55 be 44 6 12 wee 62
5 mace No. 1, with Artillery Regiment 8 36 24 aes 68
6 Battery No.2... 8 34 24 awe 66
7 Staff of 2nd Infantry Regiment we oes 4 2: 6 eee
Infantry Battalion No.4 ... aes, wed 44 6 12 62 68
8 Infantry Battalion No. 5 ea oi wee a 6 12 si 62
9 Infantry Battalion No 6 44 6 12 a 62
10 u equadrons Cavalry, with’ “Regimental 10 58 10 ry
Il 14 Squadrons Cavalry ... eit ats 10 58 8 u
12 Carabinier Battalion No. 1 a 44 6 12 . 62
13 Staff of 2nd Infantry Brigade. sae sia ee 4 2 6 aie
Infantry Battalion No.7 ... a¥s Bal 44 6 12 62 68
14 Staff of 3rd Infantry Regiment ; an wea os 4 2 6
é Infantry Battalion No.8 ... as “ad 44 6 12 62 68
15 Infantry Battalion No. 9 aie ‘I a 44 6 12 eis 62
16 Staff of 4th Infantry Regiment ate 4 2 6 5
Infantry Battalion No. 10 . 44 6 412 €2 08
17 bagi No. 3, with Artillery Regiment 8 36 24 ace 68
taff.
18 Battery No.4... aie Sie rr 8 34 24 66
19 Infantry Battalion No. il aa 44 6 12 62
20 Battery No. 5, with Artillery Regiment | 8 36 yoo 68
tal
21 Battery No.6... sis wee as 8 34 24 66
22 Infantry Battalion No. 12 aie de es “4 6 12 62
23 Sapper Company... 10 18 30 58 sue
Train Battalion, ‘Ist ‘division, with Bat- 6 1 6 64
talion Staff.
24 Pioneer Company, with Battalion aan 6 _ &
- Pontonier Company .. 8 20 $0 58 64
25 4 Administrative Company 2 24 40 ae | 66
26 4 Administrative Company 2 22 40 wos 64
27 Ambulance No 2... ved ais a ss 2 4 8 14
Ambulance No. 3 ) with Field Hospital 6 14 20 40
Ambulance No. 4 Staff.
Ambulance No.5... 2 4 8 14 68
28 } Divisional Park (4 Column ie with Stat... red 4 22 38 _ 64
29 } Divisional Park (} Column A) Bes 4 22 36 62
30 3 Divisional Park (4 Column B) aa 4 20 36 60
31 4 Divisional Park (4 Column B) 6 4 20 36 60
Postal.
Officers are entitled to send and receive all official corre-
spondence free by post during periods of service, and, in the
case of permanent officials—Inspectors, Corps Commanners.
Quartermasters, and others—at all times. -
Administra-
tion of
clothing, &e.
Provision of
clothing.
182 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XIV.
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS..
THE supreme administrative authority charged with the general
supervision of the issue and maintenance of clothing,* personal
and corps equipment, arms and ammunition, is the Chief of the
Administrative Section of the Administration of War Material,
who is assisted by an Inspector of Material. He takes over
material from the Chief of the Technical Section, who is
responsible for its purchase, manufacture, and repair. The
general duties of both these officials have been mentioned in
Chapter III.
L—Provision and Maintenance of Clothing and Equipment.
The clothing andjpersonal equipment of all troops, federal
and cantonal, with the exception of certain articles which have
to be provided by the men themselves, are furnished by the
cantons, the cost of the same being refunded by the Con-
federation. A detailed list of the various articles of clothing,
&c., will be found in a subsequent section of this chapter.
On commencing their military service, men are sent to the
recruits’ schools thoroughly provided with new clothing and
equipment, articles which have been worn during the first week
of service of other recruits and which for any reason have been
taken away from them being considered as new. The
indemnity to be paid by the Confederation is fixed annually
by the Federal Assembly, and the following tablet shows the
tariff for all arms for 1889.
# It is understood that the clothing is about to be transferred to the Central
Commissariat.
+ The items in this table are calculated to the nearest farthing.
183
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS.
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‘68ST ‘SLIQUONY JO LNANdINO|] GNV ONIHLOIO uod ALINWHGNI
Maintenance
of clothing.
Inspection.
184 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
The indemnity paid by the Confederation for the clothing
and equipment of recruits for 1889, in accordance with the
above tariff, amounted to 79,2751.
The furnishing of clothing to the troops is supervised on
behalf of the cantons by Controllers of Clothing — cantonal
functionaries—generally tailors, one of whom is employed in
each cantonal arsenal under the Intendant (Zeughaus Verwalter).
On the men joining recruits’ schools, their clothing and equip-
ments are carefully inspected by School Commandants, assisted
by the Instructors, and any articles which are not of the proper
quality or pattern are sent back to the cantons for immediate
replacement.
The clothing and equipments once issued remain in
possession of the men during their entire service; they continue
however, to be the property of the State, and cannot be sold,
exchanged without authority, pledged, or worn when the
wearer is not on duty. On passing into the Landwehr, all the
clothing, except the cloak and the cleaning materials, becomes
the property of the men, and all articles of equipment, except
the knapsack, are given up to the cantonal authorities. While
in the Landsturm, the cloak and knapsack remain in the men’s
possession as property of the State, and on the termination of
their Landsturn service these articles finally revert to the men.
Cavalry men give in their saddles on passing out of the
Elite.
The effects of men absent from’ the country, or whose
services are temporarily dispensed with on account of illness,
or on account of their civil functions (e.g., students of theology
or medicine, railway employés) are delivered up to the cantonal
magazines for custody.
The maintenance of the clothing and equipments, in the
hands of the troops and in store, devolves upon the cantons,
which, to enable them to meet the expenditure incurred in
this respect, receive a further annual indemnity of 7 per
cent. of the sum paid each year for the provision of the outfit
of recruits. Moreover, the cantons are entitled to the effects
of men who from any cause may be released from service before
the expiration of the full term, such articles forming what is
called the “war reserve,” and are further indemnified by the
Confederation for any articles which may be rendered unservice-
able by unavoidable accident in or out of the service.
In order to ensure that the clothing, &c., is thoroughly
serviceable, it is inspected each time the men assemble for duty
by Corps Commanders or School Commandants, and the cantons
are required to replace at once any articles which do not
conform to the standard as regards quality or pattern. Any
dispute on this subject is decided by the Military Department.
The clothing and equipment are also inspected annually by
District Commandants and cantonal officials at the one-day
inspection of arms and clothing. The cost of replacing or
repairing any effects which are found on these occasions to
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 185
have been damaged wilfully, through neglect, or from having
been worn when the men were not on duty, is recovered from
the offenders by the cantonal authorities, the men being also
liable to disciplinary punishment.
Orders for the repair or replacement of articles which are
injured during and in consequence of military service, without
any fault on the part of the men, as also of articles which are
provided by the Confederation (arms and leather-work belong-
ing to them, instruments and horse furniture) are made out by
Commandants of the various instructional courses.
Qn the conclusion of each tour of service the cantonal
controllers of clothing again inspect the clothing and equip-
ment of the men, and cause the necessary exchanges,
alterations, or repairs to be at once made.
The “ war reserve ” of clothing and equipment, as
previously stated, is formed of all articles definitely given in
by the wearers for any reason. Such of these as are not
required to replace destroyed clothing, &c., or to be sent to
barracks as fatigue cloaks, are to be used by the cantons to
repair or replace worn-out articles, or those that have become
too small for the wearers. The cantons are bound to repair
and thoroughly clean all effects thus taken into the “war
reserve,” and to make any alteration in size that may be
requisite to make them fit other and older men to whom they
may be issued, and if the partly worn articles in the reserve
do not suffice for the above purposes, new materials must be
provided. Separate lists of these articles, showing dates of
receipt and re-issue or disposal, are kept, and a statement of the
number of articles in the “ war reserve” and proposals for the
disposal of useless effects are submitted annually to the federal
authorities. The indemnity of 7 per cent. before referred to
is intended to meet the cost of all these services.
The clothing of all men and non-commissioned officers of
less than four or six years’ service respectively, which becomes
unserviceable through fair wear and tear, is replaced by new
clothing at the expense of the Confederation, except “minor
equipment,” which is taken from the reserve; in the case of
men of more than four or six years’ service, worn articles are
taken from the reserve.
In addition to the war reserve of clothing, &c., above
mentioned, two other reserves must be noticed. The cantons
are required to have in stock on the Ist January of each year
all the clothing and equipment, new and complete, required for
the recruits of the year, and also by way of a reserve a “second
equipment” for the recruits for one year. ‘This consists of
shakos, caps, tunics, blouses, cloaks, trousers, and spurs, the
quantity of each article being fixed by regulation according to
the average number of recruits of each arm furnished by the
canton ; but the numbers of individual articles may vary pro-
vided the total value is kept up. The oldest outfits in store
are to be issued to recruits each year and replaced by new
Reserves of
clothing, &c.
Provision of
small arms.
Maintenance
of small-arms.
Inspection.
186 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
articles. For this service an indemnity amounting to the
interest at 4 per cent. for 8 months on the value of the recruits’
outfit for the year is granted by the Confederation.
Further, an indemnity equivalent to the interest at 5 per
cent. for 12 months on the annual cost of the recruits’ outfit
has been granted in the Budgets of 1888 and 1889 for the
provision by the cantons of a “third equipment” for the.
recruits of those years. 8
The total cost of clothing and personal equipment provided
for in the Budget of 1889, including the indemnities above
mentioned and the provision of cloaks for the Landsturm, is
183,2751.
Small and side arms, together with all belts and leather-
work connected therewith, are provided by the Confederation, |
and issued to recruits by the cantons at the same time as the
clothing. As a general rule the arms issued are new.
The cost price of small arms, according to the Budget for.
1889, is as follows :—Vetterli rifle, 3. 4s.; ditto for Carabiniers,
31. 12s.; carbine, 21, 13s. 74d.
After passing through a recruits’ school, the Swiss soldier
retains his arms for the remainder of his service, being
responsible for the care of them as the property of the State.
The cantons are required to call in and take into store the
arms of men who (1) are about to absent themselves from the
country for a lengthened period, or are from other causes
unable to look after their weapons, (2) who neglect to take
proper care of their arms, (8) who are exempted from service,
temporarily or definitely, (4) who, after passing through a
recruits’ school, do not continue to bear arms (as students of
theology or medicine), and (5) who finally quit the service.
Cavalry men give up their carbine on passing into the Landwehr.
Officers and certain non-commissioned officers who do not
carry rifles are allowed the use of small arms for practising
purposes.
In order to ensure that proper care is taken of the arms in
the possession of the men, or deposited in federal or cantonal
arsenals, a Controller of Arms is appointed in each division
(two in the VIIIth). These federal employés are ex-Officers,
gunmakers by trade, and reside in their respective Divisional
Districts. Their duties comprise :—
(a) The annual inspection of firearms in the hands of men
of the Elite and Landwehr, the superintendence and control of
arrangements for the care of firearms temporarily placed in
store, and the inspection of arms at the Infantry recruits’
schools, Landwehr repetition courses, and schools of the special
arms. In respect of these matters they are under the orders of
the Divisional Colonel.
(6) The superintendance of the storage in federal and
cantonal arsenals of firearms which are intended for issue to
recruits or form the general war reserve, inspection of
armourers’ stores and stores of interchangeable articles,
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 187
superintendence of the workshops of civil armourers authorised
to repair military arms, examination of armourer recruits, and
attendance at schools for their instruction. In these respects
they are subordinate to the administrative section of the
Administration of War Material.
The annual inspection of arms in the hands of officers
and men of the Elite and Landwehr, which is combined with
the one-day inspection of clothing, is organised by the Divi-
sional Colonels according to a programme furnished by the
Controllers of Arms and in concert with the cantonal military
authorities, who are responsible for the summoning of the
men. The men assemble by communes or sections, and in addi-
tion to the Controller of Arms, the inspections are attended by
the Commandant of the recruiting district, the sectional chief,
the battalion armourer non-commissioned officer, and armourers.
Any minor repairs that are necessary are done on the spot by the
armourers; if the damage was caused through neglect, the
owner of the weapon pays the armourer for the work according
to a fixed tariff; repairs necessitated by fair wear and tear are
paid for by the Confederation. If the work cannot be executed
on the spot, the arms are sent to a cantonal arsenal, or to one of
the numerous civil gunsmiths licensed in each Divisional Dis-
trict, and who alone are authorised to execute the repair of
military arms. For offences in connection with attendance at
these inspections and the care of their weapons, the men are
lable to imprisonment and fines, in addition to the cost of
repairs. Half the amount of the fines is devoted to the
Winkelried Fund.
Supplementary inspections may also be held for the exami-
nation of the arms of men who for any reason failed to appear
at the general inspections above described, and lastly the arms
are inspected at all Infantry recruits’ schools, Landwehr trainings
and other instructional courses.
Saddlery and horse equipment are issued to the Cavalry
recruit with his horse, and thenceforward remain in his posses-
sion, as the property of the State, until he passes into the Land-
wehr; they are then given up with the rest of his equipment.
Il.—Indemnities for Equipment paid to Officers and Adjutant
N.C. Officers.
_ According to Article 149 of the Law of Military Organisa-
tion, all newly appointed officers, and such as have to mount
themselves, receive an indemnity for their clothing and equip-
ment and saddlery; after a certain number of years’ (ie.
days’) service, to be fixed by regulation, they are also to
receive a further indemnity. The latter part of this Article,
however, was suspended in 1878, and has only lately (1889)
been brought into force on the occasion of the period of service
for officers being prolonged.
Officers on appointment return their clothing and armament
\
Saddlery.
Indemnities
to Officersand ‘
N. C. Officers.
188 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
(as privates or non-commissioned officers) into cantonal stores,
paying for any damages that may be assessed according to the
time the articles have been in their possession. Adjutant non-
commissioned officers retain their clothing and return armament
and equipment only.
The following sums are paid to newly appointed officers and
adjutant non-commissioned officers.to meet the cost of their
clothing, personal equipment, and armament :—
& «. d.
To newly appointed officers, unmounted,
except Chaplains .. ee -- 8 0 0
4, unmounted officers who may become
mounted during their service in the
Elite or Landwehr, for riding panta-
loons .. is ig Si - 20 0
» unmounted officers who become
mounted while in the Elite, for
saddlery and horse furniture - 10 0 0
(If they become mounted while in
the Landwehr, a set of saddlery
is lent during their Landwehr
service from the federal reserve
of horse equipment.)
5, bewly appointed mounted officers, for
clothing, arms, and equipment -- 10 0 0
» newly appointed mounted officers, for
saddlery, &c... 23 28 .. 10
», Chaplains, for shako and cloak.. a. 4
», Staff Clerks (Adjutant non-commissioned
officers) for certain additional articles
of clothing, &c. es oo .« 0812 4
» other Adjutant non-commissioned officers 4 8 0
or if they were unmounted and be-
come mounted + a co 6 0 0
oo
o
Officers and Adjutant non-commissioned officers who receive
these grants are bound to provide new articles of clothing,
armament, and equipment, and to keep them always fit for
service. If they are destroyed by fire or other unavoidable
accident, a further indemnity may be paid them, but they
receive no allowance on transter from one arm to another.
Any person who has received the above indemnity is called
upon to repay a portion of it proportionate to his length of ser-
vice if he is definitely absolved from personal service before the
legal term (death and unfitness for service excepted), leaves the
Service owing to emigration, is bankrupt and deprived of his
rank, obtains leave of absence or receives an official appoit-
ment which frees him from service for more than 4 years.
Adjutants who, having served their full term as such, again
become unmounted officers, and mounted officers transferred to
unmounted arms, merely return the horse furniture.
*
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 189
No repayment is necessary after 100 days’ service in the case of
personal equipment, or 300 days’ service in the case of saddlery.
Further details are given in an Ordonnance of 12th March,
1889.
In order to enable officers to procure their outfit at the
lowest price and of the regulation pattern, the Administration
of War Material in Bern keeps the following articles in store, and
officers can obtain them at cost price :—
Saddlery complete, with box, for Cavalry £ s. d.
officers .. she — a -- 10 8 0
Saddlery complete, with box, for other
officers .. os ve i -- 10 0 0
Sword, for Cavalry and mounted Artillery
officers a ee a .- 0 16 104
Sword, for other officers .. cs -- O16 0
Sword blade .. os se a . 0 38
» scabbard es ae +e - O 4 42
Field glass with case and strap .. » 14 0
Revolver, for officers of Elite and Land-
wehr (40 per cent. under cost price)... 1 1 74
Revolver, for officers of Landsturm ee 114 5
45 holster .. oe ae . 08 0
Non-commissioned officers of the Elite, from sergeants and
corporals upwards, in dismounted and mounted corps re-
spectively, are granted a new tunic and pair of trousers at the
expense of the Confederation after 110 days of service, pro-
vided these articles have not previously been replaced by new
ones, or from the reserve of clothing. The old clothing is to be
used as working dress during instructional service. If a non-
commissioned officer leaves the service before the expiration of
his full term, he is called upon to return this supplementary issue.
In the Budget for 1889, provision is made for the payment
of an indemnity to all officers commissioned since 1875 who
have rendered service as such, or as adjutant non-commissioned
officers and officers, during 160 days. This indemnity, which
is based on the cost of the tunic, trousers, and head-dress, is
fixed by the Ordonnance above quoted at 4/. for Officers of
dismounted troops and 5/. for those who are mounted.
Il.— General Description of Uniform and Equipment.
A. Uniform.
_ The only distinction between the uniform of the Elite and
Landwehr is that all ranks of the latter category have two stars
on the head-dress, one on each side of the number.
_ Shako.—The head-dress for all arms and ranks is a shako
(Kappi; Képi) of black felt, with peak before and behind, and
omamented in front with a worsted pompon, a cocarde, the
distinctive badge of the arm, or of rank in the case of oiticers,
and the number of the tactical unit.
Supply of out-
fit to Officers
at fixed rate.
Renewal of
N.C. Officers’
clothing.
Renewal of
Officers’ .
clothing.
190 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF “SWITZERLAND,
The Cavalry shako is protected by blue metal bands and
provided with black cap-lines for Dragoons, crimson for Guides,
The pompons are of worsted, spherical, and of the followin
colours:—Infantry: Staff, white; Ist, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Com-
panies, green, green and white, yellow, yellow and white
respectively, Cavalry: crimson, with a hair plume, which ig
black for Dragoons and white for Guides. Artillery: red
(white for Line Train). Engineers: black. Sanitary Troops:
light blue. Administrative Troops: green. Judicial Officers:
black. Staff and Commanders of combined corps: crimson.
Colonels wear a feather plume, white for Chefs @arme and
Divisional Commanders, dark green for others.
The cocarde, circular, is of the cantonal colour for cantonal
troops, a white cross on a circular red ground for troops of the
Confederation, and a red cross on a light ground for the
medical section of sanitary troops. Coloured illustrations are
given in the “ Taschenkalendar f. Schweizerische Wehrminner.”
The distinctive badges of the arms, in metal, are as follows:
Carabiniers, crossed rifles; Artillery, gunners and Train soldiers
of batteries and park columns, -crossed guns; Artificers, a
grenade: Engineers, Sappers, crossed axes; Pioneers, crossed
pick and spade; Pontoniers, crossed oar and boathook. Fusi-
liers have only the number of the battalion. Officers have
badges of rank instead of the distinctive badges of arms, con-
sisting of 1, 2, or 3 stripes of gold or silver lace (according to the.
buttons), narrow for Lieutenants, Ist Lieutenants and Captains,
and broad for the 3 ranks of Field Officers.
As a second head-dress the Officers have a cloth casquette-
with slanting peak, slightly resembling that worn by officers in
Austria ; other ranks have a forage cap (Feldmiitze; Bonnet de
police) of blue cloth, somewhat like our field service cap, with
tassel of the same colour as the pompon.
Tunie.—Dark blue cloth for all arms, except Carabiniers and
Cavalry (green), and Medical Officers and Veterinary Surgeons
(light blue). Length of skirt, not longer than the arm when
hanging down with the fist clenched. Officers’ tunics fit the
body closely; in other ranks they are loose, so as to admit
of wear throughout Landwehr service. All are double-breasted,
with two rows of five metal buttons, which are white for
Infantry, Cavalry, Sanitary Troops (except Medical Officers
and Apothecaries), Administrative Troops, and Veterinary Sur-
geons, yellow for all other corps, and Colonels and Licutenant-
Colonels of Infantry. The non-commissioned officers and men
have cloth shoulder-straps; these bear the number of the corps,
and differ in colour according to the corps or regiment, being.
black for the Ist Infantry Regiment of a Division, blue for the
2nd, yellow for the 3rd, green for the 4th; for the Carabiniers
they are black, for Cavalry crimson, and so on. The collars are
broad and loose and turn down in all arms except Cavalry and.
Infantry. Field Officers, Medical Officers and Veterinary .
Surgeons have black velvet collars and cuffs; other officers
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 191
andall ranks have cuffs of the same colour as the collars, except
Apothecaries, who have no cuffs. Chaplains wear a black coat.
The colour of the collars’ and pipings is thus given in Feiss’
“ Wehrwesen ” :—
Piping. Collars.
Fusiliers is we es si eis -.| Scarlet Scarlet
Carabiniers .. Pe ws ae és ..| Black Black
Cavalry ni a a oy ey ..{ Crimson Crimson
Artillery and Engineers... ‘ 3 «.| Red Blue
Sanitary Troops ae ss ae oe ..| Light blue 3
Administrative Troops os ae . ..| Light green | Light green
Staff .. oe ats oa ais ee -.| Crimson Black velvet
Field Officers of Infantry, Cavalry, and Engineers
(except Majors of Infantry) .. rr --| Crimson ‘5 zs
Field Officers of Artillery . 52 ..| Scarlet 59 35
ey ty Administrative Troops .. ..| Green 53 55
Hospital attendants and bearers attached to other arms
wear the uniform of the Sanitary Corps, the arm in which they
are doing duty being marked by the numbers on the head-dress
and shoulder-straps ; similarly with regard to pioneers doing duty
with Infantry.
Coloured illustrations of the shoulder-straps of all arms are
given in the “Taschenkalendar.”
Blouse.—The blouse (Blouse; Veston), which is issued to all
troops except Infantry, but now provided for the latter at
courses of instruction, is of blue cloth and of the same cut for
officersand men. It is half the length of the body, has pockets
sewn on to the outside, and shoulder-straps with numbers.
Trousers.—These are cut wide for the men, and can be worn
over or inside the boot in dismounted arms. Colour, bluish-
grey for Infantry, Engineers, Sanitary and Administrative
Troops; dark grey for Cavalry, Gunners, Park Soldiers,
Artificers, and Train. Mounted and Medical Officers have dark
grey trousers; all others have trousers of the same colour as
their men. General Staff Officers have a broad crimson stripe,
all others a narrow piping. All troops have 2 pairs of trousers ;
Cavalry have 1 pair of pantaloons, worn with long boots, and
1 pair of overalls; Train soldiers have leathered overalls worn
over the boots. Mounted Officers have pantaloons and long
boots, but (except in Cavalry) may wear leathered overalls.
Cloak (Kaput ; Capote) for all arms and ranks is of bluish-grey
cloth, with wide sleeves, has 2 rows of buttons like the tunic,
and shoulder-straps with the number of corps, &c. For dis-
mounted troops the length is 6 or 8 inches below the knee, and
when not worn it is rolled over the top and sides of the
Eapack, secured to it by straps at the top and one on each
sae.
The Cavalry cloak (Mantel; Manteau) is more roomy and cut
on the circle. ' Officers may wear a removable hood at dis-
cretion.
192 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Boots.—These, together with certain other articles mentioned
below, are provided by the men, or, if they are too poor to
procure them, by the commune.
The question of boots for the army has been most
thoroughly investigated in Switzerland, and a full account of
the exhaustive experiments made in order to determine the
best form of covering for the feet, and of the means adopted to
ensure the supply of boots of the approved pattern, is given
in the F.M.F., No. 5, of 1881.
Every man is required to keep up two pairs of boots in
accordance with the following directions :—
(a.) Dismounted troops of all arms: first pair, shoes with
strong soft upper leathers, lacing in front, double soles cut in
accordance with the outline of the foot, and low broad heels,
height not to exceed 8 inches including the heels; second pair,
for Engineers, Wellingtons ; for all other arms, Wellingtons or
shoes, at the option of the men, with low broad heels, Welling-
tons not to be higher than 16 inches. Elastic sides not
allowed. :
(6.) Cavalry: first pair, long boots; second pair, light shoes,
easily packed.
(c.) Train: first pair, Wellingtons, not higher than 16 inches;
second pair, Wellingtons or laced shoes.
Stock.—This is of black woollen material, long enough to
go twice round the neck if required.
Shirts (2), braces, socks or stockings (2 pairs), pocket handker-
chiefs (2), and towel, These, together with a knife, fork, and
spoon, are provided by the men. In order to diminish the
excessive number of cases of sore feet and lameness, caused
by badly-fitting stockings, instructions for making the most
approved pattern were issued to the cantonal authorities some
years ago, and by them introduced into the schools in which
needlework, &c., is taught. The result has been a marked
improvement in the make of the stockings throughout the
country.
For a winter campaign gaiters will be issued by the State.
Gloves.—Officers wear white leather gloves for ordinary
home service, grey on field service and for drill. The mounted
men’s gloves are of black leather.
Spurs—These are of iron, fixed to the heel by a pin at
the back and a screw or bolt on each side. Neck slightly
curved upwards.
Badges of Rank.—In addition to the lace on_ the shako,
officers wear on the tunic, blouse and cloak, a peculiar shoulder
strap (Bride) of silver or gilt metal, according to the colour of
the buttons. In the centre of the Bride, which is narrow and
plain for Captains and Lieutenants, wider and with ornamental
ends for the three grades of Field Officers, is a ground of
coloured cloth, and on it are one, two, or thee stars correspond-
ing to the number of lace bands on the head-dress. ‘These
shoulder-straps are worn across the shoulder from front to rear.
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 193
Non-commissioned officers are distinguished by chevrons on
the arm as follows :—
Lance-corporal, 1 worsted chevron on both the forearms.
Corporal 2 ue 6 ‘5
Sergeant, 1 silver or gold Jace chevron on both forearms.
Quartermaster-sergeant, 1 silver or gold lace chevron on both
fore and upper arms.
Sergeant-major, 2 silver or gold lace chevrons on both fore-
arms.
Adjutant non-commissioned officer, metal Briden of same
colour as the buttons, but without stars.
Trumpeters and drummers are distinguished by a worsted
chevron worn round the cuff.
Hospital attendants, except non-commissioned officers, have
a white worsted stripe on the collar.
Best shots of Infantry are distinguished by a piece of silver
lace about 1Zin. long, on a red cloth ground, with two small
silver buttons. It is worn on the left cuff, and granted to
12 per cent. of the men.
Whistle——Officers of Infantry carry a metal whistle with
silk cord round the neck.
~B. Personal Equipment.
Knapsack.—This is made of black cowhide (in the Train, of
plain black leather), and presents no peculiarity of construction.
It is carried by means of two broad leather straps passing
round the shoulders, which carry the entire weight. The
weight and contents of the knapsack, which is the same for
all arms, are given below. In the Cavalry the place of the
knapsack is taken by the wallets.
Officers on service and at manceuvres carry a smaller knap-
sack, round which the cloak is rolled.
Cleaning materials carried in the knapsack: 1 clothes and 2
shoe-brushes, cloth, 2 tins for grease, blacking, and soap, scissors,
comb, buttons, needles and thread.
Mess-tin.—The mess-tin for Infantry and Cavalry is intended
to serve as cooking and eating vessel for one man. It is oval
in plan with the top and bottom edges rounded off, holds
2°5 litres, and is strapped on the top of the knapsack. The
Cavalry mess-tin holds about half the above quantity. For
the other arms, nested tins, each serving for 8 or 10 men, are
used, carried in one of the wagons of the unit. .
Water-bottle.—This is a flat glass bottle, covered with felt
and leather, suspended on the right side by a strap over the
left shoulder. :
Havresac.—This is of sail cloth, with leather flap, and
suspended on the left side by a strap over the right shoulder.
Waist-belt.—The waist-belt, of black leather, carries the
ammunition-pouch in front on the right of the buckle, and the
(2745) N
wa ee
194 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
bayonet on the left side. It has no connection with the
knapsack.
Ammunition-pouch—This is a simple pouch of black leather,
closed by a flap, opening outwards, which is fastened to the
outside of the pouch by a buckle. It contains 40 cartridges in
packets of 10 each.
Sword-belt.—(Cavalry and mounted men.) This is of black
leather and provided with 2 slings attached to the 2 rings on
the sword scabbard. Sword knot, black leather. The ammu-
nition-pouch of black leather is carried on the sword-belt.
(Waist and sword-belts are, strictly speaking, part of the
armament.)
Entrenching-tools—40 Linnemann spades, 20 small picks,
8 axes, and 4 jointed saws, are distributed among the strongest
men of each Infantry company; the saws are usually carried
in the fourgon. These tools are provided with a leather sheath
and fastened to the lower end of the knapsack on the left side
by a strap and buckle, the handle (uppermost) passing through
an iron ring on the left top cloak strap. When the knapsack is
taken off for entrenching work, the tools are fastened to the
belt handle downwards.
List oF ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT, &C.
Articles. By wie Number.
supplied.
Firearm with accessories and side arm.. . o State 1
Knapsack with straps ‘ ai a o o $3 1
Ammunition pouch with waist-belt .. ee ‘ 1
Haversac .. oe oe oe oe as . i 1
Water bottle oy ‘ a i % as a 1
Messtin .. ae ae a aa a ae 33 1
Shako sn . . oe a ns as 3 1
Cap .. ai te ae a a os 3 1
Tunic with shoulder-numbers .. oe ve o i 1
Cloak ,, 99 ‘e ae ae ee ” 1
Trousers .. fs +e oe oy sie es a 2 pairs.
Braces. i 26 a ea i a Man 1 pair.
Pocket-handkerchiefs .. . “s . ee +5 2
Shirts = ss e +e is sis oe $4 2
Stockings or socks.. an Me sia rn is in 2 pairs.
Towel a ve “ we a
Stock ts i “ ee vs *. . State 1
Blouse (except for Infantry) .. ve oc e. $5 1
Bag of cleaning materials, filled a Pa a i" 1
Knife, fork, and spoon .. is ae is ae Man . 1 each.
Boots or shoes oe 3 2 pairs.
Ammunition bag .. aa ms fe até a State 1
Gloves (for mounted men) ve is ee fs - 1 pair.
Spurs _,, 33 Fe és ar ia wis 3 2 pairs.
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 195
C. Saddlery,
Officers of all arms use a saddle, termed the “ English”’
saddle, which is an ordinary hunting saddle with felt
numnah.
On the front arch, off side, is a holster for pistol and ammu-
nition; on the near side, a wallet containing cleaning kit. The
personal kit of the officer is carried in two saddle bags hung
from the rear arch behind the saddle flap. These wallets, &c.,
are covered from the top to about the middle of their depth
with a black leather flap. The cloak is carried across the front
of the saddle, the blanket on the cantle. The weight of the
saddle complete, and double bridle, which latter presents no
peculiarity, is about 2 st. 2 Ibs.
The saddle for Cavalry and mounted non-commisioned officers
and trumpeters of all arms, is known as the “ Modified Danish”
or “Barth” model. It is fitted with 2 roomy wallets in front,
which carry the man’s it and grooming material, and on each
of which a shoe case is sewn; the latter contain 1 spare horse
shoe, 12 nails, and 4 ice nails each. Inside the fap of each
wallet is attached a reserve ammunition pouch containing 20
rounds, the remaining 20 being carried in the pouch on
the sword-belt. The cloak is rolled and strapped in front of
the wallets. To the cantle of the saddle are attached the
horse blanket (5 ft. x 6 ft.), corn sack, nose bag, forage rope,
and hay bags, the mess tin in the corn sack. The carbine
is carried in a bucket on the off side, somewhat as in the
a Cavalry. A felt numnah (chabraque) is worn under the
saddle.
Non-commissioned officers carry the axe in front of the near
wallet, between it and the cloak.
The saddlery of the Train is part of the corps equip-
ment. ©
D. Weights carried by Infantry Soldier and Cavalry
Horse.
The following table, taken, with slight modifications, from
“Die Schweizerische Infanterie,” gives the average weights of
various articles of clothing, equipment, and armament of tbe
Swiss Infantry soldier. There is a considerable difference in
the weights of the several articles of equipment, owing to
their not being turned out by the same manufactory, and the
weights of the.articles of clothing vary, naturally, according
to the size of the men and the quality of the material.
~
(2745) N 2
Officers’
saddlery.
Troop
saddlery.
196
THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CARRIED BY THE INFANTRY SOLDIER.
1. Clothing on the Man.
Shako
Tunic
Trousers . . ad as Ss ai
Stock .. ee as ssid es
Shirt ; i Se ‘
Boots on
Pocket-handerchief
Stockings
Pocket knife
Brassard (for active service only)
Total clothing
2. Equipment.
(a) Carried in or on Knapsack.
Knapsack, as
Cap ae
Trousers, 1 pair
Shirt
Shoes, 1 pair
Socks, ,,
Towel ..
Pocket-handkerchief
Ammunition and bag (60 rounds)
Emergency ration
Cleaning materials . ti
CLOTHING, PERSONAL EQUIPMENT, AND SMALL ARMS. 197
3. Arms.
sing ae. ae. lage eee Celia
Sword bayonet hd a se «. 1 375
. » scabbard, complete .. «» 0 105
Waistbelt oe ie ae ois - O 55
Ammunition pouch .. ie . 015-7
40 cartridges in do. iv oe « 2 12:5
Accessories (turn-screw, «c.) 1s - O 58
Total, arms .. zs «s 16 1272
Grand Total .. 63 78
Men equipped with a pick or axe in place of a spade carry
2 lbs 18°6 oz. or 3 lbs. 9 oz. respectively, instead of 2 Ibs. 5 oz.
Ifthe men carry 20 additional rounds in each inside breast
pocket of the tunic, 2 lbs. 12°5 oz. must be added to the total
given above.
CARRIED BY THE CAVALRY HORSE.
st. lbs.
Saddle .. si a ee ae 2 E27
Wallets, &c, packed, with 20 rounds os 2 2:38
Bridle, complete oy ae a . O 44
Carbine ea accessories 0 9:19
Man’s clothing, sword and ammunition pouch,
with 40 rounds .. es es as 2 RAL
Average weight of man ee is .. 10 3-0
17 5:65
These weights, except that of the man, are given in “Das
Wehrwesen der Schweiz,” but are probably understated.
Administra-
tioningencial.
Cantonal
arsenals,
Federal
depots.
Arrangement
of stores.
198 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XV.
Corps EQUIPMENT.
Unper this head are included the guns, ammunition, carriages
(with their contents and necessary harness and stable requisites),
materials carried on pack animals, saddlery for mounted men
other than Cavalry, sanitary material, cooking utensils and
workmen’s tools belonging to units and combined corps; in
short, all articles of equipment and ammunition belonging to
the troops that are not carried by the men.
1. Administration of War Material in General.
The cost of the acquisition of this material is borne by the
Confederation. The cantons are responsible for the preserva-
tion of the corps equipment belonging to cantonal troops, while
the corps material of federal troops is stored at the expense of
the Confederation in federal depéts or in cantonal arsenals, which
may be subsidised for that purpose. All war material not coming
under the head of corps equipment, including that of Landwehr
batteries, belongs to the Confederation, and is preserved in
federal depéts.
There is a cantonal arsenal (Zeughaus; Arsenal) in each of the
following places: Aarau, Altdorf, Basle, Bellinzona, Bern, Chur,
Colombier, Frauenfeld, Freiburg, St. Gallen, Geneva, (tlarus,
Herisau, Lausanne, Liestal, Lucerne, Schafthausen, Sitten (Sion),
Solothurn, Stanz, Sarnen, Schwyz, Teufen, Zug, and Zurich.
Each of these arsenals is under an Intendant (Verwalter ;
Intendant), a cantonal official who is responsible to the cantonal
government for the care of all cantonal material in store, and
renders returns of the same to the Chief of the Administrative
Section of the Administration of War Material. In case of federal
material being stored in the arsenal, the Intendant is responsible
to the federal administrative authorities for its care, and receives:
an allowance from the Confederation.
The federal depédts (Kriegs-depots ; Dépdts de guerre) ave at
Aarau, Bellinzona, Bern, Biére, Brugg, Chur, Frauenfield,
Freiburg, St. Gallen, Liestal, Lucerne, Luziensteig, St. Moritz,
Payerne (Peterlingen), Rapperswyl, Solothurn, Schwyz, Thun,
Wangen, Zofingen, and Zurich.
Each of these depéts is under an Intendant, a federal
official under the direct orders of the chief of the administra-
tive section.
In many instances the federal depét and cantonal arsenal
are in the same building.
All articles of corps equipment, whether in cantonal depots
or federal arsenals, are kept at all times ready for instant
CORPS EQUIPMENT. 199
employment in the field, carriages completely packed, except as
regards ammunition, and harness arranged for immediate use ;
moreover, the greatest care is taken that the equipment of each
corps or unit that may be stored in an arsenal is kept in a
separate compartment or in a distinct section of the building.
The general pane too, is observed that the equipment of
each corps is stored in buildings in the territory of the Division
to which the corps belongs, or, in the case of units which
do not form part of a Division, according to their probable
destination.
In the case of the 47th and 84th Fusilier battalions and the
9nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th battalions of Carabiniers, which are
formed of companies from different cantons, special provisions
are made as to the furnishing and maintenance of corps
material; the cantons furnish the wagons in certain proportions
and also the horse equipments, but the Confederation under-
takes the care and replacement of the latter.
All corps equipment in cantonal arsenals and federal depdts
is inspected once a year by Commanding Officers of tactical
units or by Officers nominated by the Military Department or
Chefs darme, &c., who report the numbers, condition, and care
taken of all articles belonging to their unit or arm to th
Military Department through the Divisional Commander.
In addition to these periodical inspections, all articles of
corps equipment are carefully examined each time they are
returned to the arsenals or depéts after being issued for courses
of instruction or service.
2. Administration of Ammunition.
_ The administration of ammunition is conducted by (1) the
authorities responsible for supplying the troops with the
ammunition carried by the men on active service, and (2) by
those who are charged with the maintenance of the ammunition
wagons. There is thus a dual administration, the cantons
being concerned with the ammunition carried on the person
and in wagons belonging to the corps equipment, while the
Confederation is responsible for that which is destined for the
parks.
Federal Ammunition Depét (Munition-depot ; Dépdt. des
munitions) at Thun. The whole of the ammunition for military
purposes, as well as that intended for sale to shooting clubs and
the general public, is produced at the Federal Ammunition
Factory at Thun (Chapter XVIL.), and, after being duly examined
and passed by the Control of Ammunition and Powder, is handed
over to the federal ammunition depdt at cost price. This
establishment, which represents the central administration, is
in charge of an Intendant, who is under the immediate orders of
the Chiet' of the Administrative Section of the Administration
of War Material in respect of the administration of the depot,
Inspections.
Administra-
tion in
general.
Ammunition
depot.
Supply of
ammunition
to dealers.
Magazines.
Control of
a omunition.
200 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
and under the Federal Administration of Finance so far ag
concerns accounts. The staff of the depdt consists of a
Magazine Master and two or three assistants. Besides being
charged with the transport of ammunition to the various
arsenals and magazines throughout the country, the depét
supplies the licensed retail dealers with regulation cartridges,
and the Intendant exercises a general surveillance over these
dealers as regards the fulfilment of the conditions under which
their licences are granted. The object of supplying the dealers
being to enceurage the practice of shooting out of the service,
they are not allowed to sell ammunition at a higher price than
that fixed by the State (see page 145), The cost of transport
of all ammunition is borne by the depét, a credit being granted
in the annual budget to meet these charges, as well as the
percentage of 2s. per thousand cartridges which is allowed to
the retail dealers.
The amount of small arm ammunition issued from the depdt
in 1887 was as follows :—
i oy Revolver 10:4 mm.| Revolver 7°5 mm,
Rifle Ammunition. Ammunition. Ammunition.
Destination.
Blank for
Ball. Blank. |Magazine|Cadets.| Ball. | Blank.} Ball. | Blank.
of Rifle.
” Courses of Instruc- 3,483,758 | 2,718,870 | 152,000 as 36,083 | 6,670 22,720 | 1,000
tion.
Licensed Agents ...| 11,375,200 27,900 ibe 5,900 | 115,900 ee 238,820
Foreign Shooting 520,470 Ss ED ade 19,870
Societies.
Arsenals and private 200,880 | 176,920 ‘ise 84,790 10,650 ae 5,000
individuals.
Total... +++] 15,580,308 | 2,923,690 | 152,000 | 90,690 | 162,633 | 5,670 | 286,410 | 1,000
The gun ammunition used in 1887 at the schools and other
military courses amounted to 12,924 common shell, 10,830
shrapnel, 472 case shot, and 7,847 blank ammunition.
Magazines exist at all the cantonal and federal arsenals and
depéts and at the various places d’armes, and several new ones
for Central Switzerland are in process of construction near the
railway station of Schwyz, on the Gotthard Line, including one
for the war reserve material and the new park for the Artillery
of position.
The Control of Ammunition and Powder (Munitionskontrolle ;
Contréle des munitions) in Thun, which consists of a Chief of
Control, 3 Controllers, and an Assistant Controller, ig under the
Technical Section of the Administration of War Material. It
is charged with examining and testing all ammunition and
powder during manufacture and when in the finished state, and
also with the proving of swords and bayonets.
Detailed rules for the examination of powder are given in
the F.M.F., No. 4, of 1886.
CORPS EQUIPMENT. 201
An important part of the duty of this Control is the
periodical examination of the ammunition stored in the federal
and cantonal magazines throughout the country.
No Infantry ammunition that has been manufactured more
than three years is stored in the magazines. After that time it
is exchanged for fresh supplies from the depét at Thun, the
returned cartridges being used up at the schools of instruction, or
sold to private persons, or the powder is used for other purposes.
The regulations regarding the construction and maintenance
of ammunition magazines are contained in the F.M.F., No. 6,
of 1880.
3. General Description of Corps Equipment.
It would answer no useful purpose to enter into a minute
description of all the articles of corps equipment, and therefore
only the most important of them will be described in the
following pages; it should, however, be observed, that many of
them are frequently carried in carriages other than those here
indicated.
Federal Badge.—All Officers and men wear the federal badge
(Feldbinde; Brassard) on the left arm when on active service,
and exceptionally at Divisional Manoeuvres. The badge is in
the form of a broad red ribbon bearing a white cross. Medical
Officers and Chaplains, and all attached to the Sanitary troops,
wear international badges, a red cross on a white ground. The
latter form part of the Sanitary Corps material, and are only
served out on active service.
Saddlery and Harness.—A full description of the saddlery
and harness used by the Train will be found in the “ Train-
dienst-Reglement” of 1880. Pole draught is adopted for all
carriages, with the exception of the mountain-gun carriage and
light field cooking cart attached to field batteries, which, how-
ever, is generally attached to and drawn behind one of the
battery carriages. ‘lhe saddlery of the Train is part of corps
equipment, and remains in store with the wagons. Hand horses
carry one knapsack (with the new pattern saddie, two) con-
taining driver’s kit and cleaning material.
Infantry.
Battalion Colour.—Each battalion carries a colour, a white
cross on a red ground. On the cross, in the case of Fusilier
battalions, on one side is the name of the canton, and on the
other the number of the battalion; in the case of the Carabi-
Sa the name of the canton and “Bataillon de Carabiniers,
O, ———,”
Fourgon (modcl 1864-81).—This resembles somewhat the
British General Service Wagon, but the fore and hind wheels
are further apart, and there is a door at the side. An older
pattern (model 1843-81) exists, and has been relegated to the
Federal
badge.
Saddlery and
harness.
Battalion
colour.
Fourgon.
Ammunition
wagon.
Provision and
baggage
wagons. -
New company
wagons, 1889.
202 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Landwehr; the body is in two parts, that on the fore carriage
being a removable chest. The fourgon is drawn by three horses,
with a mounted driver.
In the fourgon are carried: entrenching tools, 1 quarter-
masters’ chest, 1 armourers’ tool chest, 2 armourers’ bags, 1
tailors’ chest, 1 shoemakers’ chest, 1 field altar (for Roman
Catholic battalions), 1 medical chest, 2 ambulance knap-
sacks, 8 stretchers, 1 national and 1 international flag, 4
woollen blankets, 1-2 surgeons’ cases, 2 non-commissioned
officers’ ambulance dressing bags, 6 hospital attendants’
dressing bags (Bulge), 12 bearers’ dressing bags, 20 water
bottles. The horse equipments, except harness in use, may be
carried on the horses, or if there is room, in the ammunition
wagons. The harness is described in the “Traindienst Regle-
ment,” 1880. The corps cooking utensils are carried, according
to regulation, in one of the requisitioned wagons, but sometimes
in the fourgon or in one of the ammunition wagons. Those for
the Elite consist of conical tinned vessels, which are nested so
as to take up but little space; they are packed in boxes, one
for each company and one for the officers. The Landwehr
utensils are of an old pattern, not nested, and take up much
room. Inaddition to the tool equipment of the fourgon (p. 58),
the 16 jointed saws which form part of the battalion entrenching
tools may be carried in it instead of by the men.
The fourgon is drawn by 3 horses, with a mounted driver.
Weight offourgon (model 1864-81): empty, 18 cwt. 3 qrs. 16 lbs. ;
packed, 29 cwt. 0 qrs. 3 lbs.; weight behind each horse,
9 cwt. 2 qrs. 20 lbs.
Ammunition Wagon (Halbcaisson ; Demi-caisson), model 1843-
77.—The body is a long chest, on four wheels. It carries 8 rifle
ammunition boxes, besides 200 rounds for revolvers, 6:6 lbs.
grease for rifles, tool equipment and corps cooking equipment,
for which there are 2 empty cases. Each box, which can be
carried by 2 men, holds 1,500 cartridges, which again are packed
in 4 sacks, each of which can be easily carried by 1 man. The
sacks have an opening in the middle, so that the 2 ends being
filled they can be slung across the shoulder. The total number
of rounds in each wagon is 12,000 for rifles, and 200 for revolvers.
The ammunition wagon is drawn by 2 horses, driven from
the box. Weight: empty, 11 cwt. 3 qrs.; packed, 21 cwt. 3 qrs.;
weight behind each horse, 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 14 lbs.
Provision and Baggage Wagons.—These have to be requisi-
tioned. T'wo-horsed wagons are used, driven from the seat.
The maximum weights allowed are given in Chapter XIII.
The new Infantry wagons (page 57, Note 5) will be four-
wheeled spring lorries, with a front seat; weight, empty, 14 cwt.
1 qr. 13 lbs. The mode of packing them will depend upon
circumstances, such as whether the battalion is united, or a
company is detached, &c. When the new rifle is issued the
wagons (which will probably be ready by spring, 1890) will
carry 18,000 rounds each.
CORPS EQUIPMENT. 203
Cavalry.
Provision wagons, as in Infantry. Each Dragoon squadron
has as corps equipment 1 standard, the saddlery, &c., for the
4 horses of the hospital attendant, saddler, and 2 farriers, the
harness, &c., for the 4 field-forge horses, cooking utensils, 1
quartermaster’s chest, 1 hospital attendants’ dressing bag, 1
field litter, 1 water bottle, 1 veterinary surgeon’s chest, 1 case
saddlers’ tools, 2 cases farriers’ tools, the pioneer tools carried
on the wagons and forge, and 7,500 rounds for carbines and
8,000 for revolvers (the ammunition carried in the Cavalry
ammunition wagon of the divisional park). Each Guide com-
pany has,the saddlery, &c., for the farrier’s horse and cooking
utensils and farrier’s tool case; the latter in the 1-horsed cart
for officers’ baggage.
Field Forge and Kitchen (Kavallerie-Feldschmiede und Kiiche),
model 1887.—This admirably-contrived wagon is in two parts,
the wagon-body and limber. The wagon-body carries a hanging
cooking apparatus capable of cooking the dinners of a whele
squadron (124 men) while on the move, and boxes containing
cooking vessels and implements, 30 pairs of horse-shoes, &c. ;
the limber carries a box containing an anvil, farriers’ tools,
picketing gear for the squadron, 170 pairs of horse-shoes,
nails, &c. The forge is drawn by 4 horses driven from the
saddle. Its extreme length and width are 12 ft. 93 in. and 5 ft.
respectively; width of track, 4 ft. 2 in. Weight: empty,
16 cwt. 2 qrs. 26 lbs; loaded, and with 22 gallons of water,
28 ewt. 2 qrs. 4 Ibs.
During the year 1889 four machine guns will be provided for
the use of the Cavalry.
The corps material of Dragoon regiments is stored in the
arsenal of the canton which furnishes the 2nd Squadron.
Artillery.
The guns and ammunition wagons are described in
Chapter XVI.
Battery Store Wagon (Riistwagen) of Field Artillery, model
1871, consists of the wagon-body and limber. The body carries
3 boxes and 2 under boxes, containing respectively saddlers’
tools and material, horse gear and material for tracing earth-
works, &c., locksmiths’ tools, gun stores, miscellaneous stores
and fuzes; the limber carries 1 box containing wheelwrights’
tools and spare parts.
Itis drawn by 4 horses. Weight: empty, 19 cwt. 0 qrs. 10 lbs.;
packed, 28 ewt. 2 qrs. 4 lbs.
Batiery Field Forge (Feldschmiede), model 1882.—The wagon
body carries a large box containing horse-shoes, tvols, forge,
anvil, coals, and water barrel; the limber box contains small
tools, nails, &e. There are 2 other» atterns, both lighter. It
Cavalry
equipment.
Field forge.
Battery store
wagon,
Field forge.
204 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND,
is drawn by 4 horses. Weight: empty, 24 cwt. 1 qr. 6 lbs.;
packed, 34 ewt. 3 qrs.
Fourgon. The battery fourgon carries miscellaneous stores, such as
cooking apparatus (unless there is a one-horsed field kitchen
attached to the corps), medical chest, veterinary chest, stretchers,
baggage, &e. Weight, packed: 17 cwt.
Spare gun- The spare gun carriage, with limber, carries a spare wheel in
CaEnage: place of gun. Weight, packed: 26 cwt. 2 qrs. 23 Ibs.
Field kitchen. A portable cooking apparatus (Scherrer’s) usually accom-
panies the batteries. It is a two-wheeled iron carriage, with
shafts, containing two cooking cylinders in jackets, swung so
as to remain vertical whatever may be the position of the
carriage. Beneath is a stove which can be kept alight on the
march, The apparatus cooks for 150 men. The shafts are
generally attached to one of the wagons, or the carriage may
be drawn by one horse.
Artificers’ Artificers’ wagon of the park columns. This carries five
Wego: chests, containing: (1) tools for repairmg Artillery ammuni-
tion; (2) tools for manufacturing Artillery cartridges; (38)
tools for repairing Infantry cartridges and packages; (4)
materials for manufacture of signals, fire, and smoke stacks;
(5) reserve tools and parts of Artillery fuzes; signal rockets
are also carried. Weight, packed: 274 cwt.
Position Ar- With regard to the Artillery of position the main provisions
fillers of corps equipment have been mentioned in the description of
the guns, and in Chapter VII.
Mountain The corps equipment of a mountain battery is carried by 71
batteries. pack animals. For the carriage of each gun 3 horses or mules
are required, 1 carrying the tube (load with saddlery, &c.,
354 lbs.), another the carriage (329 lbs.), and a third the wheels
and shafts (2744 lbs.). The 60 ammunition boxes are carried
“by 30 animals, Each box contains 4 common shell and 6
shrapnel, 10 cartridges, 5 detonator screws, 6 composition
pieces, and 20 or 10 friction tubesin each odd and even number
box respectively (weight, 3773 lbs.). The ammunition box
animal accompanying the gun carries small-stores bag for the
gun, increasing its load by 21} lbs. These boxes open at the sides
so as to facilitate extraction of the ammunition. Of the remain-
ing animals 1 carries saddlers’ and carpenters’ boxes, farriers’
box and field forge, 1 spare gun parts and spare train material,
2 entrenching tools, 2 spare wheels and shafts; the rest,
cooking utensils, medical and veterinary chests, provisions and
baggage, their loads ranging from 2444 to 3281 Ibs. The same
pack saddle (Bastsattel, model 1883) is used for all packs. The
is of wood, and the saddle complete weighs about
30 lbs.
Engineers.
‘Che following items in the corps equipment of the Engineers
may be noticed :—
CORPS EQUIPMENT. 205
Staf.—As the Engineers have no ammunition beyond that
carried in the pouches, the two ammunition wagons are used
as miners’ wagons and carry mining powder, dynamite, fuzes,
and mining tools.
Sappers.—The sappers’ wagons consist of wagon-body and
limber, each part carrying a large chest containing tracing and
surveying apparatus, mining, entrenching, and carpenters’ tools,
sandbags, ropes, nails, &c.; weight, 39 cwt. 13 lbs. These
wagons are acknowledged to be quite insufficient to carry
the equipment required, and a requisitioned cart would have to
be sated,
Pontoniers.—-The bridging material of each Division, on the
Austrian “Birago” system, consists of 5 units (including the
attached unit from the Engineer Reserve), each formed of 2
baulk wagons and 1 trestle wagon. Each unit suffices to form
a bridge 43°3 feet long, practicable for all arms, and consisting
of 2 bays of 21:65 feet each. Thus the 5 units of a Pontonier
company form a bridge 2162 feet long, sufficient for the passage
of most of the Swiss rivers, excepting the Aar, below Bern, the
Rhine, and the lower course of the Rhéne, which could only be
crossed by a combination of the bridge trains of several
Divisions or a reinforcement from the Reserve. The bays are
supported either by anchored pontoons or trestles. Each
pontoon consists of 3 parts, which can be used separately or
fitted together end to end as required, viz., a body carried on
the trestle wagon, and two bevelled ends, carried on the baulk
wagons. Each wagon, packed, weighs about 38 cwt.
The 2 Pontoniers’ wagons carry tools and material (1) for
light bridges, and (2) for the tradesmen of the Engineer
battalion and attached train (locksmiths, wheelwrights, boat-
builders, and saddlers). One also carries a pontoon body,
and the other a pontoon end. Weight, about 38 cwt.
The field forge, besides tools and materials for smiths’ work,
carries a light boat on the top.
Pioneers.—The Pioneer wagons carry tools for repairs and
destruction of railway lines. ‘The station wagon, cable wagon,
and 2 line wagons form a telegraph unit, and carry sufficient
material to lay about 124 miles of line, half air-line and half
ground-line, and to establish connection with the permanent
telegraph systems. The station wagon serves as telegraph
office, and each wagon carries a Morse apparatus, so admitting
of 4. stations being established on the line.
Sanitary Troops.
The Sanitary material is described in an Ordonnance of the
9th March, 1870. The ambulance wagon for wounded cayrries
4-6 men lying down, or 12 sitting, or 6 sitting and 2-3 lying
down. Photographs are given in “Die Schweizerischen Armee-
Fuhrwerke.”
Miners’
wagons.
Sappers”
wagons.
Bridge train.
Pioneers and
telegraph.
Ambulance
wagons.
Repeating
and magazine
rifles.
The rifle of
the future.
Arms actually
im use.
206 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XVI.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
1. Small Arms.
As early as 1869 the Swiss Army was provided with a repeating
rifle (the Vetterli), and for some years boasted of having the
best military firearm in the world. In the course of time,
however, other nations improved thelr weapons to such an
extent, although hesitating to adopt the repeating or magazine
principle, that, notwithstanding constant modifications and im-
provements in details, the Swiss rifle was left far behind; it
must, however, be still looked upon as a serviceable and by no
means despicable weapon.
In 1882 experiments were made with a magazine rifle,
invented by Major Rubin, the present director of the Ammuni-
tion Factory at Thun, and have been continued with unre-
mitting energy up to the present time. In 1886 a commission
was appointed by the Military Department to select the most
suitable form of magazine rifle for the Elite and Landwehr, and
in June, 1889, after making exhaustive trials, they recommended
the adoption of a rifle proposed by Colonel Schmidt, the Director
of the Small-arms factory. Within a week of receiving the
report of the Commission, the Federal Assembly unanimously
voted the immediate manufacture of 150,000 of the selected
rifle and carbines, and 45,000,000 rounds of ammunition.
The barrel of the new rifle is the same as that proposed by
Major Rubin in 1882; calibre 7°5 (or 6) mm. (= 0-295 m.), with
three grooves. The magazine is on the Lee principle, but fixed,
the cartridges (7) being dropped in from above. The breech
action is new, the bolt being drawn directly backward or for-
ward without being turned over, so that the rifle need not be
removed trom the shoulder so long as there is a round in the
magazine. Therifle, without bayonet, weighs about 9 Ibs. 114 oz.
and is sighted to 2,187 yards. The bayonet, which is short,
weighs. about 11lb.10z. The powder used in the cartridges
(metal cases) is smokeless and makes comparatively little noise.
The bullet (Rubin’s) is of compressed lead coated with copper.
The weight of 100 cartridges will be about 6 lb. 0} oz. The
initial velocity is 1,968 feet per second. It is expected that:
the re-armament of the troops with the rifles and carbines of
this model will be completed within about three years.
The following small arms are in use in the Swiss Army :—
1. The repeating Vetterli (Repetirgewehr ; Fusil 4 répétition,
models 1869, 1878, and 1881); used by Fusiliers of the Elite
and Landwehr. :
2. The repeating sharpshooters’ Vetterli (Repetirstutzer ;
Carabine & répétition, models 1871, 1878, and 1881); used by
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 207
Carabiniers only. This differs from the preceeding merely in
having an additional hair-trigger.
3. The repeating carbine (Repetirkarabiner; Mousqueton &
répétition, models 1871 and 1878); for sergeants, corporals and
men of Dragoons.
4, The Peabody nfle, model 1867; for Engineers, Infantry
pioneers, and park soldiers.
5 and 6. The transformed Infantry rifle and sharpshooters’
rifle of 1867. These are single-loading breech-loaders trans-
formed from muzzle-loaders on the Milbank-Amsler system, and
would probably be issued to the Landsturm should they require to
be armed before the new rifle is issued to the Elite and Landwehr.
7. The revolver (six-shooter), model 1878, system Chamelot,
Delvigne, and Schmidt, central fire, .for officers of Cavalry
and Artillery, sergeant-majors, quartermaster-sergeants and
trumpeters of Dragoons, non-commissioned officers, trumpeters
and men of the Guides, and mounted non-commissioned officers
and trumpeters of Artillery. All officers are allowed to use this
revolver.
The calibre of all these weapons is 10-4 mm. (0.4095 in.), and,
with the exception of the revolver, they take the same cartridge.
8. The revolver for dismounted officers, model 1882,
Schmidt system, calibre 7-5 mm. (0.295 in.)
Full descriptions of t..cse weapons and their ammunition
are given in Schmidt’s “ Allgemeine Waffenkunde.”
VETTERLI REPEATING RIFLE, MopELS 1869 AnD 1881,
Bott SYSTEM.
Model.
1869. 1881.
Rifle—
Length without bayonet .. ate 2 .. | 4 £6. 3°18 in. | 4 ft. 3:96 in.
» with bayonet .. is ..|5 ft. 10in. | 5 ft. 10°47 in.
Weight without bayonet .. ais ss .«| 10 Ibs. 5-78 | 10 lbs. 2°25 oz.
oz.
» with bayonet ate a és «| 11 lbs. 0°86 | 11 Ibs. 7-92 oz.
oz.
Barrel, total length ae a ve a8 2f.918in.
» length of line of sight .. ee .. | 2 £.7°77 in. | 2 ft. 6°78 in.
» calibre - os a% a 04095 in.
» profile of grooves .. oe os on concentric.
» number - ie ts ee see 4
» depth 53 a a8 Se ee 0'0089 in.
» width 3 as os oe a 01771 in.
» twist (right-handed) one turn in aa 25°984 in.
hid : 243 to 1093 | 246 to 1750
Sighting .. os oe { yards. yards.
Cartridge— .
- Total length. . os a ee . ae 2°2 in.
Weight .. ae ica is 2 id 1 oz. 1:156 dr,
Charge, including fulminate .. x at 2°257 dr.
Length of bullet (hard lead) sie is as 1:003 in.
‘ oe eh sc 11487 dr.
Weight ,, o 2
Repeating
action.
Magazine.
Sighting.
208 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Model.
1869. 1881.
Initial velocity, per second .. ae fy “ 1338°61 ft.
Extreme observed range (27° elevation) .. as 3062 yds.
Number of cartridges, maximum .. ais ee 13
$5 5 ordinary .. ais we 10
Aimed shots as single loader, per minute .. as 9
5 using magazine 5 we * il
Rapid fire, shots fired in 2 minutes, and maga-
zine charged twice ea es i a 26
The repeating action is thus described in Colonel Bond's
“Treatise on Military Small Arms”:—The cartridges are con-
tained in a magazine, underneath the barrel, which contains a
spiral spring, and are inserted through an aperture at the side,
as in the Winchester. On opening the breech, by pulling back
the bolt, a stud on the latter strikes against the upper extremity
of a bell crank lever, and causes the other extremity to raise a
cage or carrier containing the cartridge, and to bring it on a level
with the cartridge chamber of the barrel. When the bolt is
pushed forward, the cartridge is sent into the chamber, and a
projection on the bolt striking the bell crank lever, lowers the
carrier to its original position ready to receive another cartridge
from the magazine.
The “magazine” is a tube in the stock, in which the
cartridges are placed end to end. ‘The usual charge is 10
cartridges, as they are made up in packets of that number; but
13 can be used, 11 in the tube, | in the “ carrier” and 1 in the
barrel.
The back-sight consists of (1) the bed, the flanges of which
are in the shape of a parabolic arc, and on the side of one of
which is a graduated scale for distances up to 1,250 metres, and
(2) the elevating leaf, attached by a screw to the rear part of
the bed, which can be lengthened for ranges over 1,250 metres
by a graduated slide which draws out of the leaf. Sighting is
obtained by raising the leaf from the bed until its under edge
coincides with the distance indicated by the scale on the flange.
The leaf cannot be raised beyond the 1,250 metre mark on the
arc. For sighting beyond 1,250 metres, the leaf is raised to the
full extent (not vertical) and the graduated slide is drawn out
until the line representing the distance required is flush with
the top edge of the leaf.
The repeating carbine, which is on the same principle, is 36°6
inches long and weighs 7 lbs., and is now sighted up to 1,750
yards.
The cartridge case is of “ tombak” (copper and zinc). The
same cartridge serves for the carbine and Peabody rifle.
The composition of the powder is given at the end of this
chapter.
The weights of the 10-4 and 7:5 mm. revolvers are 2 lbs,
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 209
3} 0z., and 1 lb. 104 oz. respectively, and each has a cartridge
peculiar to itself, weighing severally 9°87 and 6-2 drams.
Until 1887 blank ammunition could not be satisfactorily used
in the magazine of the rifle and carbine, and consequently those
weapons could only be used as single loaders when ball ammuni-
tion was not used. In that year, however, a form of blank
cartridge with a wooden projectile was introduced, which could
be used in the magazine.
It is impossible to state with accuracy the number of re-
peating rifles available at the present time, but it is understood
that at the end of 1884 there were about 69,000 more than
were required for the Infantry of the Elite and Landwehr, and
since that time new arms have been produced at the rate of
about 8,500 per annum. It may be assumed, therefore, that
there are sufficient weapous (exclusive of private firearms) to
arma, considerable proportion of the Landsturm with repeaters,
the rest of that force being supplied with single loaders.
The total ammunition provided per rifle and battalion is
shown in the following table (from the “TInstruktion fiir den
Munitions-Nachschub,” 1881).
ifle,
ae Per battalion
672 Infantry
17 Pioneers.
Infantry. |Pioneers.
1. In Line.
Carried by the Infantry soldier (z) in pouch..
(6) inknapsack 67,200
680
40
be } 100
91,880
24,000
about 35
Carried by Pioneer aa oi 40
In 2 ammuniton wagons: 1st échelon ie
2. In Divisional Park.
about 35
In 2 ammunition wagons: 2nd échelon 24,000
3. In Park Depét.
about
19
A.
12,000
In 1 ammunition wagon: 3rd échelon
7,200
In chests ne a a ve ve } 29 } 19,200
200 135,080
4. In Depét of raw material.
100
Not lubricated .. oe ee a 67,200
300 202,280
2.—Side-Arms.
The same model of sabre is carried by all mounted officers
and adjutant non-commissioned officers; scabbard of steel, length
(2745) Oo
Blank ammu-
nition.
Number of
rifles.
Ammunition
per rifle.
Side-arms.
Guns in use.
8°4 cm. gun,
210 ‘THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
of blade 344 in. Dismounted officers and adjutant non-com-
missioned officers have a sword 31:81 inches in the blade, with
steel scabbard.
Mounted non-commissioned officers and men of Cavalry and
Train (except Train battalion and line train), trumpeters, farriers,
and saddlers of Artillery have the same pattern sabre.
Short swords are carried by Engineers and Infantry pioneers,
and a cutlass (Fuscinemesser) by non-commissioned officers and
men (gunners) of field and mountain batteries, companies of posi-
tion, park and train soldiers, sanitary and administrative troops.
Sergeant-majors of Infantry, artillery of position and artificer
companies, carry a “briquet,” a sword with leather scabbard.
Some of the older pattern rifles (1869) in the Landwehr still
have a quadrangular bayonet of ancient pattern, but the regu-
lation pattern is a sword-bayonet, the back of which is notched
for use asa saw. The total length of the latter is 23:6 inches,
and it projects 18:3 inches beyond the muzzle; weight without
sheath, 1 lb. 33 oz.
3. Guns.
The guns actually used in the armament of the Swiss
Artillery are of the following natures, all breechloaders :—
8-4 cm. steel field gun, the sole armament of the Elite and
Landwehr Field Artillery.
8:4 cm. hard bronze gun
12 cm. steel gun .. .. efor Artillery of Position.
12 cm. howitzer...
8:4 cm. bronze gun
10 cm. cast steel gun
75 cm. steel mountain gun, for Mountain Artillery.
for an emergency reserve.
The 10 cm. steel guns will gradually be withdrawn. They
and the 8-4 cm. bronze guns are merely retained as an “‘emer-
gency reserve,” to reinforce the artillery of position in certain
situations.
The armament of the Gotthard forts is not yet published
(see page 228).
It may be stated here that there are no Government gun
foundries in Switzerland; all guns are therefore purchased
abroad, or (as in the case of the bronze guns) furnished by
private Swiss firms.
8-4 cm. (3°3 in.) Ring Gun, Krupp. Model 1881.
Gun.—The gun is a breechloader formed of a steel tube
strengthened by six steel hoops, the sixth binding the other five
at the powder chamber. ‘The following are the principal
dimensions of the gun :—
ewe
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 211
Length of gun .. an ee ay 84-65 inches.
» of rifled portion of bore ‘4 6405,
» of front incline ais re 4055 45
» of line of sight be a es 39°370 ,,
» Of grooves in the twist os 138°98
Number of grooves toi 22 24
Twist in calibres (increasing) .. ar 1 in 42
Diameter of bore in grooves .. es 3-405 inches.
% sf at lands i a 3307 i,
i. chamber for projectile .. 3324,
7 chamber for cartridge .. 3740,
Weight of gun with breech arrangement, 8 cwt. 1 qr. 13 lb.
» of breech-closingarrangement 2 qrs. 172 Ibs.
» of gunand carriage .. 19 cwt. 2 qrs. 164 Ibs.
» of limber without ammunition 8 cwt.3 qrs. 274 lbs.
Angle of elevation allowed by carriage ss 18°
», depression ,, iy a 6°
The system of breech-loading is Krupp’s single cylindro-
prismatic wedge, obturation being obtained by a Broadwell ring
of pure copper, backed by a steel plate in the wedge.
There 1s a channel (or vent) in the steel plate of the wedge,
the lower opening of which is axial, while the upper entrance
receives a cartridge similar to a blind revolver cartridge; this
is fired by a lock similar in construction to that of a rifle, which
is armed by drawing a reversed wedge.
The initial velocity of the projectile is 1525°62 feet per
second.
The trajectory gives the following dangerous zones for an
upright mark of 5 ft. 11 in. :—-
At 1,000 metres (1,093 yds.) for a length of 51 metres (56 yds.)
» 2,000 ,, (2,187 ,, ) ” 19, (21, )
OO ss ARON A
Ammunition —The charge (3 lbs. 1 oz. 6 drs. of coarse-
grained pebble powder, 0-197 to 0:354 diameter) is enclosed in a
sack of a damp-proof silken material, which is somewhat loosely
filled. For composition of the powder sce table at the end of
this Chapter.
The common shell (Ringgranate), of cylindro-ogival form, is
furnished with two copper rings, the foremost equal in diameter
to the calibre of the gun, the hindermost to the diameter in the
grooving. The shell, of cast-iron, is double-walled, the inner
wall being composed of 12 ten-toothed rings, and has a bursting
charge of 4 oz. 15 drs. of powder. It is painted black.
The form of the shrapnel shell is similar to that of the com-
mon shell, but its head is blunter, and the front copper ring is
omitted, the front part of the shell being of calibre width. The
cylindrical portion and the base are of steel, and the ogival head
of cast-iron. The latter is screwed on to the former, and
strengthened inwardly by 8 ribs, through one of which is a
channel for the fuze. The shell contains 185 balls of hardened
(2745) 02
Ammunition.
Fuzes.
Sight.
Gun-carriage.
Limber.
212 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
lead, each weighing 7 drams, packed with rosin. The bursting
charge at the base of the shell consists of 2 oz. 4 drs. of powder,
more powerful than that used for the bursting charge of com-
mon shell. The shrapnel shell is painted red.
The case-shot (Bichsenkartdtsche) is a tin cylinder, with
wooden bottom, containing 62 balls, 6 of zinc, weighing 3 oz.
8 drs. each, in the centre of the case, and 56 of hardened lead,
each weighing 2 oz. 84 drs., placed in 8 layers round the larger
balls. The case-shot is painted green. The principal weights,
&c., of the ammunition are as follows :—
Powder charge .. He .. 3Ibs. 1 oz. 6 drs.
Weight of common shell, loaded.. 13 Ibs. 10 oz. 12 drs.
Bursting charge of common shell . 4 oz. 15 drs.
Length of common shell, fuzed .. 8°26 inches.
Weight of shrapnel, loaded .. 14 lbs. 12 02.4 drs.
Bursting charge of shrapnel .. 2 02. 4 drs.
Length of shrapnel, fuzed .. 8:46 inches.
Number of balls in do... .- 185
Weight of case-shot oa .. 12 Ibs. 5 oz. 8 drs.
Number of ballsin do. .. -. 62.
Fuzes.—With common shell a metal percussion fuze is used;
with shrapnel a metal time fuze graduated in 145 divisions.
A “double fuze” (combined time and percussion) is also in
use. It has a composition piece in the shape of a hollow trun-
cated cone, in the under side of which is an annular, but not
continuous, groove, which contains the composition ring of
compressed powder. The outer face of the composition piece
is graduated in unequal parts (diminishing) up to 145, corre-
sponding + 2 or 3 with elevations on the tangent scale.
Sight.—The tangent scale is of brass, composed of the staff
with vertical scale, a cross-piece with lateral scale, and a sliding
sight. The scales are in divisions of ;q!5;ths to correspond with
the datum line of 1 metre between the back-sight and fore-sight.
The quadrant is divided into degrees, half-degrees, and quarter-
degrees.
The foresight is of steel. :
Gun-Carriage——The gun-carriage is of iron, with steel
axles and wooden wheels with iron tires. It has converging
brackets of sheet iron, between which is a small trail-box. The
elevating screw is worked by a hand-wheel situated on the
outer face of the right bracket. Instead of axle-tree seats there
are footboards on which two gunners stand. The gun-carriage
carries no ammunition. Width of track 4 feet 5-45 inches :
The limber is of iron, with wrought-iron axles and wooden
wheels with iron tires) The ammunition box, of pine covered
with tin and strengthened at the corners, carries an outer case
for two case shot, and is divided into 3 compartments, the two
outer ones for projectiles, the inner one for cartridges, fuzes, &e.
The arm-rests are of iron, as also the back-rest in the latest
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 213
pattern. The rests are attached to the lid of the box, the
hinges of which are towards the horses. The total weight of
the limber without ammunition is 1,0073 lbs.; fully equipped,
1,726 lbs.
The gun and limber are drawn by 6 horses: weight, fully
equipped, 35 cwt. 0 qrs. 62 lbs; weight behind each horse,
5 cwt. 3 qrs. 10 lbs.
Ammuniton Wagon (Caisson, model 1871-81).—The limber of
the wagon is similar to that of the gun, with only slight
differences in equipment. The wheels of both are interchange-
able. The wagon limber also carries 2 case shot in a case
outside the ammunition box. The frame of the wagon body is
of iron; the wheels similar to those of its limber. The wagon
body carries two ammunition boxes, similar to that of the
limber, placed back to back and provided with arm-rests only.
A spare wheel is carried on the back of the wagon. The
wagon carries no case shot.
The ammunition wagon is drawn by 6 horses. Weight,
with its limber, empty, 19 cwt. 0 qrs. 10 Ibs.; packed,
41 cwt. 1 qr. 16 lbs.; weight behind each horse, 6 cwt.
3 qrs. 16 Ibs.
The width of track is the same as for the gun-carriage.
There are two other older models in use.
The following table shows the number of rounds carried with
a battery :—
In each gun In spare In each ammu- Per
limber. limber. nition wagon. | Battery.
Common sheli .. 10 10 40 310
Shrapnel... we 30 30 80 690
Case... os 2 2 2 26
42 | 42 | 122 1,026
This gives a total of 171 rounds for each of the 6 guns with
the battery, in addition to which 884 rounds are carried for each
of those guns in the divisional park, and 1402 rounds a-piece
are kept in the depédt park, thus giving the total regulation
number of 400 rounds per gun. For the reserve gun (kept
in the divisional park) 42 rounds are carried in the park, and
358 kept in the depdt park; all packed in chests.
The following table gives the distribution of the ammunition
available for each 84 cm. battery :—
Ammunition
wagon.
Rounds per
battery.
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THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
214
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ARMS AND AMMUNITION.
215
Revolvers.—Revolver ammunition of 280 rounds for 7 officers,
and 480 rounds for 12 mounted non-commissioned officers and 1
trumpeter, is provided for each battery.
12 cm, (4:7 in) Ring Gun.
. Gun.—The
gun is a breechloader, formed of a steel tube,
Model 1882.
12 cm. gun.
strengthened by 7 hoops, the 7th hoop binding the other 6 round
the chamber.
gun :—
Length of gun ae .-
e rifled portion of
bore
+3 line of sight
is grooving...
Number of grooves .. aa
Twist in calibres (increasing)
Breadth cf grooves .. v
Depth sj
Breadth of lands oa
Diameter of chamber for
cartridge .. ag ae
Total length of gun and
limber (on the march)
Weight of gun with breech
arrangement oe ty
Weight of breech arrange-
ment oa oe oe
Weight of gun- carriage,
equipped .. an at
Weight of limber, equipped. .
ae oe
Width of track os a
Angle of elevation allowed of
by carriage i
Angle of depression allowed
of by carriage... ne
Height of axis of tube above
ground in action .. es
The following are the principal dimensions of the
9 feet 9-6 inches.
6 feet 3°47 inches.
3 feet 11-276 inches.
13 feet 9:47 inches.
32.
1 in 35.
*326 inch.
0590 inch.
1377,
5-000 inch.
25 feet.
27 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lbs.
1 cwt. 2 qrs. 33 lbs.
31 cwt.1 qr. 72 Ibs.
5 ewt. 0 qr. 134 Ibs.
4 feet 5:15 inches.
36°.
8°,
6 feet 0-5 inch.
The system of loading is Krupp’s cylindro-prismatic wedge,
with Broadwell obturation by means of steel rings (in some
cases copper rings), backed by a steel plate in the wedge.
initial velocity of a shell is 1,574°83 feet per sec.
Ammunition.—The charge of powder is 9 lbs. 11 oz. 3. drs.
The
Ammunition,
Its composition is the same as that for the 8-4 cm. gun, but it is
made in flat cubes which are ‘629 inch in length and breadth
and :472 in depth.
The bursting charge of the common shell is 2 Ibs. 3 oz. 4 drs.;
the shell does not burst until after penetration.
The shrapnel shell contains 470 to 480 balls, and is made on
216 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Krupp’s “ Kammershrapnel” system. It is furnished with the
“double fuze.” The range of the shrapnel is nearly 5,500 yards,
Both common shell and shrapnel receive their rotatory motion by
means of two copper rings on the shell, as in the 8-4 cm. gun.
The shell and cartridges are passed into the chamber through
the breech by means of a metal cylinder, which preserves them
from damage during their introduction, and prevents them from
touching the obturating ring.
Sighta Sight—The tangent scale is divided vertically into 360
divisions, and laterally. into 60 divisions, each of which is ,qy,th
of the line of sight (which is 1:150 metres). The quadrant can
be worked to =, of a degree by means of a micrometer screw.
Gun-ganidawe: Gun-Carriage—The gun-carriage consists of two compressed
* steel-plate brackets, which converge slightly in the trail and are
connected by two of iron. For travelling, the gun is moved
back from the firing trunnion holes into holes in moveable
blocks, which rest on the upper surface of the brackets. The
time required to move the gun from its “order of march”
position on the gun-carriage into the firing trunnion holes, ready
for action, should not exceed five minutes.
The elevating screw is worked by handles on the screw
itself.
On the march the breech-loading arrangement is carried in
a box on the trail, and the equipment of the gun in a box
between the brackets under the gun.
The axle of the wheels of the gun is of cast steel, the naves
are of soft tough iron, the 14 spokes and 7 fellies of each
wheel of oak or elm, the tires of wrought iron.
The diameter of the wheel is 5 feet 1:4 inches, The gun
limber is merely a “dilly” or support for the trail of the gun-
carriage. It carries no ammunition, but only a portion of the
gun-carriage equipment (drag-ropes, &c.). The wheels are
3 feet 3°37 inches in diameter.
The gun and limber can be drawn by four horses (on level
ground only); on ground with steep gradients 8 horses are re-
quired. Weight 64 cwt. 3 qrs. 14 lbs.; behind each horse,
16 ewt. 0 qrs. 224 lbs. i
Am nunition Ammunition Wagon (Model 1884).—The wagons for the
wagon. transport of the first line of ammunition of the 12 cm. gun
are in two parts, viz., a limber and a wagon body of wooden
construction. On each is a platform riveted to the frame-
work, which carries the ammunition boxes. A crogstree, run-
ning along the top of the boxes and connected at each end
with the framework, firmly secures the boxes.
The limber carries 4 ammunition boxes, 3 for shells and 1
for cartridges. The wagon body carries 8 ammunition boxes, 5
for shells and 38 for cartridges. 5
This wagon is drawn by 4 horses (on good ground) ; weight,
equipped, 40 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lbs.
Rounds per The following table shows the ammunition carried in each
wagon und = ammunition wagon for 12 cm. guns :—
gun,
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 217
In wagon In wagon
limber. bady. total
Common shell with fuzes 35 10 20 30
Shrapvel with fuzes “i = 5 5 10
Cartridges .. oe ae oa 10 30 40
Detonator screws .. ae 9 12 24 36
Composition pieces oe oe 5 5 10
Obturating primers sis ss 30 50 80
The regulation amount of rounds for each gun is 300. 200
of these are packed in the regulation ammunition boxes, which
are of the same pattern for both ammunition wagon and depét.
Of these, 80 are carried in the first line by ammunition wagons,
of which 2 are allowed for each gun, and 120 in the second line
by requisition wagons.
The remaining 100 are packed in wooden chests and form
the third line of ammunition (Depét-munition).
Three complete platforms are carried in reserve for each kind
of gun. There is no specification as to the carriage of these.
12 om. (47-inch) Howitzer ( for high-angle fire). Model 1884.
The 12 em. howitzers (Mérser ; Mortiers), some of which are
of steel and the remainder of bronze, have been converted
from the old 10 cm. guns of position. They have a broad hoop
in front of the chamber, the remains of the old trunnion piece.
The following are the principal dimensions of the
howitzers :—
Length of howitzer 4 feet 9:21 inches.
9 rifled portion ‘of
bore .. .. 8 feet 0:22 inch.
7 grooving. . .. 8 feet 2-4 inches.
No. of grooves : . 18.
Twist in calibres (uniform) . 1 in 25.
Breadth of grooves . .. 6654 inch.
Depth as .. 10551 inch.
Breadth of lands. .. 1574 inch.
Diameter of a cham-
ber .. .. 4°946 inches.
Weight of gun with breech- closing arrangement
Steel. Bronze.
10 cwt. 2 qrs. 14 lbs. 12 ewt. 1 qr. 19 lbs.
Weight of breech-closing arrangement
Steel. Bronze.
1 qr. 193 lbs. 1 qr. 203 lbs.
Total weight of carriage
equipped (including plat-
form) without howitzer .. 16 cwt. 2 qrs. 10 lbs.
Weight of limber equipped 14 ewt. 1 qr. 22 Ibs.
12 cm.
howitzer.
Ammunition.
Gun-carriage.
Platform.
Gun-limber.
Ammunition
wagon.
218 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Maximumelevationallowedof 60°.
Length of platform .. .. 4 feet 11:06 inches.
Breadth of oe8 .. 8 feet 3:37 inches.
Thickness of chesses .. 2°95 inches.
Total weight of platform .. 3 cwt. 1 qr. 21 lbs.
The system of breech-closing is a flat wedge. The firing
lock is on the top of the gun, perpendicularly over the plate,
and the channel passes down perpendicularly through the latter.
Ammunition.—The projectiles and fuzes are the same as
those for the 12 cm. gun. The charges of powder vary from
10 oz. 9°31 drs. (300 grammes) to 1 Ib. 11 oz. 112 drs. (900
grammes) by increments of 5 oz. 4°67 drs. (150 grammes). The
cartridges are made up in two sizes, one cartridge weighing
300 grammes and the other 450 grammes, so that by combinin
these, charges varying by 150 grammes, from 300 to 900, can
be used. The composition and grain (coarse) of the powder
are the same as in the case of the 8:4 cm. field gun,
Gun-Carriage—The gun-carriage is of wrought iron, and is
a conversion of the old 1869 10-5 cm. gun-carriage, new elevat-
ing gear of steel or bronze, worked by hand-wheel on the
outside of the right bracket, having been furnished.
The gun-carriage carries its platform complete on the
trail.
Platform—The platform is known as the “ Gressly ” pattern.
It is of wood with the exception of the slots, which are of iron,
and consists of cross chesses 2°9 inches in thickness, on which
are fixed two sleepers connected by braces and sloping at each
end. The slots are on the top of the sleepers.
In order to bring the howitzer into action, the platform is
first laid and the gun brought over it, the carriage wheels
being clear of and outside the platform. The ground is then
dug away from under the wheels till they no longer touch it,
the gun resting on rollers, or subsidiary wheels on the axle of
the gun, which run in the slots of the platform. When the
howitzer is discharged, it moves back on the rollers until the
recoil is arrested by the contact of the gun wheels with the
rear incline of the bed dug out from under them. The gun
automatically returns into firing position.
The total weight of the platform is 8 ewt. 1 qr. 21 lbs.
Gun-Limber—The framework of the limber is that of the
old 10 cm. gun of aetna It has been provided with a wooden
platform, on which are carried one equipment box and three
ammunition boxes (one each for common shell, shrapnel, and
cartridges). The boxes are kept in position by a top cross-tree,
connected at each end with the framework of the limber.
The ammunition carried in the limber consists of 5 common
shell, 5 shapnel, and 20 pairs of cartridges of 10 oz. 9°3 drs. and
15 oz. 13-9 drs.
Ammunition Wagons.—In coustruction the wagons are the
same as those for the 12 cm. gun, but they carry 15 instead of
ARMS AND AMMUNITION. 219
12 ammunition boxes. The wagon-limber carries 5 boxes (2 for
common shell, 1 for shrapnel, and 2 for cartridges), and the
wagon-body 10 boxes (6 for common shell, 3 for shrapnel, and
1 for cartridges. .
The following ‘Table shows the ammunition carried in 1st
Line for each gun :—
In Ammunition Wagon.
In Total
=o, Gun in Ist
Timber: Wager Total. Limber.| Line.
ody.
Common shell A Se o 10 30 40 5 45
Shrapnel . . we ies 5 15 20 5 25
Cartridges (pairs) .. ae sg 40 20 60 20 80
Detonator screws .. ee ‘its 12 36 48 6 54
Composition pieces .. ie ae 5 15 20 5 25
Obturating primers.. as ..{ 30 90 120 20 140
This gives a total of 70 rounds per howitzer in Ist Line,
carried in gun-limber and one ammunition wagon, as against
80 rounds for the 12 cm. gun, carried in two ammunition
wagons.
The total regulation supply for each howitzer is the same as
for the 12 cm. gun, viz., 300 rounds, of which 70 are carried
in 1st Line, 130 in 2nd Line, and 100, remain at the depot.
8-4 em. Hard-bronze Guns. Model 1887.
These have been re-cast from guns of the same calibre with-
drawn from the Field Artillery and from guns of larger calibre,
and do not require particular description, as they will probably be
replaced by degrees by the steel gun described above. Light
steel field carriages, suitable for use in positions, are bemg
provided for these guns, which will carry their own platforms.
The total number of rounds for each gun is 300, of which
100 are kept in the depét. The 8 guns in each Division of
Artillery of Position are provided with 10 ammunition wagons
in Ist Line, the rest of the 200 rounds per gun being carried as
2nd Line in requisitioned carts. A description of the gun will
be found in the “Handbuch fiir Schweiz. Artillerie-Offiziere,”
3rd Chapter, edit. 1888. The interior of the gun is identical
with that of the 8-4 cm. steel gun.
75 em, (2°95 in.) Rifled Mountain Gun (Krupp’s). Model 1877.
Gun.—The gun is a _ breechloader of wrought steel,
with a modified Krupp’s single prismatic wedge. with copper
Rounds per
gun.
8'4.cem. bronze
gun.
Mountain
gun.
Amununition.
220 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
obturator ring. The principal dimensions and weights are as
follows :— .
Weight of gun with breech block .. 2 cwt. 0 qrs. Tbs.
v4 breech block... .. 26 Ibs.
Length of gun se ahs .. 38°385 in.
- bore oe sis .. 24°213 in.
Calibre.. 4 “ ws «» 2°952 in.
Number of grooves .. be wa obs
Depth 3 is cd .. 0°049 in.
Width . a me .. 0-275 in.
Twist - oo % .. lin 35 calibres.
The carriage is of steel, the wheels of wood, except the bronze
nave and wrought iron tire. The limits of angles of fire are
+ 16° and — 10°. The mode of carrying the gun is described
in the chapter on Corps Equipment.
Ammunition—The ammunition for each gun consists of 70
rounds common shell and 130 rounds shrapnel. ‘The distribu-
tion of the ammunition for the battery of 6 guns is shown in
the following Table :—
In Line. In Depét. Total.
b g With Ammunition | Without Ammu-
eS 5 E ‘ nition for 1 Re-
=. § 4 2 g a for 1 Reserve Gun. serve Gun.
4a ag Po g .
3 2 ZO a 3 Per Per Per Per
23 & g & | Battery. | Gun, | Battery. | Gun.
Common shell, with fuzes 240 180 70 250 490 814 420 70
Shrapnel _,, ‘i 360 420 130 | 550 910 igi¢ 780 130
Cartridges ave aes 600 600 200 800 1,400 2332 1,200 1 200
For each gun with the battery there are 831 detonator
screws, 133 composition pieces, and 320 friction tubes. On
mobilisation, 400 out of the 800 depét projectiles and cor-
responding cartridges and fuzes are packed in reserve boxes.
The common shell (Ringgranate), of cylindro-ogival form,
consists of two parts: the outer, of cast iron, with two copper
bands as in the 8-4 cm. gun; the inner, of 10 8-toothed cast-
iron rings, with 3 oz. 8:43 drs. bursting charge in the centre.
The shell weighs, with its percussion fuze, 9:47 Ibs.
The shrapnel shell is in general similar to that of the 8-4 cm.
gun, and consists of a steel body and cast-iron head. It is
divided internally into two chambers: the rear and narrower
one contains the bursting charge of 1 oz. 12-2 drs. powder; the
front one is filled with 110 to 112 hard lead bullets, weighing
8-466 drs. each. The length of the shell with fuze (combined
time and percussion) is 7:48 in., and its weight, filled and fuzed,
10-146 lbs, It is provided with one copper ring.
The cartridge contains 14:11 oz. powder.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION, 221
Each mountain battery has a 7th (reserve) gun, which,
however, is not carried with the battery, but will be placed in
the mountain park column (about to be organised) or in the
park of the Division to which the battery may be attached.
Powder.
As regards their composition, the powders used for the
ammunition of the various small-arms and guns may be classi-
fied as follows :—
Proportional Parts.
cone Shape Size, of | Specific
Potassi in, Tain. Gravity.
ate Sulphur. | Charcoal. Grain.
inch
070118 1°65
For revolvers ie ae ace 78 9 13 angular to to
. 00236 1°75
0 °3236 1°65
» bursting charge of shrapnels. 78 9 13 angular to to
00354 1°75
0°0472 1°61
» Yifles .. eam te ie 74 11 15 round to to
0°059 1°64
» bursting charge for common 07059 mini-
shell and 8°4 bronze field WV'5 9 13°5 angular to mum
guns. 0°0709 1:70
3 0°1968
8-4.cm. ring guns and 12 cm. ‘i
a Oe ee ne bow 10 15 angular} to , 1-64
0°3543
(| 0-629 |
long and
» 12cm, gunsof position ...| 75 10 15 ea road 1°68
thick J
Total number of Guns.
Powders used.
The total number of guns required for the armament of the Total of
Artillery is as follows :—
84 cm. steel ring
For 48 Elite field batteries, in lst Line .. 288
», lreserve gun, per battery .. i 48
,. 8 Landwehr field batteries, in 1st Lin 48
» Lreserve gun, per battery .. va 8
392
8-4 cm, hard bronze (or steel) guns—
For 5 Divisions Artillery of Position ahs 40
Ersatz Reserve Division and schools... 16
56
”
Artillery.
222 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
12 cm. howitzers—
For 5 Divisions Artillery of Position a 30
», Ersatz Reserve Division and schools . 20
70
12 cm. guns—
For 5 Divisions Artillery of Position “fe 70
» Ersatz Reserve Division and schools.. 28
98
73 cm. mountain guns—
For 2 Elite mountain batteries .. 12
» lyeserve gun, per battery .. ss 2
» 2 Landwehr mountain batteries fe 12
» lvreserve gun, per battery .. "e 2
28
To these should be added a general emergency reserve of
the best of the old guns, viz., 120-8°4 cm. bronze, 69-10 cm.
cast steel, and 118-12 cm. bronze guns (the latter mostly
converted from bronze smooth bores). Thus the approximate
total of serviceable guns is—
75cm. mountain guns... a3 .. = 28
8-4 cm. steel and hard bronze guns 2 .. 448
12 cm. steel howitzers... a ae .. 70
10 cm. steel guns .. si ee she .. 98
8-4. cm. bronze guns 1 Li -. 120
12 cm. cast-steel guns eee Pk ng ae ae
12 cm. bronze guns as de LAS
Grand total ms a 951
The armament of the Gotthard forts cannot be ascertained
at present.
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS. 223
CHAPTER XVII.
Miuirary EstTaBLISHMENTS.
Unper this head are included the Régie des Chevaux, the
Federal Small Arms Factory and Control of Arms, the Con-
structional Department, Ammunition Factory (with the Depdt
of raw material), Barracks, and Fortifications. The Powder
Mills are not strictly military establishments, but may be con-
veniently noticed in this Chapter. The Control of Ammunition
and Powder has been alluded to in connection with the
Ammunition Depét (Chapter XV.).
Horse Depét (Pferderegieanstalt; Régie des Chevaux) at
Thun. This institution was established at Thun in 1877 for
the purpose of training private horses for officers other than
those of Cavalry, purchasing and training horses for sale or
letting on hire to officers, and for letting on hire to courses of
instruction, giving instruction in riding to officers and others,
creating a central school of equitation, and training rough riders
and grooms. The latter two duties, however, have fallen into
abeyance. The régie horses are always lent to the Cavalry for
the use of recruits at the preliminary riding school courses. All
the horses are broken to saddle and harness, and any trained
horses that are not required by officers duringinstructional courses
may be let. to Government for Artillery non-commissioned officers,
or even for light draught purposes. The rate of hire to be paid
by officers is 3s. 24d. a day. In order to encourage the practice
of military equitation throughout the country, horses, with
rough-riders as instructors, are lent on hire to voluntary riding
school classes whenever the horses are not required for ordinary
instructional courses. In time of war the traimed horses of the
régie are to be sold or let on hire to officers who have to
mount themselves, and depédts will be established under the
general direction of the administration, where horses bought
abroad or in the country, or even hired horses, will be trained
to the saddle for all arms except Cavalry. It was intended that
the establishment of trained horses should be 200, but of late
this number has been exceeded, and the Budget for 1889 pro-
vides for the entertainment of 270 horses. The régie is
commanded by a Director (Lieut.-Colonel of Cavalry) assisted by
another officer, the establishment consisting of 10 or more rough-
riders and the necessary number of grooms, 1 to 5 or 6 horses.
The regulations for the working of the establishment are
contained in the F. M. F., No. 13, of 1877.
There is no connection between the régie and the Cavalry
or Cavalry depéts beyond the fact that horses may be exchanged
between it and the latter establishments.
Horse depot
(Régie).
Small-arms
factory.
Construc-
tional depart-
ment.
Ammunition
factory.
224 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
In connection with the régie is a depdt for three-year-olds
belonging to the Department of Commerce, &c., which, when
old enough, are taken on to the establishment of the régie for
training, or sold to the Cavalry.
It is in contemplation to establish a new depot for remounts,
the formation of which will somewhat modify the working of
the régie (see page 246).
Small-Arms. Factory (Waffenfabrik; Fabrique d’armes) on
the Wylerfeld at Bern. This establishment is charged with the
the sole manufacture of the small-arms used in the army, with
the purchase of detached pieces required for the same, and with
the keeping up of a supply of detached pieces, armourers’ tools,
and instruments required for the control of firearms. It under-
takes the repairs of arms which cannot be effected in cantonal
arsenals, originates and conducts experiments for the improve-
ment of small-arms, and, so far as the requirements of the service
allow, even furnishes arms to private persons. The factory is
under the immediate control of the technical section of the
Administration of War Material, and at its head is a Director (a
Colonel of Artillery), who is assisted by an accountant, and has
an average establishment of 163 employés and workmen.
Barrels are generally purchased abroad, and 16 or 17 Swiss
factories supply separate parts of the arms, the work of finishing
being done by the Small-arms Factory. Besides arms, and parts
thereof, delivered to cantonal administrations and private
individuals, and repairs executed for the same, there were pro-
duced for the Federal Administration in 1887, 10,500 rifles and
800 Carabinier rifles (model 1881), 200 carbines (model 1878),
and 500 revolvers (7°5 mm., model 1882), in addition to various
tools and interchangeable pieces, while the repairs included the
transformation of 1,600 Peabody rifles and the renewal of 2,500
arms of various sorts. In connection with the factory is a
Control of Arms, which is responsible for proving all weapons
turned out of the factory before they.are handed over to the
Confederation or cantons.
Instructions for the guidance of this control were published
in the F.M.F., No. 13, of 1876.
Constructional Department (Konstruktionswerkstdtte ; Atelier
de construction) at Thun. This establishment, which is under
the technical section of the Administration of War Material, is
charged with the manufacture and repair of all the carriages
and equipment of the army’ not entrusted by the Military
Department to cantonal workshops or private houses, and may
even undertake work for cantonal administrations and private
persons, if the exigencies of the service permit. It is further
responsible for putting forward and working out suggestions for
the improvement of the matériel with which it is concerned.
The department is under a Director (usually an officer of En-
gineers), assisted by an accountant, and in 1887 employed on
the average 83 workmen.
Ammunition Factory (Munitionsfabrik ; Fabrique de Munition ;
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS. 225
also known as the Laboratorium) at Thun. In accordance with
the Law of Military Organisation, the Confederation is charged
with the manufacture of all military ammunition, while the
Federal Constitution provides that the manufacture and sale of
gunpowder is the exclusive privilege of the State. The Federal
powder factories, which are situated at Lavaux (near Aubonne),
Worblaufen, and Chur, are shown in the Budget under the head
“Military Department,” but are included in the Financial Depart-
ment in the Annual “Rapport.” Each factory is superintended by
a District Intendant, the Central Administration under a Central
Tntendant being at Bern. The powder manufactured at these
establishments for military purposes is forwarded to the ammu-
nition factory at Thun, powder for sporting and mining purposes
being sold to agents throughout the country.
The ammunition factory is presided over by a Director (an
Artillery Officer), on whose staff are an assistaut, a book-keeper,
and (in 1887) an average of 569 employés, including chemist,
office assistants, overseers, foremen, and magazine men. The
factory is charged with the manufacture of ammunition for all
arms, and may further supply the cantonal authorities aud
private persons, if the requirements of the State permit. It is
placed under the immediate orders of the technical section of
the Administration of War Material. All ammunition produced
at the factory is tested by the Control of Ammunition (Chapter
XV.), both during and after manufacture, and after being passed
by that office is handed over to the ammunition depét. The
ammunition turned out in each year is given in detail in the
annual “ Report of the Federal Council to the Assembly.”
In ordinary times, working 10 hours a day, the factory turns
out about 60,000 finished cartridges a day, and by drawing
upon the depét of raw material it is considered that 120,000
could be produced daily. In 1883 there were altogether
30,428,420 cartridges for army purposes, leaving a reserve of
only 1,852,000 over and above the amount required by regula-
tion; since that time, however, the stock has been increased by
many millions.
_ Depot of Ammunition Raw Material—tIn addition to the stock
of Artillery and small-arm ammunition which is required to be
kept up by the Law of Military Organisation, the Federal
Council approved in 1881 of the formation and maintenance of
a depot of raw material sufficient to ensure the prompt manu-
facture of 20,000,000 Infantry cartridges (increased in 1884 to
32,000,000), and 10 to 20 per cent. of the regulation store of
Artillery ammunition, with a corresponding reserve of fuzes,
&. The necessary powder is kept up by the central admini-
stration of powder. The details of the state in which the
various materials are to be kept are laid down in the F. M. F.,
No. 4, of 1881. Asa merely temporary arrangement in time of
peace, and subject to special permission of the Military Depart-
ment, the federal ammunition factory (which is responsible tor
the: inventory of the depdt) may be allowed to draw a certain
(2745) P
Depét of raw
material.
Barracks.
Fortifications,
226 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
amount of this raw material when exceptional circumstances
(such as the explosion of a magazine) render it impracticable
to complete the ordinary stock of ammunition by ordinary
provisions.
Barracks (Waffenpldtze; Places d’armes).—The Confederation
has barracks at Thun, Luziensteig, Herisau, and Frauenfeld,
the establishment at Thun being the most important. In addition
to these the Federal Government makes use of the cantonal
places d’armes enumerated in the following list, which are rented
from the cantons :—
1st Divisional District.. Lausanne, Geneva, Biére (can-
tonal).
2nd 5 .- Colombier, Freiburg (cantonal),
ard ss .. Bern(cantonal), Thun (federal).
4th. % .. Lucerne aetna
5th ‘9 .. Aarau, Liestal, Basle, Brugge
(cantonal).
6th 5 .. Zurich, Winterthur (cantonal).
ith a .. St. Gallen, Walenstadt (can-
tonal), Herisau, Frauenfeld
(federal).
8th fe .. Chur, Bellinzona (cantonal),
Luziensteig (federal),
There are further a considerable number of cantonal places
@armes which are utilised during the instruction of the different
courses, those selected for each year being specified in the
“Tableau des écoles militaires” issued by the Federal Council,
and published in the “ Feuille Fédérale Suisse.”
One of the places in the above list is recognised as the.
principal place darmes for Infantry recruits’ schools in each
Divisional District, being also used for other courses which do
not interfere with the recruits’ schools. The conditions to be
fulfilled by such places are defined in a circular of the Military
Department (F. M. F. No. 1, of 1876), the main provisions being
that the drill ground shall be at least 800 yards square; the
rifle range at least 650 yards by 160 yards; the barracks capable
of accommodating 2 battalions of 700 men, with suitable rooms
for officers, lecture rooms, and a hospital in the vicinity; the
a rooms to contain at least 30, and not more than 60,
eds.
Most of the barracks are well built and well kept buildings,
and compare favourably as to internal arrangements with those
of other continental States. The principal details as to messing
and sleeping accommodation have been mentioned in Chapters
XI. and XII.
Fortifications—The question of the construction of defensive
works has been discussed in Switzerland with much warmth
since the termination of the Franco-German war in 1871, and
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS. 2 27
a considerable number of publications on the subject appeared
in 1880-81. The plans put forward may be reduced to three
systems: that of peripheral defence by means of numerous
frontier forts guarding the most important defiles; central
defence, by means of a central fortified position or positions ;
and radial defence by means of a few central fortified lines. A
résumé of the various plans will be found in Rothpletz’ “Das
System der Landesbefestigung ” (1880), in an anonymous work
“Das Vertheidigungs-und Befestigungs-System der Schweiz”
(1881), and in the “Havas Militaire de l’Htranger,” No. 642, of
1886. No official action has, however, been taken, except with
regard to the defence of the Gotthard tunnel.
The existing works may be summed up as follows:—At
Aarberg are a large redoubt, and three lunettes (field works) ;
at Aarburg are some works which provide good cover but are of
little value against modern Artillery; near Schaffhausen the
remains of works are to be seen. More important works exist
at Luziensteig, a simple curtain flanked by 2 bastions, with
barracks and magazines, some casemated towers, and several
block houses; at Bellinzona, a central lunette flanked with
several sma!l works; and at St. Maurice, where there are three
works. These works, which are merely kept up as barracks
and are of little value for purposes of defence, are fully des-
cribed in the “Revue générale et de I’état-major,’ for 1888,
p-. 182. The traces of works generally described as existing
‘at Basle, Bern, and Baden have entirely disappeared.
The first step towards the creation of defensive works for
the protection of the St. Gotthard tunnel was taken in 1885,
when the first instalment of 20,000/. was voted towards the
estimated cost of the works then proposed (104,000/.), and a
similar sum has been appropriated annually since that year; in
the Budget for 1889, however, the sum of 41,0802. has been
inserted. The general plan appears to be to construct 2 works at
the south end of the tunnel near Airolo, 1 or more at the Trou
(Buco) d’Uri, near Andermatt (Fort Biihl), at the northern end,
and probably some small works near the Ober Alp Pass, north-
east of Andermatt, and near the Fourka Pass and San Giacomo
on the western side of the tunnel. Each end of the tunnel will
be closed by 2 separate iron doors, spaced apart and kept in
working order, so that the tunnel may be closed at any
moment. The two doors at the southern end are already fitted
(Nov. 1888). The only forts at present under construction are on
the Airolo-Andermatt road, one at Fondo del Bosco, about 1,300
yards west of Airolo, the other about 14 miles further to the north-
east higher up the St. Gotthard. The lower and more important
work, roughly circular, in iron and granite, consists of one
Griison-Schumann “grand tour” and four “tourrelles,” the
former to be armed with 2 3-ton guns of about 12 cm. (4:7
in.) calibre, and the latter with 1 Hotchkiss or Griison quick-
firmg gun of about 53 mm. (2 in.), worked by hydraulic ma-
chinery. There are also emplacements for 36 B.L. Howitzers.
(2745) PQ
Old works.
Defence of the
Gotthard
tunnel.
Staff duties in
general.
228 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
The upper work (Motta Bartola) is an enclosed barbette
battery of granite only, and is expected to have an armament
similar to that of the lower work, but the guns will only be
placed in case of war.
The men to work these guns have been trained for two
years past in separate schools as “Artillerie de forteresse,”
and will ultimately be formed into a separate branch of the arm.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Starr DUTIES.
THE establishment of the various staffs has been described
in Chapter VII. In the present chapter it is proposed briefly to
recapitulate the rules as to the selection of Staff Officers, and to
explam the general nature of their duties, and the mode of
conducting correspondence.
Broadly speaking, the General Staff Officers are chiefly
charged with the preparation and execution of movements
and operations of troops, while Adjutants are more particularly
concerned with the transmission of orders, and with details of
interior economy and discipline; they may, however, be called
upon to assist the General Staff Officers in case of necessity,
and even to replace them during their temporary absence. The
position and duties of Adjutants, as compared with those of the
Officers of the General Staff with whom they are associated in
the larger staffs, may be said to be of a subordinate nature.
The Law of Military Organisation provides that the latter are
not to be of lower rank than that of Captain, while the former
are never to be Field Officers. ;
The duties of Adjutants-to officers of the special arms
attached to staffs are of a more limited nature, and consist
principally in rendering technical assistance to their immediate
chiefs, :
The officers of the special arms and branches of the service
act as technical advisers to the chiefs to whose staffs they are
attached. They also prepare technical dispositions or adminis-
trative regulations for the guidance of their own arms; but as
regards the actual employment of the troops of those arms, the
command ig exercised only by the officers under whose
immediate orders they are.
The following details refer more particularly to the duties
of Staff Officers in time of war, but will equally serve to give
a general idea of the distribution of these duties in time of
peace.
STAFF DUTIES. 229
It will be understood that the chief administrative authorities
in time of peace are the heads of departments of the different
arms and branches mentioned in Chapter III., and that these (or
their deputies) continue to carry on their duties on the outbreak
of war; the troops in the field, however, come under the chiefs
of the corresponding Divisions of the Staff of the Army.
I.—Staf? of the Army (Armeestab ; Etat-major de larmée).—
The General is selected by the Federal Assembly as soon as
the mobilisation of several Army Divisions is contemplated, and
he can only be dismissed by that body. He exercises the chief
command of the army until the conclusion of operations, unless
the Federal Council previously demand hisremoval. In case of
his being temporarily unable to exercise the chief command, his
duties are performed by the Chief of the General Staff; if
unable to resume his functions, the Federal Council appoints an
interim commander until the Federal Assembly is able to make
a fresh appointment. The Federal Council gives him instruc-
tions as to the objects to be attained by military operations, and
places the necessary material of war at his disposal. He ex-
ercises complete control over all the personnel and matériel of
the military forces thus made over to him, and also over all
movable and immovable property of the State and private
inhabitants, within the sphere of military operations, which he
may consider necessary for attaining the objects in view. If
he considers further troops necessary, the Federal Council is
responsible for calling them out. The General selects his
Adjutants and Orderly Officers.
In cases which do not admit of delay, he is empowered,
during time of war, to appoint or remove any officers to or
from the troops under his command.
The Chief of the General Staff (Generalstabschef ; Chef d état-
major général) is appointed by the Federal Council on the
nomination of the General. He is the central organ for the
direction of the army, receiving his orders from the General;
he draws up and signs all orders or directions of the General
regarding the distribution and movements of the army; gives
the necessary orders connected therewith to the 9 Chiefs ot
Divisions of the Army Staff; draws up Army orders, procla-
mations, bulletins, and regulations regarding the press and
newspaper correspondents, and is responsible for the intelligence
of the army. His immediate assistants (who, with a Staff
Clerk, form the “ Office of the Chief of the General Staff”) are
2 officers of the General Staff (Adjutants), one of whom acts as
Adjutant, the other being concerned with intelligence, military
and political, regarding the enemy.
The special duties of the 9 Divisions of the Army Staff, the
distribution of whose personnel has been shown in the Table on
p- 107, are as follows :—
(1) General Staff Division (Generalstabsabtheilung ; Section
@état-major général).—The Sub-chief of the General Staff, who
is at the head of this Division, disposes, of his own initiative or
General.
Chief of
General Staff.
Duties of
General Staff.
General
Division.
‘Lines of com-
munication
Division,
Adjutant
Division.
230 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
on behalf of the Chief of the Staff, of all duty and personal
matters connected with the General Staff Corps; and acts for
the Chief of the Staff during his temporary absence. ‘lhe
“ Office of the General Staff” is divided into 2 Sections and the
Chancellerie. :
The Operations Section (Operationssektion ; Section des
opérations) works out all orders regarding distribution of troops,
marches, engagements, instruction and employment of troops,
and draws up reports on operations. :
The Topograpbical and Statistical Section (Geographisch-
archivistische Section ; Section-technique) takes charge of collects,
and collates military and statistical reports, reconnaissance
reports, and schemes for the defence of the country and the
destruction or repair of public works, and regulates the supply
and distribution of maps.
The Chancellerie (Kanzlei; Chancellerie) is charged with the
general clerical work of the Army Staff; the despatch, receipt
and registry of all correspondence; printing of orders; cipher
writing and deciphering. ‘The field post and telegraph
directors are under the Chief of the Chancellerie.
(2) Lines of Communication and Railway Division (Etappen-
und Kisenbahnabtheilung ; Section des chemins de fer)—The Chief
of the Lines of Communication, who is directly under the orders
of the Chief of the General Staff, is the head of this Division,
and will, whenever possible, combine in his person the office of
Chief of the Railway Service. He, directly (or through the
latter, who is subordinate to him) takes over the entire personnel .
and plant of all the railway and steam-vessel companies and
employs them as may be necessary for military purposes. (See
Chapter XXII.) The officers of this Division work out the
necessary plans for the transport of supplies and return convoys
on the lines of communication, and for railway transport.
(3) Adjutant Division ( Adjutanturabtheilung ; Section de
Vadjudance).—The Adjutant-General (General-Adjutant ; Adju-
dant-général) is under the direct orders of the General or of the
Chief of the Genera] Staff. He reports as to the matériel of
the army and puts forward the requisite proposals as to reserve
ammunition and other matériel, clothing, and other equipment,
&e., draws up regulations for the general discipline of the
army and instruction of the Infantry, and sees that they are
carried out; regulates all personal matters of the Infantry (and
Cavalry, if there is no Cavalry Colonel on the Army Staff),
Chaplain’s service and police of head-quarters; works in accord
with the Chef @arme of Infantry (and Cavalry) as to necessary
reinforcements of the troops, and with the Chief of the
Technical Section of the Administration of War Material as
regards the armament and matériel of Infantry (and Cavalry).
The Service Section (Dienstsektion; Section du service).—This
section is concerned with discipline and interior economy,
reinforcements, field states of all arms, armament and matériel
of Infantry (and Cavalry), instruction and drill, army police
STAFF DUTIES. 93F
(deserters, prisoners, passes, safe-conducts), the parole, orders
for head-quarters, and routes.
Head-quarters Duty Section (Kommando des Hauptquartiers ;
Commandement du quartier général) —The Commandant of head-
quarters is in charge of the troops, Train soldiers, police,
grooms, and officers’ servants attached to the staff, his Adjutant
being in immediate charge of the Train.
(4) The Artillery Division (Artillerie abtheilung ; Section
@artillerie) is presided over by the Colonel of Artillery.
Ordinarily he exercises no command unless specially directed
by the General, but if several brigades of Artillery are massed
in battle he would be placed in command. He reports as to
the provisions of ammunition in the army and depdéts, and as to
the matériel of the Artillery; superintends the training, and
deals with personal matters of that arm; and on technical
questions communicates with the Chef @arme of Artillery (or
his deputy), or the Administration of War Material.
The Field and Position Artillery Sections of this Division
deal with matters concerning these branches of the arm.
The Park Direction superintends the entie supply of ammu-
nition to the army, the keeping up and augmentation of war
material and Artillery armament.
- The Train Direction reports as to the state of the horsing of
field batteries, park columns, and the army and line Train,
and supervises the augmentation of horses for the army (except
Cavalry).
_ (5) Engineer Division (Genieabthetlung ; Section du génie).
The Colonel at the head of this Division proposes or reports
upon plans for the more important technical works not confined
to the Army Divisions, such as fortifications of positions, con-
struction, repair or demolition of railways, bridges, and roads ;
but he does not personally conduct such works unless specially
ordered by the General. He supervises the instruction of
Engineer troops, deals with all technical questions and personal
matters: of the arm, sees that the necessary technical material
of the Engineers is kept up, being in communication in this
respect with the Chef d@arme or his deputy.
The Colonel of Cavalry exercises no command unless
specially ordered. He inspects the horses of Cavalry, watches
over the remounting, deals with all personal matters of the
arm, and superintends the provision of equipment.
(6, 7, and 8) The Chiefs of the Medical, Veterinary, and
Judicial Divisions superintend their respective branches
throughout the Army,
(9) The Commissariat Division is presided over by the Chief
Commissary of the Army (Armeekriegskommissdr ; Commissaire
des guerres de Varmée) who superintends the provisioning, pay,
quartering, clothing, and equipment of the army, and the
supply of requisitioned transport for provisions and baggage.
e supervises the issue of money from the War Treasury,
keeps the Chief of the General Staff constantly informed as to
Artillery
Division.
Engineer
Division.
Cavalry
Colonel.
Medical, Vete«
yinary and
Judicial
Divisions.
Commissariat
Division.
Divisional
commander.
General Staff
Officers.
Adjutante,
232 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
the state of the supply of provisions, deals with all personal
matters of the Administrative Officers, and in technical matters
and questions of provision, clothing, and equipment, is in
communication with the Chief Commissary (or his deputy).
The Provisions and Transport Section of this Division deals
with the supply of provisions and transport and accounts
connected therewith, including contracts, and keeps itself
acquainted with all sources of supply throughout the country.
The Quartering, Clothing, and Equipment Section deals
with those subjects, and issues the necessary information or
orders to the cantonal officers or Intendants of special maga-
zines as to the supplies required.
The Pay Section controls the accounts of the army, and the
Treasury Section has charge of the army treasure and makes
the necessary advances to the Divisions, &ec.
I—Staf’ of Army Divisions.
The Divisional. Commander (Divisiondér; Divistonnatre) is
under the immediate orders of the General.
Ot the two General Staff Officers on his staff, the first is
Chief of the Staff of the Division and head of the office; he
prepares the orders of the Divisional Commander, is responsible
for their being duly published, and sees that they are carried out.
He makes himself acquainted with the views of his chief and
the general plan of operations, and supervises the dispositions
for engagements. Of his own initiative he gives any special
instructions to the sections of the Divisional Staff as to the
carrying out of Divisional orders; on behalf of the Commander
of the Division, he points out to the Divisional Engineer the
site, extent, and object of any proposed defensive works ;
warns the Commissariat and Medical Officers of intended
movements and detachments of the Division; conducts the
intelligence and reconnaissance service of the Division, and
transmits intelligence to the Staff of the Army; gives direc-
tions for establishing relay posts and field telegraphs; takes
care that all requisite stores are demanded in good time from
the Army Staff or territorial sources of supply; and makes
himself personally acquainted with the condition and bearing
of the troops. During engagements he is specially charged
with maintaining touch between the various corps, seeing that
the supply of ammunition from the park is kept up, giving
general directions as to the ambulances, collecting and trans-
mitting intelligence and reports, making arrangements for
pursuit or retreat, re-establishment of order, and repose of the
troops. The second General Staff Officer carries out the
duties deputed to him by the Chief of the Staff.
The Ist Divisional Adjutant is concerned with the personal
matters, interior economy, police discipline, clothing equipment,
STAFF DUTIES. 233
arms, instruction, and drill of the troops; he acts as Commandant
of Divisional head-quarters, has under his orders the commander
ofthe Guide company, the greater part of which remains at head-
quarters, and draws up the field states and other reports of the
Division. The 2nd Divisional Adjutant is the personal Adju-
tant of the Divisional Commander; he looks after the accounts
of the staff, Train soldiers, grooms, and officers’ servants.
When necessary, both Adjutants may be employed to assist the
General Staff Officers.
The Divisional Engineer works out the plans for technical
works and superintends their execution ; conveys the Divisional
Commander's orders to the Engineers and Infantry pioneers ;
looks after the interests of his arm generally, and may be em-
loyed to assist in reconnaissances. He has at his disposal the
ioneer tool wagon and 4 Pioneer wagons of the Divisional park.
The Divisional Commissary directs the supply of provisions,
pay, clothing, equipment, and requisitioned carriages. One of
his Adjutants acts as Quartermaster of the Divisional Staff.
The Divisional Médical Officer directs the Medical Service,
has under his orders the field hospitals and all Sanitary troops,
and proposes the hygienic measures necessary for maintaining
the health of the troops. On the field of battle he fixes the
principal dressing and ambulance stations according to the
general indications of the Chief of the Staff, and takes the
requisite steps for evacuating the wounded.
The Divisional Veterinary Surgeon superintends the entire
Veterinary Service, looks after the health of the horses and of
the commissariat cattle, and keeps the record of the valuation
of horses attached to and discharged from the Division.
The Train Battalion Commandant, when the divisions of
the battalion have joined the Engineers, &c., is attached to
the Staff of the Division, and is charged with the inspection of
the army and line Train, with keepmg up their supply of
horses, and seeing that sufficient requisitioned carriages and
horses are available if required.
On the line of march and during engagements he commands
the combined columns of Train.
IIL. — Stag? of Brigades.
(a.) Infantry Brigades.
The Infantry Brigade Commander is under the direct orders
of his Divisional Commander. He gives out and signs all
brigade orders.
The Brigade General Staff Officer is his immediate sub-
ordinate and assistant, and chief of the brigade office; he
writes the brigade orders under his chief's directions, is
responsible for their being given out, attends to all details con-
nected with their execution, directs reconnaissances, keeps up
the supply of maps, and draws up reports of engagements,
Engineer.
Commissary.
Medical
Officer.
Veterinary
surgeon.
Train batta-
lion Comman-
dant:
Brigade
Commander.
General staff
Officer.
Adjutant.
Train Lieute-
nant.
Artillery
Brigade Com-
mander.
Chief of Staff.
Adjutants.
Quarter-
master.
Divisional
park com-
mander.
234 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
During action he is specially charged with seeing that touch is
kept between the units of the brigade and with the other corps
of the Division, that the supply of ammunition is maintained,
and the wounded removed; after an engagement he sees that
order is re-established, provisions and ammunition distributed,
and the repose of the troops cared for.
The Brigade Adjutant is charged with the command of
details attached to head-quarters, preparation of reports, trans-
mission of orders, supervision of discipline and interior economy,
office work, clothing and equipment, instruction and drill, and
brigade accounts,
The Train Lieutenant is charged with the command or
supervision of the Line Train of the brigade, looks after the
horses generally, and sees that unserviceable ones are replaced.
During marches and engagements he commands the column of
ammunition wagons.
(6.) Artillery Brigades,
The Brigade Commander is under the immediate orders of
the Divisional Commander. He issues orders to the chiefs of
Artillery regiments and the Divisional park, watches over the
entire ammunition service of the Division, and commands the
brigade in action.
The Chief of the Staff of the Artillery Brigade is the
assistant and deputy of the Commander. His duties are similar
to those of the General Staff Officer of the Infantry Brigade,
but confined, as arule, to his own arm. He specially looks
after the reports as to the ammunition of the Division and the
material of the Artillery.
Of the Brigade Adjutants, one conducts the office work and
is concerned with the preparation of states, interior economy,
discipline, equipment, and instruction of the brigades; the
other is the personal Adjutant of the Brigadier, and executes
any special work assigned to him.
The Quartermaster is charged with the accounts of the
brigade, supply of provisions, and administrative service
generally. In technical matters he is in direct communication
with the Divisional Commissary, and with the Commanders and
quartermaster-sergeants of the units of the brigade.
IV.—Staf’ of Divisonal Park.
The Commander of the park is under the immediate orders
of the Artillery Brigade Commander, and commands both park
columns. He replenishes ammunition and matériel of the
different arms as required, and replaces ammunition in the park
columns from the depdt park. He is charged with the
reinforcement of the batteries with men and horses, and sees
that carriages sent from corps to the park for repairs are
attended to.
STAFF DUTIES. 235
V.—Staf’ of Regiments.
The Regimental Adjutant regulates the service of the
Head-quarters Staff, looks after personal matters, interior
economy, discipline, arms, clothing, equipment, instruction, and
drill, prepares reports and states, is responsible for the giving
out of orders, and assists his chief in all work which, in the
higher units, would fall to the General Staff Officer.
The Quartermaster is charged with the accounts and supply
of provisions.
The Pioneer Officer of an Infantry regiment commands the
Infantry pioneers when combined as a detachment, and directs
any troops detailed to execute engineering works. In
technical matters he follows the direction of the Divisional
Engineer.
The Train Adjutant N.C. Officer is in charge of the provi-
sion and baggage trains of the regiment, looks after the
treatment of sick horses, and is responsible for reporting when
horses or carriages require replacing.
The Adjutant N.C. Officer in charge of the ammunition
wagons commands the combined ammunition wagons of the
regiment, and superintends the issues and replenishment of
ammunition.
Office Work, Correspondence, §c.
Detailed regulations as to the conduct of office work, form
of letters, transmission of correspondence, journals to be kept
and reports furnished by the various units and Staff Officers,
rules to be observed in drawing up orders, reports of operations,
acts of capitulations and truces, are given in the “ Anleitung fiir
die Stiibe.”
Regimental
Adjutant.
Quarter-
master.
Pioneer
Officer.
Adjutant A
N. C. Officers.
Surgeon-in-
Chief.
236 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XIX.
SANITARY SERVICE.
THE Sanitary Service consists of two separate branches, the
Medical and the Veterinary. The organisation and the general
regulations for the instruction of these branches have been
described in preceding chapters, but it may be useful to give
a succinct account of the mode in which the duties of these
important services are carried out in peace and war.
I.—Medical Branch.
The Surgeon-in-Chief, the permanent official at the head of
this branch, has the following duties in time of peace :—
(a.) He is responsible for the recruiting and instruction of
the Sanitary troops, and for the preparation of regulations
regarding the medical service.
(b.) Nominates Medical Officers for appointment, promotion,
and retirement.
(c.) Distributes the Sanitary personnel of all ranks to the
various units, with the approval of the Military Department.
(d.) Has the superior direction of the commissions appointed
to conduct the medical examination of recruits for all arms.
(e.) Is responsible that sanitary material of every description
and the clothing and equipment of the Sanitary troops are com-
plete and fit for immediate use.
(f.) Organises the medical service for all assemblies of
troops, whether for instructional purposes or for active service,
indicating the hospitals and dispensaries which are placed at
disposal, and making such proposals and arrangements as he
thinks necessary for ensuring the health of the troops, in-
cluding questions of provisioning, clothing, and housing the
men.
(g.) Exercises the general supervision of voluntary aid
associations.
(h.) Reports on all claims to pension or indemnity, and is ex
officio a member of the Pension Commission.
(i.) Checks and countersigus all accounts connected with the
medical service.
(%.) Prepares the yearly estimate for the medical service.
On mobilisation for active service, his peace establishment
of an assistant, a secretary, and a clerk, is augmented by a
a deputy (a senior Medical Officer), a Chief of the Hospital
Service, a Chief of the Voluntary Aid Service, and a Staff
Apothecary. He is then charged with making all arrange-
ments for putting the medical service on a war footing,
augmentation of personnel and matériel, establishment of military
SANITARY SERVICE. 237
hospitals, arrangements for the transport of the sick from the
initial stations of the lines of communication rearwards,
instruction of newly-raised levies for the augmentation of the
Sanitary troops, organisation of voluntary aid, and supervision
of the entire territorial sanitary service, and its co-ordination
with that of the troops in the field.
The Chief of the Hospital Service superintends the organisa-
tion and administration of the standing hospitals, and keeps
the Chief Medical Officer of the lines of communication
informed of the available accommodation in the standing hos-
itals.
The Chief of the Voluntary Aid Service superintends the
general working of volunteer ambulance associations, and
maintains constant communication with the Principal Medical
Officer of the Army in the field, with the object of ensuring
the useful employment of the personnel and matériel placed at
the disposal of the State by voluntary associations.
The Staff Apothecary, in peace and war, superintends the
provision and is responsible for the quality of all drugs supplied
to the army.
The Directing Medical Officers of the Field Army are the
Principal Medical Officer of the Army (Armeearet; Médecin de
Tarmée) and the Divisional and Infantry Brigade Surgeons.
They are under the orders of the military Commanding Officers
to whose staff they are attached, and responsible to them, as
well as to their own medical superiors, for the conduct of the
whole medical service of the troops under their supervision.
Besides the staff shown in the tables in Chapter VII. they are
provided with the necessary orderlies tor transmitting their
orders. The Commanding Officers to whose staff they are
attached are bound to give them such information as to proposed
movements of the troops, and especially as to dispositions for
impending engagements, as will enable them to make suitable
arrangements for the dressing stations, &c., and a Directing
Medical Officer must in all cases submit his proposals for the
general organisation of the medical service in the field for the
approval of the Commanding Officer, or his Chief of the Staff,
before issuing orders on the subject.
The Principal Medical Officer of the Army keeps the
Surgeon-in-Chief. constantly informed of all important occur-
rences in the field army which require to be known at the
home medical head-quarters, is responsible for the co-ordination
of the field service with that of the lines of communication,
for the timely demand for medical supplies and reinforcement
of personnel, and generally for the working of the entire
medical service of the army in the field. . ;
The Chief Medical Officer of the Lines of Communication is
under the orders of the Principal Medical Officer of the Army.
He is responsible for the arrangements for the transport of sick
and wounded from the field to the standing hospitals, and to
this end has under his orders the transport columns, sanitary
Chief of
Hospital
Service.
Chief of
Voluntary Aid
Service.
Staff,
Apothecary.
Directing
Medical
Officers.
P. M. O. of
the Army.
Chief Medical
Officer, Lines
of Communi-
cation.
Divisional
Surgeons.
Brigade
Surgeon.
Station Sur-
geons.
Medical
duties.
238 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
trains, and the transport corps attached to them, and the lines
of communication hospitals and medical service. He ig
further responsible for the mobilisation of the requisite number
of transport columns at the terminal stations, and for their
being in immediate communication with the ambulances and
provisional hospitals in the field, and generally for the establish-
ment and distribution of the requisite sanitary trains and lines
of communication hospitals at suitable stations. He reports
all return transport of sick to the Chief of the Hospital Service.
The Divisional Surgeons are responsible at all times for the
entire medical service of their Divisions. In time of peace
(and when no Principal Medical Officer of the Army is appointed)
they are under the orders of the Surgeon-in-Chief in all matters
of sanitary service; when on active service, under those of the
Principal Medical Officer of the Army. The field hospital and
all other sanitary troops of the Division are under their orders.
In time of peace the Divisional Surgeon is the president of the
medical commission for recruiting, keeps the rolls of the entire
medical personnel of the Division, is responsible for keeping the
Surgeon-in-Chief informed of all changes in the establishment
of the medical (officers and other sanitary personnel of the
various corps, and for the promotions of the non-commissioned
officers; he also inspects the field hospitals at repetition courses.
The duties of Brigade Surgeons and of the Medical Officers
of battalions, and other small units, do not require special
notice.
For every permanent place of assembly of detachments of
troops and every permanent federal barrack station, the Sur-
geon-in-Chief nominates a Station Surgeon (Médecin de place),
chosen from among the resident medical officers serving or
released from service. As a rule, the engagement is for one
ear. The duties of this surgeon are defined in an Instruction
published in the F. M. F., No. 3, of 1889. When any body of
troops assembles at his station without its medical officer, he
performs the duties of the latter; he assists, with his advice
and otherwise, the medical officers who may be called up for
duty with troops. If there is a military hospital at the station,
he is ew officio surgeon thereto; and he is responsible for taking
all necessary steps to ensure the sanitation of the barracks and
the health of the troops quartered in them. For every day of
service he receives 5s. 74d. pay, with 2s. 43d. extra for every
day on which he acts as surgeon to the military hogpital. If
he accompanies the troops during exercises in field service, he
receives the pay of his rank athe allowance.
The routine duties of the medical service may be considered
under the following heads :—
a) With the troops.
6) In field hospitals.
(c) In standing hospitals.
(d) When the sick are treated by private hands.
SANITARY SERVICE. 239
(a) Medical Service with the Troops.—The Medical Stafis of with the
the various units have been enumerated in Chapter VII. The
ersonnel attached to corps consists of medical officers, bearers,
and hospital attendants. These give the first aids to sick and
wounded. During peace time, and when in cantonments, mild
cases, which are not likely to last more than four days, are
treated in corps infirmaries (Krankenzimmer ; Infirmeries) ; more
severe cases are removed to civil hospitals. The regulations for
the latter service are contained in F. M. F. No. 7, of 1880.
There are hospitals in several of the larger barrack towus
which are exclusively military, but open only during the train-
ing seasons, ég., at Bern, Thyn, and Lucerne. At stations where
such do not exist, a soldier during training is treated in civil
hospitals, and, if his illness is not traceable to his own neglect
or misconduct, at the expense of the Confederation.
During an engagement the medical staff with the troops
establish dressing stations of the lst Line (Truppenverbandplitze ;
Places de pansement de troupe) and remove the wounded to these
stations, being reinforced in the case of the Infantry by the
bearers, &c., of the battalion staff.
(0) Field Hospitals.—The Swiss field hospital (Feldlazareth ;
Lazaret de campagne) may be looked upon as a medical battalion
consisting of a staff and 5 companies, the latter being termed
ambulances. The staff has (1) a carriage column of 16 requi-
sitioned wagons (Luhrwerkskolonne; Colonne de vottures), of
which 12 are fitted up for the carriage of wounded, and
attached ag required to one or other of the ambulances, 2 for
provisions, and 2 for baggage and cooking; and (2) a column
of reserve material (Materialreservekolonne; Colonne du matériel
de réserve), consisting of 2 wagons of medical stores and 16
spare horses. Each ambulance (which we should term a “field
hospital”) has 4 wagons, including 1 for the wounded. In
time of war all these are horsed and driven by the 2nd division
of the Landwehr Train battalion of the Division; in time of
peace, by supernumerary men of the two divisions of the Elite
Train battalion, or any Train soldiers available. Further, the
material for two mountain ambulances (arranged for pack
animals) is at the disposal of the 8th Army Division, and each
ae hospital is capable of forming two small mountain ambu-
ances.
The ambulances can be used for the following purposes ;—
a. To form sick depéts (Krankendepots ; Infirmeries géné
rales), 1.¢., corps infirmaries for several units.
b, As collecting stations (Sammelstellen) during marches.
c. As principal dressing stations during engagements
(Hauptverbandplitze ; Ambulances de combat, or Places
principales de pansement). .
d. As provisional field hospitals (Feldspitdler).
e. As evacuating stations at the terminal stations of the
lines of communication (Abschubstationen; Ambulances
@’ évacuation).
troops.
In peace time.
In the field.
Field
hospitals.
Ambulances,
Evacuation of
am ulances,
242 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
patients for 2 months or for the treatment of 200 wounded after
a battle; it also carries bedding for 40 or 50 patients. The
wagon for wounded carries 12 men sitting or 6lying down. As
a reserve to the 5 ambulances, the staff of the field hospital has
in its 2 reserve fourgons sufficient bedding for 80 to 100 men,
with a store of drugs and hospital utensils; it also has the 16
requisitioned wagons above mentioned. As a rule, 1 ambulance
is employed to form the principal dressing station for each
brigade, the others being utilised in one of the various ways
above indicated. or kept in reserve to reinforce one or other
of the two already in action. The ambulance for each brigade
establishes itself during an engagement 2 kilom. from the
firing line, or 1 kilom. in rear of the centre of the 1st Line of
medical assistance. The approximate position will be indicated
by the supreme Commanding Officer (Brigade or Divisional)
after the Directing Medical Officer has offered his opinion.
For the transmission of his orders to the chief of the
field hospital or the chiefs of ambulances the latter is provided
with mounted orderlies (Guides or Train non-commissioned
officers). ;
As soon as the ambulance is established, the chief sends his
wagons for the wounded to the dressing stations of the 1st Line,
so as to be ready to bring in those who may have been already
received there, and divides his detachment into groups according
to the facilities offered by the buildings or locality he has
occupied. Asa rule, these groups will comprise (1) a receiving
party, which will examine and classify the cases, passing them
on to the other groups and making out the admittance returns ;
(2) a subsistence section, under the Quartermaster, which will
undertake all the duties connected with the messing of the
establishment; (3) a surgical section, which will further be
divided into sub-sections for (a) operations, (0) setting fractures,
and (¢) simple dressing ; (4) a hospital section, dealing with the
quarters and bedding of the wounded. The wounded and those
operated upon who cannot be moved with safety will be pyro-
vided for in this section, transportable cases requiring continued:
treatment being moved as soon as possible to the 3rd Line. If
the establishment of the ambulance is not sufficient, it may be
reinforced by one of the ambulances kept in reserve by order of
the Divisional Surgeon. If the forces engaged continue to
advance, the ambulance must necessarily remain stationary for-
some time, and one of the unemployed ambulances must follow’
up the troops, and similarly in case of retreat.
The chief medical officer of the lines of communication, as
soon as possible, despatches sections of the Landwehr transport
columns, to ensure the evacuation of the ambulances, and
organises the transport of convoys of wounded to the nearest.
“terminal station ;” or sanitary trains, &c., may be employed to
remove the wounded towards the standing hospitals. If, how-
ever, owing to the large number of untransportable sick, an
ambulance cannot be evacuated for some time, it may form
SANITARY SERVICE, 243
itself into a provisional field hospital; and the equipment has
been carefully arranged with a view to this contingency.
The regulations regarding voluntary aid in time of war
provide that such assistance may take the form of personal help
in nursing, outside the immediate sphere of military operations,
and in the transport of the sick and wounded, and also that of
gifts of medical comforts, &c.; but all such assistance must be
organised under a responsible direction and placed in all respects
under the supreme military control.
In addition to the medical officers serving with the troops,
the Confederation can dispoge in time of war of the services of
all medical men who are within the limit of age prescribed for
the Landsturm.
It is specially provided that on a general mobilisation, Con-
sulting Surgeons may be nominated by the Surgeon-in-Chief
and called in to serve by the Military Department, which will
fix the rate of pay to be granted them. They must be men of
superior professional standing and may be placed at the disposal
of the Principal Medical Officer of the Army, or employed in
standing hospitals.
2. Veterinary Branch.
Apart from the treatment of the sick horses of corps and
establishments, Veterinary Surgeons perform administrative
duties of great importance, especially from a financial point of
view. They are responsible for the valuation of all horses at
the commencement and conclusion of courses of military service,
as well as of those of officers who draw a ration of forage all
the year round. For the proper performance of this duty,
Veterinary Boards, composed of civil and military veterinary
surgeons, and frequently including military officers and non-
professional civilians, are detailed annually as explained in
Chapter XX., the proceedings of these boards being submitted
to the Chief Vetermary Surgeon for final decision.
Horses still under treatment at the end of a course of service
will, if necessary, be sent to civil horse infirmaries, and while
under treatment there the owners, in the case of officers’
horses and hired train horses, will receive half the daily horse
allowance or rate of hire to which they were entitled during
the course. In the case of Cavalry horses, the Chief Veterinary
Surgeon decides what compensation may be allowed to
owners whose horses are detained in hospital after the con-
clusion of a course.
(2745) Q 2
Voluntary
aid.
Consulting
surgeons.
Veterinary
branch.
Officers’
horses.
Valuation of.
Piketstellung.
Compensation
on retirement,
244 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XxX.
PROVISION OF HORSES.
1. Officers’ Horses and General Regulations.
It is laid down in the Law of Military Organisation that
officers are to provide their own horses. In time of peace,
Cavalry officers, mounted officers of the Corps of Instruction,
and those Officers of the Staff of the Army who draw an
annual forage allowance, maintain their own horses, but other
officers are merely required to present themselves at instruc-
tional courses with the regulation number of suitable horses; on
a general and sudden mobilisation of the army, therefore, it
may be assumed that there would be considerable difficulty in
mounting the officers. One of the duties of the Régie des
Chevaux (Chapter XVII) is to train horses for officers, other
than those of Cavalry, and in time of peace these may be sold to
them or let out on hire for the instructional courses; officers’
private horses are algo trained at a fixed rate at this establish-
ment.
Officers’ horses, whether their own property or otherwise,
are valued at the commencement and conclusion of each course,
or on mobilisation for active service, and at the dismissal of the
troops, and are subject to the same rules as regards compensa-
tion for deterioration caused by the service as the hired horses
mentioned hereafter. Instructors’ horses are assessed for depre-
ciation of value every twelve months, and the difference between
their then assessed value and that assigned at the last assess-
ment is paid to the owners. For the purpose of all assessments,
the maximum value of a saddle horse is fixed at 721. that for
draught horses at 482.
On mobilisation the Confederation is empowered to make
use of all the horses on Swiss territory, and to take any special
steps that may be necessary to mount the officers. This is.
facilitated by the process termed Pihetstellung (Mise de piquet),
the effect of which is that no horse in the country can change
hands without permission of the military authorities ; all horses.
are at once valued by the committees who are annually ap-
pointed for the purpose throughout the country, and those that
are fit for service in any capacity are taken into service at daily
rates of allowance fixed by the Federal Council.
Further, if a general mobilisation is imminent, the Federal
Council is empowered to direct officers to procure their horses
before joing their corps, the regulated daily allowance of
3s. 24d. being granted for each horse from the day it is main-
tained by the officer.
In addition to the depreciation assessed as above, every
officer is entitled on retiring from activeservice to compensation,
to the extent of 10 per cent of the previous assessment, for any
difference between the price he paid for his horse and the price:
PROVISION OF HORSES. 245
at which he can sell it, provided it has carried him through at
least two-thirds of his whole service.
2. Cavalry Horses.
These are provided by the men themselves, except in the
case of saddlers, farriers, and hospital attendants, who are
mounted by the State with remounts or Régie horses. If a
Cavalry recruit happens to possess a suitable horse, it is sent to
a remount depét and valued, half the assessed value being
given to the man, so that the State becomes part owner. It is
then trained for him with the remounts mentioned hereafter, and
he is alowed to ride it on joining the recruits’ school. As a
rule, however, the Cavalry recruits purchase their horses from
the State, directly or through the intermediation of third persons,
in accordance with the Regulations of the 19th January, 1883,
from which the following details are principally extracted.
The horses required for each year are purchased in the
country and abroad by a commission consisting of the Chief
Instructor of Cavalry, 2 Veterinary Surgeons, and a selected
- officer. The horses must be at least 4 years old and not over
6 years, the limits of height being 15 hands } in. to 15 hands
31m. For men who have to mount themselves a second time
towards the end of their Elite service, horses over 6 years may
be taken. The purchases are made in Germany (especially
Hamburg), Hungary, and elsewhere, an average of 13 per cent.
only being bought at home. The outside price to be given is
60/.; the mean estimated cost price fixed in the Budget for
1889 is 502, in 1888 it was 52/. The number bought in 1888
for recruits and to replace casualties was 440, for 1889 470 were
required. The purchases are made in the spring and autumn,
and the horses purchased abroad, after being branded with a
continuous number on the near fore foot, are at once sent to one
of the remount depéts at Aarau, Zurich, or Bern. The horses
are again examined on joining these depéts, where they are got
into condition during a 30 days’ course of grooming, &c. (délat
@acclimatation). The necessary number of grooms, 1 to 6 or 8
horses, is maintained for the depots at a rate of pay fixed by the
Military Department. At the end of this course they are again
examined, and any unlikely horses are sold and branded as unfit
for military service ; mares found to be in foal are not branded
if likely to be subsequently fit for service. as
The foreign remounts are then turned into the riding school,
and joined by the horses purchased in the country or provided
by recruits, the latter classes being examined, valued and num-
bered on the off fore. s
The Chief Instructor of Cavalry has at his disposal 20 trained
rough riders, civilians under military control, who train the
remounts at the three depdts in succession. _
Each man trains 6 horses daily, 1 hour apiece, all the horses
being broken to saddle and harness. The training is conducted
by the Commandant of the depét under the orders of the Chief
Cavalry
recruits’
horses.
Purchase of
remounts.
Training.
Distribution
to recruits.
Proposed new
remount
depét.
Mode of
payment.
246 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Instructor, and asa rule lasts 90 days. When the horses are fit,
they are inspected by the Chef d@arme of Cavalry, those that do
not pass being put back for the next course.
As soon as they are passed fit for service, the remounts are
valued by a committee consisting of the Chef darme, Chief
Instructor and a Veterinary Surgeon. The assessed price of each
horse is not to exceed 721, and is to be calculated so that the
State shall at least receive back the purchase money and cost
of transport. The cost of keep, training, and establishment for
a horse which is not put back is considered to be covered by
the budgetary charge of 3s. 04d. to 3s. 23d. a day for 120 days.
The horses are next branded on the neck to show the year
of training and are ready to be handed over to the recruits who
have already completed their riding instruction. ‘lhe dates of
the recruits’ schools proper are so timed that the remounts do
not remain on the hands of the State more than 120 days.
It may be stated here that quite recently (June, 1889) the
Federal Assembly has resolved to establish a new depdt of
remounts, from which the mass of the Cavalry and régie horses
will be supplied. The time of acclimatisation and training is to
be prolonged, and the number of horses bought annually, at one
time, is to be augmented. The details of the scheme are not
yet published, but it is not probable that it will materially affect
the working of the Cavalry depéts or régie beyond considerably
increasing the number of horses to be trained by them.
When the recruits arrive at the depots, they and the
horses are classified according to weight and size, the horses
being further grouped according to their assessed prices. The
men are allowed to choose their horses, subject to the decision
of the Commandant of the school ag to ,the suitability of the
animals. If there are several claimants for a horse, it is put up
to auction, the individual bids being limited between 16s. and
4l. If the bidding reaches 20/. over the assessed price, lots are
drawn by the 3 highest bidders. No employé of the depét is per-
mitted to offer any advice or opinion about the horses thus put up
to auction. This distribution of the horses is completed within
the first 2 days of the course, but voluntary exchanges are per-
mitted within 14 days; after that period the Commandant may
authorise exchanges, or allow men to choose another horse from
the depét, if their mounts are found to be unsuitable. Recruits.
are bound to take the horses thus definitely made over to them.
Each man, on taking ovér his horse, has its full description
entered in his small book, and at once pays to the administrative
officer in attendance half the assessed price, and, if the horse
were bought by auction, the whole of the amount in excess
of the price at which it was knocked down to him. This.
latter sum he never receives again under any circumstances,
and it altogether falls out of the accounts. By this transaction the
State and the man are part owners of the horse in equal shares,
viz., half its assessed value, and a horse which has been fur-
nished by the recruit himself is in all respects on the same footing.
PROVISION OF HORSES. (247
At the conclusion of the recruits’ school, as also on the
‘commencement and conclusion of each subsequent course or
period of active service, the horses are examined by a superior
Veterinary Surgeon, and all alterations in condition, injuries, &c.,
centered in the man’s small book.
From the time of leaving the recruits’ school each man
retains possession of his horse, and may use it for any purpose,
under saddle or in draught, that does not interfere with its
military efficiency. He can, however, neither exchange, pledge,
‘let on hire, nor allow it to be used regularly by a third person,
‘and is responsible for maintaining it at his own cost in good
serviceable condition, i.e, ready at any moment to turn out for
service. In order to ensure its proper treatment and constant
‘efficiency, periodical and other inspections are made at the
owner’s residence by troop officers and non-commissioned
officers, and occasionally by Veterinary Surgeons.
_ At the end of each year the State refunds to the man one-
tenth of the original assessed value of his horse, so that on
“passing into the Landwehr at the end of his ten years’ service
‘the Cavalry soldier becomes the absolute owner of bis horse,
provided always that he has completed his service with the
same horse.
If aman is unable to attend any course of training or service
to which he is liable, the State is entitled to the use of his horse
during such course, and it may temporarily take possession of
any horse if its owner is absent or non-effective for a lengthened
period, or illtreats his horse, paying the man only half of the
annual rebate above-mentioned for the period during which it
uses the animal. :
If a horse becomes unfit for service during service, it is taken
by the State and sold, the man being paid the balance of the half
value still due to him, less depreciation which may have been
caused while out of the service; if it becomes unfit out of the
service, the State may, if thought desirable, take possession of it
on paying half the balance still due to the owner, or it may be
branded unfit and sold by the State, the amount of the pro-
ceeds over and above what is still due to the man being
retained by the State. ;
If a horse dies or becomes unfit for service owing to the ill-
treatment or culpable neglect of its owner, whether in or out of
the service, the latter is responsible for the loss incurred by the
State, and may be adjudged to pay the whole or part of the
amount of the half share invested by the State, to forego his
claim to the whole or part of the still unpaid annnal rebates,
and to find a new horse; in addition to which he may be fined
or otherwise punished. ;
Trained men who from any cause require remounts will be
provided in the same manner as the recruits. If, at the end of
his ten years’ service, a man has a horse which has not served
the full period, or if he leaves the Elite before the end of his
‘service, the State takes possession of the horse, paying the
Responsi-
bilities of
owner and
State.
Casualties,
how replaced.
Provision by
third parties,
_ Sick horses.
How
provided,
248 ARMED, STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
balance of rebates still due to the owner. Of the horses thus
‘coming into the absolute possession of the Confederation, any
-horse that is over eight years, and fit, may be sold to the man
who possessed it, provided it was kept in irreproachable condi-
tion; in this case the man pays a sum equivalent to the amount
of the annual rebates not yet received by him, less depreciation
resulting from the service, and is bound to keep the horse in
perfect condition for ten years after it entered the service, and
to let it to the State as a saddle-horse for four weeks annually
at the usual rate of hire. If not sold in this way, horses over
eight years are used, as far as possible, for remounting the
oldest classes of the Elite. Those that are under eight years,
and fit, will, as a rule, be used for mounting recruits or re-
-mounting trained men who have lost their horses, the latter
paying half their assessed present value as usual; or they may
be sold to their late possessors, as above, on payment of the
full amount of their present assessed value, less the amount of
the rebates still due to them.
Men promoted to officers have, as arule, to give up their
horses, but are sometimes permitted to purchase the State’s
share if the horses are suitable.
The provision of horses by men who are not able to look
after them all the year round is facilitated by the system known
as the “acquisition by third parties.” In this case a third
person, who is able to give satisfactory guarantees as to his
solvency, is permitted to purchase a remount for a recruit on
exactly the same terms and with the same responsibilities as
the recruit himself; he is bound to keep the horse at all times
fit for service, and to deliver it to the man for whom he pro-
vides it at any moment when the latter is called out for duty.
If a horse is sick out of the service, the owner has to pay
for proper veterinary care, reporting the case at once to the
Chief Veterinary Surgeon.
During periods of service, Cavalry horses are foraged, housed,
ae provided with veterinary treatmeut at the expense of the
tate.
3. Train Horses.
Under this head are here included all the animals hired by
the Confederation and cantons for draught and pack purposes,
and the saddle horses hired for non-commissioned officers
other than those of Cavalry. According to the Law of
Military Organisation, the horses for the troops of the Con-
federation and Staffs of the combined corps (except those
for the officers) are provided by the Confederation, those
for the cantonal units by the cantons, the latter being
reimbursed for the actual outlay; the Confederation is, how-
ever, empowered to provide the horses required by cantonal
troops. In case of necessity the Confederation may purchase
horses for mounted officers, Aetilieny non-commissioned officers,
PROVISION OF HORSES. 249
and transport; but this power is not exercised in peace time,
except as regards the horses of the Régie.
Although the Artillery officers are required by law to find
their own horses, in practice the Government furnishes them
with hired horses at repetition courses not combined with
manoeuvres.
Formerly horses were hired, through the intermediation of Contractors.
the cantonal authorities, direct from their owners. In the course
of time, however, the horse dealers and others found it profit-
able to undertake the work of collecting the animals required
for the regular trainings, and this resulted in the present system
of supply by contractors (fournisseurs), who deal direct with the
Commissariat.
The rate of hire for the horses which it is presumed will
have to be given, is fixed annually in the Budget, and varies
with the class of animal required for the various services.
Thus, in 1887 the average amount paid at recruits’ school for
each Field Artillery horse was 2s. 3d. per diem; for Mountain
Artillery, 2s. 42d.; for Army Train, 2s. 1d.; for the repetition
courses the amount is higher, being about 2s. 94d.
Horses for Train purposes must be not less than 5 years
old, and from 14 hands 24 in. to 16 hands high. Mules may be
only 4 years old. Superior horses are required for saddle
purposes.
Every year a certain number (36 or 37) of Horse Valuation Horse
Committees are appointed by the Military Department in the valuation
chief towns throughout the country, each consisting, as a rule, C™mttees-
of two military or civil veterinary surgeons, assisted by two
other members, who may be military officers, vetermary sur-
geons, or civilians other than horse dealers. All hired horses
and officers’ private horses (except Cavalry) are examined by
these committees on joining and leaving a course of drill, and
a value is placed by them on each horse passed as fit for the
service. The maximum value for saddle horses is 72/., for
draught horses, 487. If the owner or furnisher of a horse is not
satisfied with this value, he can withdraw the horse. The
decision as to what use is to be made of each animal rests solely
with the military officers who take them over. The committee
“prepare a full description of each horse they accept, including
its blemishes, assessed value, whether for saddle or harness, state
of shoeing, address of owner, and rate of bire. The regulations
as to the mode of conducting the examinations, appeals against
the decisions of the committees, and mode of dealing with
horses which may be found useless during the course owing to
vice or disease, are laid down in the “ Verwaltungs-Reglement”
and “Regulativ betreffend die Miethung von Dienstpferden,
1886.”
The horses are presented by the contractors and examined yjspiitios of
on the day of assembly of the troops. Those that are accepted owners and
(except officers’ horses) are branded on the hoofs for the State.
- duration of the course:
Horse census
of 1877.
Encourage-
ment of horse-
breeding.
*
250 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
While-the service lasts, hired horses are foraged and receive
veterinary attention at the cost of the State. If a horse dies in
military service, the value is paid to the owner. At the end of
the course the horses are again examined by the same Valuation
Committee, and compensation is given for permanent deteri-
oration caused by the service. Those which require further
veterinary treatment for injuries or diseases originating on
service are, as a rule, sent to a horse infirmary until cured, and
their value then reassessed, compensation for loss of service of
the horses during treatment in hospital being allowed to the
extent of half the rate of hire, or daily allowance for officers’
horses. Ifa sick horse is taken over by its owner and treated
at home, half the rate of hire and a further allowance not
exceeding 2s. a day may be granted until the horse is fit for work.
All hired horses are required by regulation to be presented
well and newly shod, otherwise they are shod at the expense of
the owner, and on the conclusion of the course they are to be
returned with good serviceable shoes. In practice it is preferred
that the horses should not be brought up newly shod, as the
shoeing is usually of a very inferior nature.
The mode of calling in Train horses, in case of mobilisation
for active service, is laid down in the “Regulations for the
Mobilisation of the Army,” which are secret; but it may be
taken that in the main the same procedure would be adopted
as In peace time.
4. Number of Horses in Switzerland.
In 1877 a census of all the horses in the country was taken,
chiefly with the view of ascertaining the number of horses
available for military purposes, exclusive of Cavalry horses.
The results of this census showed that at that time 3,980
saddle horses were wanting in order to mount the officers of
the Elite and the non-commissioned officers and men of the
Landwehr, including Landwehr Cavalry, which latter, however,
there is now no intention of mounting. On the other hand,
there was a surplus of 28,929 horses suitable for draught purposes.
Since that time the number of saddle horses is believed to
have increased slightly in proportion to the actual require-
ments, but there is no doubt that on a mobilisation of the
whole army there would be considerable difficulty in providing
officers and non-commissioned officers with suitable mounts.
Many of the lighter draught horses could be utilised for the
saddle, and if the mobilisation were not sudden, it might be
possible to purchase abroad ; but it appears most probable that
the Swiss Army would not be mobilised unless the surrounding
States were making similar preparations for war, and the chances
of importing foreign horses would then be very small.
Of late years the Department of Agriculture has been making
laudable exertions to improve the breed of horsesin the country.
Stallions have been imported, horse exhibitions organised, and
MOBILISATION, 251
subsidies and prizes | granted to a considerable extent; more-
over, schools for the instruction of farriers have been established,
and steps taken to diffuse knowledge of the general principles
which should be observed in the breeding and treatment of
horses which may be required for military purposes.
CHAPTER XXI.
MOoBILISATION.
THE regulations for the mobilisation of the military forces of
the country are contained in an Ordonnance dated 18th Novem-
ber, 1884, which, however, is held to be strictly secret.
The following brief account of the principal steps which have
to be taken in order to place the forces on a war footing is,
therefore, confined to facts and inferences which may be
gathered from published sources of information.
As soon as the mobilisation of several Divisions is contem-
plated, the Federal Assembly appoints the General, who at once
nominates his personal Staff, and the rest of the Staff of the
Army are appointed by the Federal Council as explained in
Chapter XVUI. It is generally understood that most of the
officers who are to form the Staff of the Army are already
selected in time of peace, and provided with instructions
sufficient to enable them to take up their respective duties im-
mediately on the publication of the order for mobilisation.
This, in principle, can only be issued by the Federal Assembly,
but in case of urgent necessity may be decreed by the Federal
Council under the limitations mentioned in Chapter IIL, the
Miltary Department being responsible for putting the order
into execution.
The order of the Assembly specifies the 1st day of mobilisa-
tion, which as a rule will bethe next day but one after that on
which the order is issued, and further directs which units are to
assemble on the Ist, 2nd, &c., day of mobilisation.
Orders of march for the assemblement of troops or individuals
are issued by the Military Department, directly to Divisional
Commanders and indirectly through the following channels :—
1. Through the Chefs darme and heads of branches to
officers of the Staff of the Army, and to officers and men of the
Staff of combined corps and Engineer battalions.
2. Through the Cantonal Governments, or military organs of
cantons, to the rest of the troops (federal and cantonal), and to
communes charged with the provision of horses and carriages,
Appointment
of General
and Staff of
Army.
Issue of orders
for
mobilisation
Duties
devolving on
cantons.
252 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
3. By the publication of the order for mobilisation in the
home press, and in foreign newspapers if men on leave are to be
called in; and by fixing copies of the order at the post and
telegraph offices and railway stations.
The places of assembly for the Staffs and corps are indicated
in the mobilisation regulations, and the cantons are responsible
for taking the special measures necessary in order to bring the
order for mobilisation to the knowledge of every man liable to
service. This is effected by the machinery already at the
disposal of the cantons, viz., the commandants of recruiting
districts and their sectional chiefs; indeed, the whole operation
of calling in the men is but the carrying out on a larger scale of
the process employed several times a year for the summoning
of the recruits and old soldiers. The particular methods
adopted for publishing the order for mobilisation vary in the
different cantons, and take the form of advertisements in local
» newspapers, posting notices on public places, ringing alarm
Time required
for local
assembly of
troops.
Medical
inspection.
bells, &c., and marching orders may be delivered in writing or
verbally, through sectional chiefs, or by messengers previously
told off, &. When cantons adopt the method of delivering
written orders, these are kept ready filled up with the exception
of the date and place of assembly, which can be entered at a
few moments’ notice.
The order of march calling out any unit, unless a certain
establishment is specified therein, applies to every man incor-
porated in it, whether supernumerary to the regulation establish-
ment or not, and to the horses and carriages belonging to, or
required for, its equipment; men under medical treatment at
the time are alone excused, but are required to submit a medical
cortificate.
In whatever way the order of march is issued, it is calculated
that within 24 hours of receiving his orders, if necessary, every
man within the cantonal district can be concentrated at any
point in the canton, or, in the case of sparsely populated districts,
at certain subsidiary points of assembly at which detachments
may be directed to form before being conducted to the principal
places of assembly indicated in the mobilisation order; and
every Infantry soldier is expected to join his detachment by
9 a.m. on the lst day of mobilisation.
It will be understood that each man presents himself fully
armed and equipped at the place of assembly, and that officers
and Cavalry appear mounted.
Immediately on arrival at the places of assembly, all ranks
are examined by the medical officers of the several units, and this
examination is also compulsory for all civilians, such as grooms
and servants, who have a right to free medical attendance.
Any men not declared undoubtedly fit for service by the troop
medical officers are at once examined by a Medical Board, of
which one or more, detailed in peace time, assembles simul-
taneously with the entry of the troops at the principal places of
assembly, and the decision of this board is fink
MOBILISATIOY. 253
As soon as the troops have assembled for active service,
they take the oath of fidelity to the colours, which is to the
following effect :—
“Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and men! You now
swear or promise fidelity to the Confederation, to sacrifice your
persons and lives for the defence of the fatherland and its
constitution, never to forsake your colours, to faithfully observe
the military laws, to obey scrupulously and punctually the
orders of your superiors, to observe strict discipline, and to do
everything that the honour and liberty of the fatherland demand
of you ;” whereupon each person present declares, “I swear it,”
or “I promise it.”
The above arrangements for calling in the men apply ina
general way to the Landsturm, as well as to the Elite and
Landwehr. The regulations regarding the employment of the
first-named category have been given in Chapter VII., where it
was stated that the Landsturm may be employed at the out-
break of awar to occupy the territory adjoming a threatened
frontier, and act as frontier guard for the purpose of covering
the mobilisation of the other troops, as well as of preventing
all communication between the enemy’s territory and Swiss soil,
until a subdivision of the field army can occupy the district.
When the Landsturm is used for such purposes iis mobilisation
must of course be pushed forward with ihe utmost rapidity.
Owing to the machinery for calling in the men being in
constant working order, there is every ground for believing
that the operation would proceed with regularity and rapidity.
Turning now to the horses, we shall find that the supply is
greatly facilitated by the arrangements in force in time of peace.
The Cavalry is already in possession of its horses, with the
exception of those for the farriers, saddler, and hospital attend-
ants, who would be mounted with supernumerary horses of the
Cavalry depéts or Régie. In the case, however, of the officers
(other than those of Cavalry) and the Train, considerable difficulty
would, no doubt, be experienced if it were necessary to mobilise
the entire army. The regulations for the provision of horses
in time of war have been fully explained in Chapter XX.,
and it need only be added that the main difficulty would be
found to lie in the unequal distribution of horses throughout
the country, which would necessitate their transfer from one
canton, or at any rate from one commune, to another. The
cantons are responsible for the provision of Train horses, and it
is one of the duties of Cantonal Commissaries to superintend
the hiring of horses and requisitioning of carriages. To this
end the available matériel is registered in time of peace, and
each commune knows what horses, carriages, and drivers it
would have to furnish on the outbreak of war.
The Law of Military Organisation provides that the cantons,
communes, corporations, and_ private individuals, are bound in
time of war to place the whole of their property at the disposal
of the military authorities, the Confederation fixing the com-
Oath of
fidelity.
Calling out of
Landsturm.
Collection of
horses.
Carriages.
Railways.
Numbers that
could be put
into the field.
254 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
pensation which shall be granted. Thus the supply of requisi-
tioned transport would no doubt be quite equal to the demand,
but many of the requisitioned vehicles which would have to be
used are of a construction very unsuitable for military purposes.
It was, therefore, proposed by the Federal Council some years
ago, that steps should be taken to induce communes of a certain
size to adopt a pattern of vehicles for ordinary use which would
better meet the requirements of the Army, and it is believed that
considerable improvement has taken place in recent years.
Further details as to the provision of horses and carriages will
be found in the chapters on the Provision of Horses, Transport,
and Corps Equipment.
In time of war, or when war is imminent, the Officer Com-
manding-in-Chief disposes of the whole of the railway and
steamboat services of the country; the Federal Council bemg
empowered to exercise complete control until a General is
appointed. The regulations on this head are given in detail in
the following chapter. It may be stated here, however, that
in 1882 the rolling stock of the Swiss lines was as follows :—
514 locomotives, of which 92 for express and 247 for
ordinary passenger trains, 142 for goods trains, and
33 for various purposes.
1,553 passenger coaches, capable of seating 70,497
_ persons; 418 being 4-axled and 1,135 2-axled.
8,287 goods wagons, of which 3,882 covered and 1,906
open wagons, 2,205 trucks, 294 goods vans. Of
these, 2,728 covered wagons were suitable for the
carriage of 22,088 horses, and 466 open wagons
could be used for the transport of 2,841 horses.
Since the opening of the Gotthard Railway these numbers
have considerably increased, and there are now available
(1889) 603 locomotives, 1,747 passenger coaches, and 8,987
goods wagons.
Simultaneously with the placing of the railways under
military control, the service of the Lines of Communication and
the Territorial Service are also organised ; these are described
in detail in the next chapter.
With regard to numbers, it is impossible to state with
accuracy how many men could be put into the field; bearing
in mind, however, that the actual strength of the Elite in 1888
was 19,000 in excess of the normal establishment, and that of
the Landwehr about 15,000 below its establishment, while the
attendance at the annual repetition courses, especially in the
-case of Infantry, shows that the numbers who are able to take
the field in time of peace do not fall materially below the
paper strength, it is reasonable to suppose that in time of war
the Elite establishments, with the exception of the Cavalry,
would be complete, and those of the Landwehr not more than
20 per cent. below the regulation number. A considerable
TERRITORIAL COMMUNICATION. 255
source of uncertainty lies in the fact that a large part of the
pores is not sedentary, but this is met to a great extent
y the system of contréles; and as the machinery for mobilising
the forces not only exists, but is in constant practice during
peace time, the military authorities know pretty accurately:
what time would be required to complete the mobilisation and
first dislocation of the troops, Itis generally accepted that all
the Divisions of the Elite and Landwehr could be completely
mobilised and assembled at certain central points within 7 or 8
days, but owing to the paucity of railway rolling stock and
difficulty of communications their concentration at any given
point could not be effected under 14 or 15 days.
The last extensive mobilisation occurred in 1870, when 5
Divisions were placed on the war footing, and on the fourth
day, after the issue of the order for mobilisation, 37,000 men,
3,500 horses, and 66 guns, were concentrated. Since then
individual regiments and battalions have been called out for
active service in connection with disturbances in Tessin in 1876,
1884, and 1889.
CHAPTER XXII.
TERRITORIAL AND RAILWAY SERVICE AND LINES OF
COMMUNICATION.
AS soon as a general mobilisation or the embodiment, of
several Army Divisions is contemplated, the following services
are organised with the object of securing the communications
of the field army with the interior of the country, and
facilitating the transport of personnel and the matenals of
war :—
1. The. Territorial Service. aes
2. The Service of the Lines of Communication.
3. The Railway Service.
It is to be understood that the prescriptions for the regula-
tion of these services will be modified as may be necessary to
suit the requirements of each particular case that may arise.
As far as possible, the officers required for the various posts
described in this chapter are selected in time of peace, the
large number of officers “at disposal” being, available for these
and similar duties.
Duties of
., territorial
service.
Supreme
direction.
Chefs d’arme.
Divisional
district
commandants.
256 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
L—The Territorial Service.
This includes the surveillance of military interests im the
country, the preparation of ee the reception of returning
convoys, and the protection of the rearward communications ot
‘the field army. The service is organised in the 8 existing
Divisional Districts, the central seats of administration being
localised, as a normal arrangement, in the following chief
towns :—
Ist Divisional District .. ts Lausanne.
IInd 5 aie hte Neuchftel.
IlIrd 35 3a és Bern.
IVth 5 ie oe Lucerne.
Vth +5 ea ae Aarau.
VIth 5 wa se Zurich.
Vilth By Se Ae St. Gall.
VIIIth 4 is is Coire.
For each District a Divisional District Commandant *
(Divisionskreiskommandant; Commandant darrondissement de
division) is appointed by the. Federal Council, to whom the
necessary assistants are attached.
The supreme direction and responsibility for the proper
carrying out of the Territorial Service lies with the Military
Department, which to this end has at its disposal (a) the Chefs
darme and Heads of Departments, (6) the Divisional District
Commandants, (c) the cantonal military authorites, and (d) the
Commanders of mobilised corps which do not form part of the
army of operations.
(a) The Chefs d’arme and Heads of Departments control the
following military establishments, which already exist in peace
time or may be formed when and where required: depdts of
recruits and corps, horse depéts, existing military establishments,
depots of war material, arsenals and clothing magazines, pro-
vision magazines, army hospitals, and veterimary infirmaries.
To enable them to carry out their duties, they have at their
disposal their own office staff, the members of the Corps of
Instruction (with the exception of such as may be otherwise
employed), the directors of the military establishments, the
Controllers of arms, and Intendants of depéts, arsenals, and
magazines. a
(6) The Divisional District Commandants superintend the
carrying out in their own districts of the instructions they
receive from the Military Department, corresponding direct on
its behalf with the cantonal military authorities.
Their special duties are as follows :—
* These Commandants should be carefully distinguished from the District.
Commandants for recruiting purposes.
TERRITORIAL OOMMUNICATION. 257
(1) They have under their orders all troops and military
personnel in their districts which do not belong to an
independent command or to the field army, or are
not incorporated, such as recruits who have completed
their training and mobilised Landsturm, and dispose
of the matériel destined to their use.
(2) In case of urgent necessity, they may demand the
services of any troops in their district, at the same time
reporting their acticn to the Military Department, and
may similarly demand the assistance of all cantonal
and communal authorities,
(8) They arrange for any necessary evacuation of their
districts with the object of removing material of war
towards the interior.
(4) They maintain military order in their districts, and in
concert with the cantonal authorities exercise super-
vision over the press and foreigners.
(5) They control the execution of orders regarding the
augmentation of personnel and matériel, establishment
of magazines and hospitals, and the collection of
supplies.
(6) They arrange for the suitable distribution and sur-
veillance of foreign troops which may be interned in
the country, deserters, and prisoners of war.
The Cantonal Military Authorities, with the various officials Cantonal
subordinate to them, carry out without delay the requirements Rs .
of the Military Departments, Chefs d’arme and Heads of Depart- ie
ments, avd Divisional District Commandants, especially in the
matter of recruiting, calling out the troops, removal and
concentration of war materials, execution of works of defence,
construction and destruction of communications, provision of
remounts and requisitioned carriage, quartering and subsistence
of prisoners and sick men, police duties, organisation of
voluntary medical aid associations, surveillance of the press
and foreigners.
(d.) The Commandants of corps which are independent of
the field army receive their orders from the Military Depart-
ment. They maintain order, supply guards for the depdts and
military establishments, and in case of urgent necessity furnish
any troops required by the Divisional District Commandants.
To these ends they work in harmony with the latter, but retain
the command of their troops. If such a corps be required to
protect the flank of the army, it comes under the orders of the
Commander-in-Chief.
I].—The Service of the Lines of Communication.
This provides for the transport of all supplies to the army Object of the
and for the conveyance of all that has to be returned from it, Service.
(2745) R
Supreme
direction.
Chief of Lines
of Communi-
cation.
Principal
Station
Commandant.
258 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
and to this end has at its disposal the railways and steamboats
of the country, and, when these means are insufficient, can
resort to stage marches. As regards territorial organisation,
the service of the lines of communication is connected with
the six railway groups mentioned in the next section, contact
with the territorial service being established at the initial,
stations hereafter described.
For the purposes of this service, which is placed under the
orders of the Commander-in-Chief, the following functionaries
are appointed at the commencement of mobilisation :—
1 Chief of the Lines of Communication* ‘(Oberetappen-
kommandant ; Commandant en chef des étapes).
1 Principal Station Commandant (Hauptetappenkom-
mandant ; Commandant de Pétape centrale).
6 Commandants of collecting stations (Sammeletappen ;
Etapes de réunion).
26 Commandants of initial stations (Anfangsetappen; Htapes
initiales).
The requisite number of Commandants of terminal and
intermediate stations (Znd- and Zwischenetappen ;
Tétes d’ctapes and Etapes intermédiaires).
The necessary staff, assistants, and troops are attached to
the Commandants of stations.
The Chief of the Lines of Communication is at the head of
the entire service of communications, and remains usually at
Army head-quarters, being directly under the orders of the Chief
of the General Staff. He maintains the closest relations with
the Chief of the Railway Service; gives timely notice to the
Principal Station Commandant of the evacuations to be made
towards the interior, and of convoys of supplies to be pushed
forward to the field army, arranging with the Chief of the
Railway Service for the necessary transport; orders the estab-
lishment or abandonment of lines of communication, according
to the operations of the field army; calls directly upon Divi-
sional District Commandants to take the necessary steps to
protect threatened lines of communication.
His staff consists of 1 Officer of the General Staff, 1 Adju-
tant, 1 Medical Officer (Chief Medical Officer of the lines of
communication), 1 Staff Clerk.
The Principal Station Commandant is the deputy of the Chief
of the Lines of Communication ; hag his quarters at the principal
station, and directs the service of the lines of communication
properly so-called. He works out in detail the arrangements
necessary for carrying out orders received, and to this end is in
* Whenever possible his functions and those of the Chief of the Railway
Service are to be combined in the same person, otherwise the latter is subordinite to
the former.
TERRITORIAL COMMUNIOATION. 259
close touch with the Principal Traffic Director, who has his
quarters at the same place, if the duties of these two officers
are not united in the same person; he receives the convoys of
evacuation of the army from the terminal stations, and directs
them to the corresponding initial stations, and, conversely, re-
ceives supplies from the initial or collecting stations and de-
spatches them to the terminal stations; he demands from
collecting stations the supplies required by the Army Com-
mander, and warns them of projected evacuations; in concert
with the Principal Traffic Director, he sees that no standstill
occurs on the lines of communication, and that the principal
station is not choked with goods and passengers. His staff
consists of 1 Officer of the General Staff or superior troop
officer, 1 Adjutant, 1 Artillery officer, 1 Administrative officer,
1 Surgeon, 1 Veterinary Surgeon, and 2 Staff Clerks, and he
has at his disposal a company of Landwehr Infantry or a Land-~
sturm detachment.
The 6 Commandants of Collecting Stations are under the
orders of the Principal Station Commandant. The rayons of
the collecting stations correspond to the railway groups de-
scribed below. These Commandants inform Initial Station
Commandants of impending evacuations, at the same time
advising Divisional District Commandants for the information
of the several organs of the Military Department, and transmit
to Initial Station Commandants all demands for supplies; they
are the actual commandants of all lines of communication
within their respective rayons, and are responsible for their
security and for that of the collecting stations, being authorised
to requisition the troops necessary to this end from Divisional
District Commandants; they are further charged with the
temporary maintenance of men and horses passing through in
either direction, and are responsible for forwarding them and all
war material in good time.
To each Collecting Station Commandant are attached:
1 Adjutant, 1 Administrative officer, 1 Medical officer, 1 Vete-
tinary Surgeon, and a detachment of Landwehr Infantry or
Landsturm.
The 26 Commandants of Initial Stations are the Commis-
saries of the 25 cantons and the Commissary at Thun; they
reside at the cantonal capitals and at Thun respectively, and
are under the immediate orders of the Commandant of the
collecting station of their rayon, receiving from the latter all
_ returning convoys and forwarding them to Divisional District
Commandants or to the military establishments, and vice versd.
They have at their disposal their own cantonal establishment,
and, if necessary, small detachments of Landwehr or Land-
sturm,
The Commandants of Terminal Stations are under the direct
orders of the Chief of the Lines of Communication as regards the
reception of convoys returning from, and the forwarding of
supplies to, the army; under those of the Principal Station
(2745) R2
Commandants
of collecting
stations.
Commandants
of initial
stations.
Commandants
of terminal
stations.
260 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
Commandant in respect of the transport of returns from the
army to the interior. For the first concentration of the army
there will be as many terminal stations as there are Divisions
or detached corps near the frontier, but they will be reduced in
number as the army becomes more concentrated. The Com-
mandants of these stations receive all return convoys direct
from the Divisions and corps of the army and forward them
to the collecting stations, and conversely as regard supplies for
thearmy. Asarule, the corps themselves provide for the transit.
of returning convoys and supplies to and from the initial stations,
employing their corps transport and administrative troops for this
purpose if necessary. Terminal Station Commandants provide
for the security of the lines of communication as far as the next
station, and to this end may, if necessary, requisition troops
from the Divisional District Commandant, or, in urgent cases,
demand the assistance of the nearest troops of the army of
operations. They maintain public order, provide for the
housing of all men and horses passing through the station, the
storage of all supplies collected there, and the removal or
evacuation of the station. They have at disposal 1 Artillery,
1 Administrative, and 1 Medical Officer, a Veterinary Surgeon,
and a detachment of Landwehr or Landsturm.
Intermediate Intermediate stations may be established when necessary by
stations. Commandants of Lines of Communication, to whom their
commandant will be subordinate, either at important railway
junctions or at stages on the line of march. Commandants of
such stations are responsible for the temporary quartering of
troops and care of material passing through, and for the pro-
vision of the necessary requisitioned carriage. They are
assisted by the requisite staff and a detachment of Landwehr
or Landsturm.
' TIL—The Railway Service.
Supreme During war the railways and steamboats come under the
direction. control of the Commander-in-Chief, and are directed by the
Chief of the Railway Service (Olerbetriebschef ; Chef du service
des transports), whose organs are :—
1 Principal Traffic Director (Hauptbetriebschef; Chef
@ exploitation principal).
1 Chief of the Technical Service (Chef des technischen
Dienstes ; Chef du service technique).
6 District Traffic Directors (Gruppenbetriebschefs ; Chet
de groupes d’ exploitation).
The Chief of the Railway Service is in direct communication
Chief of with the Chief of the Lines of Communication, and resides at
ee Army Head-quarters. He directs the working of the railways
and steamboats according to the regulations for military trans-
port, or to those laid down for peace time, with such modifica-
tions as may be necessary; disposes of all the personnel and
TERRITORIAL COMMUNICATION. 261
snatériel of the different companies requisite for carrying out the
orders received from the Commander-in-Chief, employing them,
if necessary, on lines belonging to other companies; he can
transfer or suspend any railway or steamboat official; he
designates, in accord with the Chief of the Lines of Com-
munication, the lines on which railway traffic is to be continued ;
directs the concentration of rolling stock and fuel on certain
lines, and the evacuation of lines or depéts which may be
threatened, and gives orders to the Chief of the Technical Ser-
vice for the construction and maintenance of lines according to
the direction of the Commander-in-Chief. He reports to the Chief
of the General Staff.
From the moment that the railways and steamboats are
taken over by the military authorities, the whole of the officials
and employés come under military law, and cannot leave the
railway service.
The Principal Traffic Director is the deputy of the foregoing,
and carries out his orders on all the lines. He resides at the
principal station of the lines of communication, with the Com-
mandant of which he is in direct communication. Subordinate to
him are the offices for details of traffic (time tables, personnel),
distributiun of rolling stock, general control and: accounts.
The management of the financial affairs of the companies is not
interfered with. The Principal Traffic Director draws up the
time tables of companies worked on the war footing, and
decides as to the extent to which private traffic is permitted.
For extensive movements of troops he receives the general
marching and transport tables from the Chief of the Railway
Service or of the Lines of Communication, and upon them
draws up the detailed time tables and distribution of rolling
stock, &c., for the district traffic directors concerned.
The Chief of the Technical Service is under the immediate
orders of the Chief of the Railway Service. He directs all works
in connection with the construction and maintenance of lines,
and has at his disposal the necessary detachments of Engineers
and railway workmen companies. He and his staff, when not
required to superintend works elsewhere, are at Army head-
quarters or with the Chief of the Railway Service.
The 6 District Traffic Directors are directly subordinate to
the Principal Traffic Director, and carry on the working of their
respective lines with the personnel and material already existing
in time of peace. The railway lines* are grouped as follows :—
Ist Group (Head-quarters at Lausanne or Freiburg) :—(1)
Suisse Occidentale and Simplon Railway; (2) Portion of Paris-
Lyon-Mediterranean line from Geneva to the Swiss frontier;
(3) Jura-Neuchiatel Railway ; (4) Lausanne-Echallens; (5) Lau-
sanne-Ouchy; (6) Territet-Glyon ; (7) Steam-vessels of lakes of
Geneva, Neuchatel, and Morat.-
* It is impotsible to show the whole of these, some being merely funicular
lines, on the small-scalg map appended to this volume.
Principal
traffic
director.
Chief of
technical
service.
District traffic
directors.
Railway
groups.
Persons
subjectto _
tnilitary lawe
262 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
2nd Group (Head-quarters at Bern):—(1) Jura-Bern-Lucerne
Railway ; (2) Bodeli line; (3) Brunig line; (4) Tavannes-Tra-
melan line; (5) Steam-vessels on lakes of ‘hun, Biel, and
Brienz.
3rd Group (Head-quarters at Olten or Lucerne) :—(1) Lines
of the Central Company ; (2) Portions of Baden and Alsatian lines
on Basel territory ; (3) Emmenthal line; (4) Waldenburg line ;
(5) Seethal line; (6) Steam-vessels on lakes of Lucerne
and Zug.
4th Group (Head-quarters at Lucerne):—(1) Gotthard lines;
(2) Vitznau-Righi and Arth-Righi lines; (3) Steam-vessels on
lake of Lugano and Lago Maggiore.
oth Group (Head-quarters at Zurich):—(1) Lines of the
Nord-Est Company ; (2) Portion of Baden line on Schaffhausen
territory ; (3) Uetliberg line; (4) Wadensweil-Einsiedeln line;
). Steam-vessels on lakes of Zurich and Constance and on the
ine.
6th Group (Head-quarters at St. Gallen, Sargans or Rappers-
weil) :—(1) Lines of the Union-Suisse Company; (2) Tossthal
line; (3) Appenzell lines; (4) Rorschach-Heiden line.
The special duties of the district directors are to run the
trains in accordance with the time tables received from the
principal director, to guard against and remove all causes of
interruption to the traffic, to take steps for the repair of rolling
stock and fitting of hospital trains, to carry out instructions as
to the concentration of rolling stock or evacuation of lines, to
issue notices as to alterations of the time tables and conditions
of ordinary traffic, and to establish the necessary ramps and
depots.
CHAPTER XXITI.
Mrirary Law.
The following persons are subject to military law :—
1. Persons doing military service in the federal or can-
tonal troops.
2. Military persons who, not during periods of military
service, are for any reason wearing uniform.
8. Persons who voluntarily follow the troops in any
permanent capacity, eg., servants and washermen.
4, Persons temporarily attached to the troops for par-
* ticular service, e.g., transport drivers, postmen,
butchers, and bakers.
MILITARY LAW. 263
5. Persons who incite the troops not to do their duty, or
act as spies for the enemy.
€. Persons who commit any offence against persons or
things belonging to the army when in the enemy’s
country.
7. Persons liable to military service who neglect to pre-
sent themselves for it.
8. Persons who endeavour to avoid military service by
feigning disease, or mutilating themselves, and
medical men who give false certificates in order to
exempt such persons from service.
9. Prisoners of war.
Under the Law for the Regulation of Military Justice at
present in force, which is dated 27th August, 1851, all punish-
able offences are divided into breaches of discipline and crimes.
The offences which come under these two heads are clearly
defined, and it is provided that no offence which is not
indicated in the law can be punished by military superiors or
tribunals.
The punishments which can be inflicted by officers and Offences
non-commissioned officers of the several grades are shown in
the following table :—
against
discipline.
ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
264
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MILITARY LAW. 265
Every officer and non-commissioned officer is bound to as a
as soon as possible to the person immediately superior to him,
any punishment that he may have inflicted, and the latter may
annul, confirm, or increase it within the limits of his own powers.
Any person who considers himself unjustly punished, must
submit to the punishment, and after completing or commencing
it, may complain to the person next senior to the one who
imposed it. Ifthe latter considers that the punishment was not
deserved, he may inflict a suitable punishment on the person
who imposed it; if he considers the complaint unfounded, he
may increase the punishment ordered in the first instance.
All punishments are entered in defaulters’ books, which are
kept by (a) Quartermaster-sergeants for sergeant-majors and
downwards, (6) Adjutant N.C. Officers for non-commissioned
officers and men of the Staff, (c) Battalion Adjutants (or Com-
pany Commanders) for regimental officers, and (d) Staff Adju-
tants for the personnel of the Staffs.
The law recognises 4 classes of military tribunals, viz.:—
(a) Ordinary military tribunals.
(6) Cantonal military tribunals.
(c) Extraordinary military tribunals.
(d) Courts of Appeal.
When the forces are mobilised, the Commander-in-Chief
appoints at least as many ordinary tribunals as there are
brigades; practically, one is appointed for each Division. In
time of peace, during instructional service, the Federal Council
decides what tribunals are necessary. livery ordinary tribunal
consists of a Grand Judge (Grossrichter ; Grand juge), 2 Judges
(Richter ; Juges), and 8, or in the case of capital crimes 12,,jury-
men (Geschwornen; Jurés) ; further to each tribunal are attached
2 officers in waiting, to replace the Judges, an Auditor ( Auditor ;
Auditeur) and a secretary to the tribunal (Gerichtsschreiber ;
Greffier.)
The Grand Judge, the president of all the courts in the
Division, is an officer of the Judical Staff not below the rank of
Major; in any case he must be of equal rank with the accused.
He is permanently appointed to the Division by the Federal
Council, i.e, his appointment, like that of all other officials,
must be renewed every three years. He orders the assembly
of the court, sees that all other members of it perform their
duty properly, and in case of misconduct or neglect can impose
disciplinary punishment on the offender or report him to higher
authority ; he is responsible for the whole course of procedure,
and summonses and correspondence connected with the tribunal
emanate from him. If unable to perform his duties he is replaced
by the Grand Judge of another Division or by one of the
Auditors.
The two Judges, and two officers to replace them, are
chosen for each assembly of the court by the Divisional Com-
Orimes.:
Military
tribunals.
Ordinary
tribunals.
Grand judge.
Judges.
Jury.
Auditor.
Secretary.
Procedure.
266 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
mander, or during instructional service by the Federal Council,
from among the officers .of the troops under the jurisdiction of
the court. The Judges have, in all cases, a consultative and
deciding voice.
The jurymen are selected as follows:—In each Division
separate lists are prepared containing the names of all the
officers, non-commissioned officers and corporals, the latter in-
cluding the names of 4 privates per company, or 2 if the strength
of the company is below 75. To form a jury, there are drawn
by lot from these lists in open court the names of 14 officers,
7 non-commissioned officers and 7 corporals or privates. Of these
the accused and the Auditor can each object to 4 officers, 2 non-
commissioned officers, and 2 corporals or privates, and from the
rest 4 officers, 2 non-commissioned officers and 2 corporals or
privates are chosen by lot to form the jury, or 6 officers, 3 non-
commissioned officers, and 3 corporals or soldiers in the case of
trials for capital offences. Further, 2 officers, 1 non-commis-
sioned officer, and 1 corporal or private, are chosen by lot as
jurymen in waiting. The senior officer is foreman of the jury.
The Auditor, one to each brigade of the Division, is an
Officer of the Judicial Staff, and combines, to some extent, the
duties of Deputy Judge Advocate and prosecutor; he is
specially charged with the custody and attention to the wants
of the accused, to whom he must be at least equal in rank.
The Secretary is chosen by-the Grand Judge from among
the officers or non-commissioned officers serving at the time.
When a crime is committed, the Commanding Officer com-
petent to do so directs an officer to institute an inqtiry, and
the latter submits his report to one of the Auditors, who.
completes it and forwards it with a charge to the Grand Judge.
A copy of the charge is given to the accused, and he is called
upon to name a defender, who may be a military person or a
civilian. The witnesses required by the accused and the Auditor
are summoned by the Grand Judge, who fixes the day for the
assembly of the court and warns all concerned. ‘The proceed-
ings are public. On assembly, the Judges are sworn first and
then the jury; the witnesses swear to the truth of their evidence
after giving it. The charge having been read, witnesses are
examined by the Auditor and defender of the accused. _ If, after
the reading of the charge, the accused acknowledges his guilt,
sentence is pronounced without putting the case to the jury.
The accused is invited to make any observation on the evidence.
and then questioned by the Auditor, but he is not bound to
answer. Fresh questions may then be put to the witnesses, and
the Auditor addresses the court, followed bythe defender. The
accused is then allowed to make any observation, and the Grand
Judge gives the jury certain questions on paper regarding the
charge, which can only be answered by “yes” or “no.” The
jury retire to consider their verdict, which must be given by a
majority of six out of eight, or ten out of twelve, and is put on
paper. If the accused is found guilty, the Auditor demands the
MILITARY LAW. 267
infliction of a certain puvishment under the law, when the
accused or his defender may reply. The court then pronounces
the sentence. The condemned may appeal within 48 hours to
the Federal Council. Before bemg put into execution, the
sentence is submitted to the Military Department (or General,
in time of war), which, after confirming it, entrusts its execution
to the canton to which the condemned belongs.
As there are no strictly military prisons, all sentences of
imprisonment (and in certain cases the disciplinary punishment
of confinement in the guard room or cells) are carried out in
cantonal prisons.
Extraordinary Military Tribunals, which are only held in
time of war, are of two kinds, and may be termed Detachment
Courts and Courts for the trial of Superior Officers.
Detachment Courts can be assembled by the Commanding
Officer of any corps, if not less than six companies, which may
find itself isolated from an ordinary tribunal. The President,
Judges, and Auditor are selected by the Commanding Officer.
For the trial of the General, Chief of the General Staff,
Commanders of Corps d’Armée, Divisions, or Brigades, special
Courts are created composed of a superior officer of the Judicial
Staff as President and eight other Judges, of whom four are
Colonels and four Presidents of Superior Cantonal Ccurts.
Appeal may be made to the Federal Tribunal.
The Court of Appeal, to which the sentences of ordinary and
Detachment Military Courts may be referred, consists of 5 mem-
bers, 3 officers of the Judicial Staff, and 2 officers of the Army,
appointed by the Federal Council. From 1848 to 1884 only
3 cases were submitted to this tribunal.
Right of pardon is exercised by the Federal Council and
Federal Assembly, and in time of war by the General.
Courts-martial are extremely rare, and the average yearly
number does not exceed 10.
For crimes and punishments the reader is referred to the
Law of the 21st August, 1851.
The cantons are empowered to institute military tribunals
and courts of appeal for the trial of their own troops when
employed in cantonal service.
It should be mentioned that a new code of military law,
elaborated by Dr. Hilty, Grand Judge and Professor of Laws
at the University of Bern, has been under consideration since
1875. If accepted, this code will completely alter the system
of procedure above described. Among other innovations
proposed therein is the establishment of permanent military
courts, the abolition of juries, and the institution of courts of
honour for officers.
Prisons.
Extraordinary
tribunals.
Court of
Appeal.
Cantonal
tribunals,
268 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TAOTIOAL NOTES.
I—Infantry.
1. The Company.
Company. (a.) Fundamental Formation.—In line in 2 ranks, with 1 pace
distance, each file being allowed 294 inches frontage. The
company is divided into 2 pelotons (the first on the right, the
second on the left), 4 sections (numbered from right to left),
and 8 half-sections, each divided into 2 groups. The Captain
is 10 paces in front of the company, for parade purposes; the
sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, and hospital attendant,
are posted as serrefiles, 2 paces in rear of the rear rank,
drummers and trumpeters at 10 paces, and the pioneers 2 paces
behind them.
Each section consists of—
1 Officer, section-chief, on the right flank, with-
out coverer ; lst Lieutenants, who are also
peloton-chiefs, command odd-number sections;
Lieutenants command the even-number sections.
2 Sergeants, flank group-chiefs, on the flanks of
the section, in the front rank.
2 Corporals, centre group-chiefs, in the centre of
the section, in the front rank.
2 Corporals, covering the Sergeants.
36 Privates, 17 in front rank and 19 in rear rank.
Total.. 43 forming 22 files, including the Officer.
When the section consists of 15 files or less, it forms 2
groups, of which the Sergeants are the chiefs.
Frontage of section .. 22 files = 18 yards.
3 peloton oe. 4a BB as
” company . 88 , =72 ,,
(b.) Columns of Route :—
1, Fours (termed “column by files”), formed by turning
both ranks to the flank required ; if to the right, the
even numbers then take a step to the right front
TACTICAL NOTES. 269
and place themselves on the right of the corres-
ponding odd numbers ; if to the left, even numbeis
take a step to the left rear and place themselves ou
the left of the corresponding number.
2. re half-sections, formed by wheeling them to
a flank.
(¢.) Formations of Maneuvre :-—
1. Open column of sections or pelotons, at wheeling
distance.
2. Close column of sections, at 8 metres (82 yards)
distance, or less if required.
In both columns section-chiefs place themselves in front ot
their sections; the frontage of sections therefore becomes 21
files, that of pelotons 42 tiles. The close column of sections is
the normal manceuvring formation.
(d.) Evolutions—Open column is formed from line (1) by
wheeling sections or pelotons to a flank, or (2) by a flank unit
marching to the front and the rest inclining and covering;
from fours, by the incline of the rear of the column at the
double.
Close column is formed similarly, rear units closing up, or
by the flank march of sections, which form in rear of the named
flank section.
The front is increased from sections to pelotons by the
‘incline of the rear sections of each peloton; from sections or
pelotons to line, by half wheels or the incline. When under
fire, a swarm formation of advance may be adopted, the files
in single rank at 1 pace interval.
Length of pace, 80 cm. (313 in.). Rate of manceuvre,
115 paces per minute; double (“pas gymnastique”), 160 per
minute.
(e.) Fighting Formation—As a normal formation, 2 sections
extend in firing line, the other two forming support in column.
The men of each group form in line, the extent of front varying
with the size of the body engaged, but it should not exceed 5
paces per file. Asa mean, 1 metre is allowed per man in the
firing line, and 5 metres interval between groups. Thus a
section in firing line may have the following frontage :—
4 groups of 10 men = 40 metres (433 yards).
3 intervals between groups=15 ,, (164 ,, ).
55 =, «= (604 —,:sC*dsr
Two sections in firmg line are allowed 55 x 2 = 110 metres
4+ 20 metres interval between sections = 130 metres (142
yards). The distance of firing line from support is 100 to 300
(nominally 200) metres, say 220 yards. One of the supporting
sections may be formed as a reserve, 100 metres in rear of the
support.
Battalion.
Shelter
trenches, &e.
Regiment.
270 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND,
2. The Battalion.
(a.) Fundamental Formation.—In line, companies numbered
1 to 4 from the right, the standard-bearer (Adjutant N.C.
Officer), with a file on each side of him, between the two
centre companies. Frontage, 266-25 metres (say, 291 yards),
(b.) Columns of Route-—Fours and half sections.
(c.) Formations of Maneuvre—
1. Open or close column of sections (normal) or pelotons.
2. Double column of sections, sections usually closed up
to ten paces distance.
3. Double column of fours.
4, Line of columns; companies in columns of sections,
side by side, with 50 metre intervals.
(d.) Evolutions —Double column of sections is formed from
line by advancing in column of sections from the inward flanks
of wings (or forming the sections of each wing in rear of the
centre sections of the battalion by a flank march, if at the halt),
or from column of sections by placing the two rear companies
on a flank of the two leading companies.
Double column of fours is formed similarly.
Line to the front is formed from double column of fours by
first forming double column of sections, from which line is
formed by the half wheel or incline. In forming line from close
column of sections, the sections of the two leading companies
at once incline; the two rear companies take ground to the
flank (outwards) before inclining into their places in line.
~(@.) Fighting Formation.—This is termed “company columns,”
and differs from line of columns in that the two centre com-
panies are held back in échelon. The two companies at the
head of a double column, or the flank companies of a line of
columns, take an interval of about 150 metres (164 yards)
during the advance, to form firing line and supports, as for a
single company; the other two companies form the principal
line, 100 metres (109 yards) on the drill ground, in rear of the
supports of the firing line, at deploying interval from each
other. Frontage of firmg line, 300 metres (328 yards),
including 40 metres interval between companies. According
to circumstances, only one company need be extended in firing
line. The firing line may be reinforced by a section of the
support filling up a gap (not by doubling the files), or prolonging
the line to a flank.
The shelter trenches and other field engineering works to
be executed by Infantry and Infantry pioneers are described in
“ Feiss’ “ Lehrbuch fiir die Unterotiiziere,” 1889, and in the
special Regulations for Infantry Pioneers.
8. The Regiment.
(a.) Fundamental Formation.—Formation of assembly. The
3 battalions, side by side, at 20 metres interval, each being
TACTICAL NOTES. 271
usually formed in close double column of sections, or one
battalion 40 metres in rear of the other two. Asa rendezvous
formation, column of battalions, each in close double column of
sections, at 40 metres distance.
(b.) Columns of Route-—As for battalions, with 40 metres
distance between battalions,
(¢.) Fighting Formations—The battalions may be formed in
1, 2, or 3 lines of battalion columns (close double column of
sections).
J. If in one line, they stand at intervals of 300 metres
from each other.
2. If in two lines, the battalion in 2nd line is at 300
metres distance.
3. If in three lines, battalions are at 300 metres distance.
The battalion, or battalions, of 1st line deploys into the
peculiar formation above described as “ company columns,” the
flank companies of each forming firing line and supports, as
prescribed for the company. If 3 battalions are in this line, the
front of the firing line is 900 metres (984 yards); if 2 battalions,
600 metres (656 yards). Rear battalions are in line of columns.
The depth of the formation in 2 lines is as follows :—
From firing line to supports .. 200 metres
»» supports to remainder of Ist
line dis ai ee) LOO 5,
» istto2ndline.. .. 800
”
600=656 yards.
4. The Brigade.
(a.) Fundamental Formation.—F or assembly. Either the 2 regi-
ments are side by side, each in 3 lines of close double columns
(régiments accolés), or each regiment is in line of close double
columns and one regiment in rear of the other (régiments en ligne).
(b.) Fighting Formations—According to the fundamental
formation, the fighting formation may be—
1. In 3 lines, each formed of 2 battalions belonging to
different regiments.
2. In 2 lines, each formed of 3 battalions of the same
regiment.
3. In 2 lines, 2 battalions of each regiment being in 1st
line, followed by their 3rd battalion in 2nd line.
It should be observed that the regulations at present in force
for the formations and movements of the regiment and brigade
are tentative only, and alterations will doubtless be made before
long.
Brigade.
Sguadron.
Regiment.
272 ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
U.— Cavalry.
1. The Squadron.
(a.) Fundamental Formation. —In line in 2 ranks, with 2 paces
distance (1 pace when in column), each horse being allowed a
frontage of 1 metre (39°37 inches). The squadron is divided
into 3 pelotons; each consisting of 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 4
corporals, 30 dragoons, and 1 trumpeter. The peloton officer
is 2 paces in front of the centre of his peloton, sergeant and
trumpeter in rear, a corporal on each flank, and a file of cor-
porals in the centre of the peloton. The frontage of each
peloton in line is normally 17 files. Each peloton is told off by
threes from the right, the left section, if necessary, containing
2 or 4 files. The squadron numbers 51 files.
(b.) Column of Route.—Column of threes (3 abreast), and
Jiles (each rear rank man on the outer flank of his front rank
man). .
(c.) Formations of Maneuvre.—For"short distances, “ threes
right (or left),” six abreast; for ordinary manoeuvres, peloton
column, ée., open column of pelotons (=“ squadron column”).
(d.) Evolutions.—Peloton column is formed from line by (1)
wheeling pelotons to a flank, or (2) by any peloton advancing
and the other two following by inclining. Line is formed from
peloton column (1) to the front, by rear pelotons forming on
either or both flanks of the leading peloton by inclining (the
incline is 45°), (2) to the half flank by wheeling pelotons into
half columns, when the rear pelotons incline into their places in
line, (3) to a flank, by wheeling into line.
(e.) Fighting Formations—(1) In line, or, if there is not suffi-
cient room or time for this, (2) in successive lines at 100 paces
distance. The attack in “swarm” is also practised, files opening
out and following their leaders without keeping dressing, one
peloton following in close formation as a reserve.
The rates of movement at the different paces are :—
At a walk us 100 metres (109 yards) per minute,
» trot .. 240 4, (262° 4 ) 4
» gallop... 360 4 «=©(893 ,,_—) ‘
During an attack over 1,000 metres (1,093 yards), about
half the distance should be passed at the trot, 440 at a gallop,
and 90 at the charge.
2. The Regiment.
(a.) Fundamental Formation.—Squadrons in line, with 8 metres
(8-7 yards) interval. Frontage, 178 metres (194-6 yards).
(6.) Column of route—As for the squadron. In threes (3
abreast), the depth of column is about 397 metres (434 yards),
or with regimental carriage, 580 yards.
TACTICAL NOTES. 273°
(c.) Formation of maneuvre :—
1. Line of columns (= “line of squadron columns”),
squadrons in peloton column, at deploying intervals.
2. Mass (= “line of squadron columns at close inter-
vals”), with 8 metre intervals.
3. Open and close column of squadrons.
4, Open column of pelotons.
(d.) Evolutions.—In forming line to the front from open
column of squadrons, pelotons are wheeled half right or left.
To form line from open column of pelotons, column of squad-
rons is usually formed first. As regards other evolutions, the
drill is very similar to that of the German Cavalry.
(e.) Attack Formation :—
1, Against Cavalry, in line.
2, Against Infantry, by successive squadrons.
3. Against Artillery, in “swarm” formation.
For dismounted duty, Nos. 1 and 3 of both ranks dismount
with carbines.
The men of Guide companies are employed as Staff guards,
orderlies, and field police.
III.— Artillery.
1. Field Artillery.
(a.) The Battery.
Each battery is divided into staff, 3 sections, and reserve.
The staff consists of the Captain, Medical Officer, hospital
attendant and bearers, Vetermary Surgeon, Adjutant N.C.
Officer, sergeant-major, quartermaster-sergeant, and Train
sergeant. Each section consists of 2 guns and 2 ammunition
wagons, with 1 officer as section chief (Ist Lieutenant, for 1st
and 3rd sections, Lieutenant for 2nd section); a Train corporal,
trumpeter, and supernumerary Train soldier, and, for each gun
and its wagon, a gunner sergeant as chief of the gun, 2 gunner
lance-corporals (respectively No. 1 of the off side halfdetach-
ment, and in charge of the ammunition wagon), 6 gunners
(2 and 3 of the off, 1, 2, and 3 of the near halfdetachment, and
1 supernumerary*), 2 Train lance-corporals, and 5 Trainsoldiers
(1 supernumerary*). The reserve consists of 1 Lieutenant,
2 N.C. Officers, and 36 men (including tradesmen), spare limber,
forge, battery store wagon, battery wagon and 2 provision
wagons, with 8 spare horses. : ;
(a.) Fundamental Formation :—Line at full intervals, 164 yards
from muzzle to muzzle. The guns, ammunition wagons, and
* With the ammunition wagon.
(2745) 8
Battery.
Begiment.
274 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
reserve form 3 lines at 22 yards’ distance. The men are in rear
or upon the carriages to which they are told off.
(b.) Columns of Route-——T wo orders of march are employed—
(1) In ordinary marches each gun is followed by its ammunition
wagon, after which comes the reserve. (2) In marches near
the enemy, and as a column of manwuvre, the whole of the
guns march together (“guns front”), followed by the ammu-
nition wagons, and lastly the reserve.
(c.) Formations of Manauvre :—
1. Line; the guns at full or close intervals (164 or 52
yards), the ammunition wagons 82 yards in rear of
their guns; frontage, 94 or 39 yards.
2. Column of route (“guns front”), as above, forming
the ordinary column of manceuvre.
8. Column of sections; if at full intervals and distances,
each pair of guns (at 164 yards interval) is followed
by the next pair at 164 yards distance; in rear of
these are the sections of ammunition wagons.
Exceptionally, close interval and distance are taken, viz., 54
and 3} yards.
The rates of the several paces are—
Ata walk.. i .. 109 yards per minute.
»» trot (march) ea 219" 53 *
» 9 (manoeuvre) .. 262 ,, ~
» gallop .. 9828 to 437 ,, i
(d.) Fighting Formation —The guns tnlimbered at full intervals,
the ammunition wagons, as far as possible under cover, at 109
to 828 yards in rear, and, if possible, in échelon; one ammuni-
tion wagon close to and in rear of the centre of the line of
limbers, the reserve at 328 to 437 yards in rear of the line of
wagons when the battery opens fire.
(b.) The Regiment.
(a.) Fundamental Formation—As for the battery, with 22
yards between batteries; or 11 yards, if the batteries are at
close intervals.
(b.) Columns of Route—As for batteries. When near the
enemy, the reserves of both batteries are massed together.
(c.) Formations of Mancuvre :—
1. Line; batteries in line at full intervals, or at close
intervals for assembly.
2. Line of columns; eek battery in column of sections
(exceptionally in column of route, “ guns front”),
with 87 yards interval. When not under fire, the
interval may be reduced to 22 yards.
TACTICAL NOTES. 275
3. Column of batteries; each battery in line at close
intervals, the ammunition wagons 3 yards in rear of
their guns, one battery 71 yards in rear of the other.
Not used under fire; for assembly, the rear battery
may close up to 164 yards.
4, Column of route “ guns front ;” each battery in that
formation, the reserves massed in rear; only used
when the regiment has but one narrow road at
disposal.
5. Column of sections: each battery in that formation.
Exceptionally, distance and intervals may be closed.
(a.) Fighting Formation Batteries in line at full intervals,
with at least 22 yards interval between them; the ammunition
wagons of each battery kept separate, and 109 to 328 yards in
ce the guns; the reserves massed 328 to 437 yards in rear
of them.
2. Divisional Park and Park Columns.
The Divisional park is considered to be the fourth unit of a
brigade of Artillery, the regiments forming the three combatant
units. Each of its columns, A and B, conimanded by a Captain,
is divided into 3 sections and a reserve. The Ist section of
each column, commanded by a 1st Lieutenant, forms the Infantry
ammunition column (2nd échelon), and consists of 13 Infantry
ammunition wagons, with 1 Pioneer tool wagon, in column A,
and the Cavalry ammunition wagon in column B. Each 2nd
section, under a Lieutenant, includes 3 reserve guns and 3
Artillery ammunition wagons, with the artificers’ wagon in
column A. Each 8rd section, under a 1st Lieutenant, comprises
9 Artillery ammunition wagons, and is essentially the column of
Artillery ammunition (2nd échelon). The reserve of each column,
under a Lieutenant, is formed of the remainder of the park.
The Commandant of the park receives his orders from the
Artillery Brigade Commander.
On the march one column is usually kept a few miles in rear
of the fighting culumn, sending carriages forward as required
to replace ammunition, the other column being, perhaps, a day’s
march further in rear; when, however, an engagement is
es it closes up to half a day’s march, say, 6} to 94
miles.
3. Army Train.
(a.) Line Train.
The 18 wagons of each brigade (2 ammunition wagons and
1 fourgon per battalion) are massed, under the orders of the
Train Lieutenant of the Brigade Staff, as a brigade detachment,
and form the 1st échelon of ammunition for the Infantry. The
Train Lieutenant receives his orders from the Brigade Com-
(2745) 82
Divisional
park.
Line train of
Infantry.
Train
battalions.
Artillery of
position.
Mountain
battery.
276 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
mander, who places two Guide soldiers at his disposal as
orderlies. The brigade detachment is again divided into 2
regimental sub-detachments, each under an Adjutant N.C.
Officer (chief of the ammunition wagons), with 3 Armament.
N.C. Officers, 6 armourers, and 9 wagon guards, all detached
from their battalions.
The 2 wagons and the fourgon of the Carabinier battalion
of the Division form a separate unit, which is attached to the
lst regimental sub-detachment. :
The rest of the carriages, viz., baggage and provision
wagons and Staff fourgon, are massed by regiments and form
the baggage train, under the Train Adjutant N.C. Officer of the
Regimental Staff.
(4.) Train Battalions.
The train attached to the Engineers, field hospital, and
administrative company, are under the orders of the com-
manders of those units so far as the distribution of the carriages
is concerned. In matters of discipline they are under the
commandant of the battalion.
4, Artillery of Position.
The réle of this branch of the Artillery service is ag
follows :—
1. To arm the provisional works which would have to be
thrown up on the flanks or in rear of the ficld army, or in the
direction of its march: e.g., bridge heads, fortified defiles,
positions of concentration in case of retreat, important railway
junctions, places designed for the concentration of stores of
ammunition and provisions.
2. To assist in defensive battles by reinforcing and defend-
ing important positions in the line of battle.
Accordingly the armament is designed to include (1) guns
which will be superior as to range and the effect of their pro-
jectiles to the field guns an enemy could bring into play in the
first stages of operations, and which will admit of the greatest
mobility compatible with the weight required to ensure
superiority over the opposing guns; (2) howitzers whose fire
will search the temporary works and localities in which the
enemy’s troops, stores, and guns, may be sheltered from direct
fire; (3) light pieces which can use shrapnel with effect against
the enemy’s troops in the open. For these purposes the 12 cm.
uns and howitzers and 8-4.cm. guns of compressed bronze were
selected in 1882. Full details on this subject will be found in
F. M. F., No. 10, of 1882.
5. Mountain Artillery.
Each battery is divided into staff, 3 sections, and a reserve.
Each section consists of an officer, Train corporal, trumpeter,
TAOTIOAL NOTES. 277
and private to look after the officer’s horse, and, for each of its
2 guns, 1 gunner-sergeant as chief of the gun, 1 gunner lance-
corporal as vice-chief, 7 privates for service of gun and ammuni-
tion chest, 1 lance-corporal as leader of the wheel horse, and
7 privates as leaders of the gun, carriage, and ammunition
chest horses. The remainder forms the reserve, When in line
for action the intervals are 161 yards between guns; in rear of
each gun, at 11 yards distance, is the gun ammunition horse,
and in rear of this, each at about 24 yards distance, the wheel,
gun-barrel, and gun-carriage horses. A detachment of 8
ammunition chest horses is posted as 1st ammunition écheJon
33 to 54 yards in rear of the battery, the rest of the ammunition
chest horses 109 to 218 yards in rear of the line of guns, and the
reserve 547 yards in échelon to the rear of the manoeuvring
portion of the battery.
IV.—Replacing Ammunition in the Field.
(a.) During an Engagement.
Infantry.—The brigade ammunition detachment is posted
about 650 yards in rear of the firmg line, as far as possible
under cover and near good lines of communication with the
firmg line. The Train Lieutenant receives general directions
as to the position he is to take up from the Brigade Commander,
and reports his position, by means of one of his mounted
orderlies, to the regimental commanders, the latter informing
their battalion commanders. The commander of each unit is
responsible for arranging for the replenishment of its ammuni-
tion. On receiving a demand for ammunition, the chief of the
brigade or regimental ammunition detachment is bound to send
up the required wagon with its guard under an Armament N.C.
Officer, and to get a receipt for the ammunition he gives up.
The commander of the unit concerned sends a N.C. Officer
and 4 men to meet each wagon called up; the men fill the
canvas bags, which they find with the ammunition, with as
many cartridges as they can carry, and return to the firing line
and distribute them as evenly as possible, returning the bags
to the wagon. Empty wagons are sent to the park column by
pairs, and either exchange their empty cases for full ones or are
themselves replaced by ready-loaded wagons. Similarly, the
Park Commander complies with all demands from the 1st
échelon, and takes a receipt for all that he delivers. According
to the orders of the Artillery Brigadicr the leading column of
the Divisional park takes up a central position about 1,100
yards in rear of the troops requiring ammunition, under cover
and near roads leading to the fighting line. Exceptionally
the column may be sub-divided into detachments for replenish-
ing Infantry and Artillery ammunition. The 2nd column closea
up to 3,280 to 4,374 yards from the Ist.
Replacing
Infantry
ammunition
in field.
278 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
ae Artillery.—When the battery is in action, the line of ammu-
cwmuntion ition wagons is 109 to 328 yards in rear of the guns, one
in field. wagon being sent up to the line of gun limbers, the reserve 328
to 437 yards from the wagons. When the firing begins, each
gun commander sends his near side No. 3 to fetch ammunition,
each shot in the limber being replaced in this way. Only
the first few rounds are taken from the limbers. As soon as the
advanced ammunition wagon comes up to the battery it is un-
horsed and serves as a general ammunition box. The limbers
are replenished and sent off to cover, 50 or 100 yards away,
with the horses of the ammunition wagon. The advanced
wagon is replaced when empty, and when two are empty they
are sent back to the battery reserve and either re-packed from,
or (if time presses) exchanged for, full wagons, which will be
sent up from the Divisional park. Besides ammunition, the park
furnishes the Artillery with men and horses if necessary. Its
commander watches the course of an engagement with a view
of ensuring a constant supply of ammunition, and keeps up
communication with the Artillery Commander.
Cavalry and Engineers.—These replenish their ammunition
from the nearest Infantry ammunition detachment.
(6) After an Engagement.
‘Replacing The Infantry replenish personal ammunition from the Ist
ae. échelon (regimental wagons) as long as this suffices, sending
‘empty wagons back to the park (2nd échelon) to fill up. The
Artillery fill up their limbers from the battery wagons, which
are sent back, those of a regiment together, to the park. The
Park Commander sends up the column which has been supply-
ing the batteries during the engagement to a spot indicated by
the Artillery Brigadier, and distributes its remaining ammu-
nition according to the orders of the officer in chief command
of the Artillery. Meantime the intact column is brought up to
replace the other, which sends its empty wagons to the nearest,
depét to be filled up or replaced. The Divisional Park Com-
mander is bound to replace lost or damaged carriages of the
Artillery, and to supply the Infantry with ammunition wagons
if they are required. The Commandant of the depét (ard
échelon) takes steps for sending ammunition to the Divisional
park without delay, either by regulation or requisitioned car-
Tiage, or by rail.
V.—Marches and Outposts.
(a) Advanced and Rear Guards.
Genera _no- : These present no special peculiarity. In the case of a single
sieve eae regiment of Infantry or Cavalry employed as an advanced
year guards, guard, the composition of the several portions of the guard, and
the distances ordinarily observed, are as follows :—
TACTICAL NOTES. 273
Infantry Regiment. Cavalry Regiment.
i batidlions ” a { Gros der avantgarde a
Gros de l’avant-garde
500 metres.
. Gros der Vorkut
3. oe ee
i-battalion digas de l’extréme avant-garde } Apauacrenss
250 to 300 metres. 500 metres.
v
4-company we 3 { ieee } 2 pelotons.
150 to 200 metres. A 200 to 300 metres.
1 section .. ee e. { eee nneray P } 1 peloton.
100 to 150 metres. * ue 200 to 250 metres.
Rest of section .. ase Relat ae } Rest of peloton.
If the regiment were marching alone and not acting as
advanced guard to other troops, the two battalions of the
Infantry regiment would be termed the main body (gros) of
the regiment, and the two squadrons would be the main body
of the Cavalry regiment; the other formations above shown
would be retained, and would keep the names there assigned to
them. Thus, the advanced guard of the Infantry regiment
would be termed a Vorhut, and the Cavalry regiment would be
covered by a Vortrupp, with its smaller advanced detachments.
In rear guards the terms Nachhut and Nachtrupp are sub-
stituted for Vorhut and Vortrupp.
(5) Outposts.
The terms applied to the several parts of outposts are as Of outposts,
follows :—
Ueual English German. French,
Names.
Reserva oe «+| Gros der Vorposten .. +e| Gros des avant-postes,
Supports . ».| Unterstiitzungen oe »-| Soutiens.
Piquets . »e| Feldwachen .. . --| Grand’gardes.
Sentries (double) .} Schildwachen (Doppelposten) { Sentinelles (Petits postes).
Detached N.C.O.8} Unteroffiziersposten .. «-| Postes de sous-officiers.
posts.
Examining posts are termed Passirposten (Postes de passage), of 6 or 8 men.
Beconnoitring patrols are termed Schleichpatrouillen (Patrouilles de découverte).
Piquets are usually about 550 yards apart, sentry posts
(double) about 270 yards from their piquet and from each other,
supports about 550 yards in rear of the piquets, the reserve
about the same distance from the supports, and 1,100 yards in
front of the main body. Asa rule piquets are of the strength
of a section, but may consist of a peloton, and in unimportant
positions of half a section, each supplying 1 to 3 posts of
double sentries. Supposing a regiment to be employed on
outpost duty, the reserve might be formed of 2 battalions; the
support might then consist of 1; companies, the other 24
companies of the battalion forming 10 piquets of a section each.
‘
280 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
CHAPTER XXV.
MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Maneuvres.
THE autumn manceuvres are, strictly speaking, the repetition
courses of the two Divisions which are severally detailed in any
particular year to drill by brigades or as a Division. These
courses extend over 16 days, but it is only during the last 4 or 5
days that the trcops are opposed to each other.
_ The repetition courses of the units of the several arms and
branches are so timed that each Division is enabled to turn out
complete with its auxiliary servives, and the strength of Divi-
sions usually falls but little below the normal establishment,
taking into consideration that some of the oldest classes of
the Elite have hitherto been excused attendance at these
courses. The Administrative Troops undertake the whole of
the Commissariat arrangements, including the slaughter of cattle
and baking of bread. ach of the field hospitals mobilises 4
out of its 5 ambulances, 2 being attached to the brigades and
the other 2 employed as cantonment hospitals to replace the
Corps Infirmaries which, owing to the frequent movements of
the trocps, cannot be established; the latter receive the foot-
sore and sick of the several units of their Division, and transmit
them, if necessary, to the civil hospitals indicated for the
service.
The direction of the manceuvres is entrusted to a senior
officer, usually a Divisional Colonel or Instructor, who is
assisted by 5 or 6 superior officers, Chef d’armes, and Instruc-
tors. Usually 4 superior officers are appointed umpires (Juges
de camp), each assisted by a Major as assistant umpire. Full
details of the orders issued by the Director and Divisional
Commanders (general and special ideas) and descriptions of
the manoeuvres, are published every year in the “ Revue Mili-
taire Suisse.”
The damages caused to property at these manceuvres and
at other instructional courses are assessed by experts, military
and civil. In the case of regimental drills, the military
expert is nominated by the Commanding Officer of the corps
by which the damage was committed; in the case of divisional
maneeuvres by the Military Department. The civil expert,
representing the proprietors of the injured property, is
nominated by the communal authorities, or government of
MISCELLANEOUS, 281
the canton concerned. The senior Administrative Officer acts
as arbitrator.
During active service a similar arrangement obtains, and
the Divisional Commissary acts as arbitrator.
(b) Signalling.
The system of visual signalling employed is the same as that
in use in the Austrian Service, the apparatus consisting of stiff
white triangles instead of flags. The only troops instructed in
signalling are the Engineer Pioneers, a few men in each com-
pany being selected and trained each year.
(c) Carrier Pigeons.
In order to encourage the establishment of pigeon stations,
which might be of service to the army in case of war, the
Military Department allows subsidies of 2/.16s., 4/. 16s., and
6/. 8s., respectively, to societies which keep up establishments
of 100, 200, or 300 trained birds. The pigeons must be trained
for flights within the territory of the Confederation, and at least
six exercises must be carried out by the society every year in
accordance with instructions issued by the General Staff bureau.
In addition to these compulsory exercises, races, extending over
93 to 124 miles, are organised every spring by the military
authorities.
(d) Field Post and Telegraphs.
No directions for the working of the postal department in
the field have been published. The Staff of the Army is pro-
vided with a Director of the Field Post, but no provision is
made for the postal service of the Divisions. During the
manceuvres, 4 or 5 men with a fourgon have been found
sufficient for a Division, but on active service this number would
not suffice. It has been calculated (Allgemeine Schweiz.
Militirzeitung, No. 9, of 1888) that the following staff would be
required during active operations :—
Staff of the Army: 1 chief and 2 adjutants.
Each Division: 9 officers, 9 men, 4 2-horsed wagons, and 5
saddle horses, distributed as follows :—-
Staff of Division: Captain and 2 officers (2 saddle horses),
2 office clerks, 1 driver, 1 2-horsed wagon.
Each of 3 sections (2 Infantry brigades and 1 Artillery), 2
officers (1 saddle horse), 1 office clerk, 1 driver, 1
2-horsed wagon.
There are no published regulations as to the organisation of
the field telegraph service.
282 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
(e) War Game.
In order to encourage the practice of the war game in
Officers’ societies, the Chef d’arme of Infantry is authorised to
issue the necessary apparatus at the reduced price of 16s. A
map on the scale of gqyq has been specially prepared for this
purpose by the Topographic Bureau. Further, every District
Inspector has charge of a Kriegsspiel outfit which can be lent
for the use of officers.
(f) Military Library.
The Federal military library in Bern, which is administered
by the bureau of the General Staff, is accessible to all officers
nominated by the Confederation, and also to cantonal officers
with the permission of the Military Department. It contains
7,000 to 8, 000 military works. Books may be borrowed for two
months. Parcels of books weighing not more than 44 lbs. are
sent post free. Miltary libraries for the principal barrack towns
are also in process of being formed, and several of the cantons
and military societies possess excellent military libraries.
(g) Bands.
The Law of Military Organisation does not provide for the
entertainment of military bands on a large scale, the only
musicians recognised by that law being the trumpeters and
drummers of the various units.
The number of trumpe ers in the several corps and the
brass instruments with which they are supplied by regulation,
in addition to field trumpets, are given in the following
table :—
2
E : a os
£
maa 5 ; uP
—_ as é § [Ped 3 A
se| 2 (25-8 |g] 2).
ge?) ele | 2/2 |212
6 Ss a = a Fi 3
5 A |A 4+}/a|/afa
Fusilier battalion oe ee 4 2 2 2 1 1 12
Carabinier ,, oe oe 6 3 2 3 1 2 16
Squadron of Dragoons .. oof 1 2 we oe 1 ve 4
Company of Guides .. wef 1 2 oe . a 3
Field and Mountain battery,
Company of Position, and 1 2 oe . 1 “eo 4
Park column, Cae ;
A : let division .| .. ee aig ie °
Train battalion tena co vali) od libs Gale ivag a dhe. ielcag } .
Company of artificers .. vo] oe 2 oe os . ve 2
MISCELLANEOUS. 283
The Fusilier and Carabinier battalions have each a trumpeter-
corporal as leader, provided with a cornet or bugle, each Infantry
regiment has a regimental trumpeter, and each brigade a brigade
trumpeter.
The battalion bands are united when the regiment is
together.
In addition to the above there are two drummers in each
Fusilier, Sapper, Pontoon and Pioneer company.
Musicians receive no special rate of pay,except when mounted
as brigade or regimental trumpeters.
(h) Maps.
The Topographic Bureau, a branch of the Federal Military
Department, placed directly under the Chef darme of the
Engineers, is charged with all the field and office operations (astro-
nomic, trigonometric, topographic, and cartographic) necessary
to the carrying out of the topographic survey of the country, as
well as with the care and issue of Government maps. Its main
duties are the constant revision and issue, as required, of the
Dufour topographic map of Switzerland (scale ;5j/s55), the
field surveys and office reductions for the new detailed topo-
graphic map (scales s54,5 and 3;4,,), the preparation and
publication of the general map (g5j!557), and the corrections for
a number of standard Government maps, such as the official
railway map.
The Permanent Staff of the Bern Office is limited to a clerk
and 2 topographers, but the personnel of the Bureau may be said
to consist of :—
1, Engineers.
2. Topographers and draughtsmen of the office.
3. Engravers on copper and lithographers,
4, Printers.
The Engineers comprise 1 Verification Engineer, 1 Triangu-
lation Engineer, and a variable number for the revisions and for
new surveys. These are not permanently appointed, but
employed as the means at disposal admits of.
The office topographers and draughtsmen consist of the 2
permanently paid officials and a number of contract employés.
The engraving and printing is partly done in the office, but
principally by contract with private parties.
The Confederation, in accordance with an Act of 18th
December, 1868, undertakes the publication of the topographic
surveys (Atlas topographique, sgtyq and sxGoq) On the under-
standing that public departments, societies, or private indi-
viduals legally bind themselves to pay half the first cost of
engraving and printing and of the revisions. The cost of the
Staff
employed.
Topographic
Bureau.
Financial
arrangements,
284 THE ARMED STRENGTH OF SWITZERLAND.
survey is borne in equal parts by the Confederation and the
Governments of the cantons concerned.
The amount provided in the Budget for 1887 for topographic
work, including the supplementary pay of the Chef @arme of
Engineers and his clerk, amounted to 9,112/., to which must be
added 600/. paid as subsidy to the Geodetic Commission of the
Helvetic Society of Natural Science towards the measurement
of the meridian of Europe, and 400/. to the Geological
Commission of that Society towards the completion of the
Geological Survey Map. On the other hand, the contributions
of cantons, scientific societies, and various federal departments
towards topographic work amounted to 2,975/. for the
same year.
pes ave * ;
Ea The principal maps issued by the Topographic Bureau
are :—
1. “Carte topographique de la Suisse,” scale +z _yqq, Vertical
hachures, 25 sheets, price 40 fr. Originally prepared under the
superintendence of General Dufour and kept up to date by the
Bureau. It is known as Dufow's Atlas.
2. “Carte générale de la Suisse,” scale zzqyy, 4 sheets, price
8 fr., reduced from the preceding (1867 to 1873).
3. “Atlas topographique de la Suisse,” scale s,54,, for
mountainous districts, zx45y for other parts; levels shown by
contours. Will contain about 550 sheets, price 1 fr. each.
Commenced in 1870 under the superintendence of Colonel
Siegfried, and still in hand.
4, “Carte officielle des chemins de fer Suisses,” scale gzy 5995
vertical hachures, 4 sheets, price 8 fr.; an excellent map for
general use.
5. “Carte d’ensemble de la Suisse” (1879), scale rgghqqm 1
sheet, price 3 fr.
Besides the above there are excellent maps of most of the
cantons.
For the purpose of facilitating the study of map reading at
instructional courses, “orohydrographic” mapsare issued; these
are prepared by cutting along the contours with a sharp instru-
ment, and backing the portions cut out with cardboard of
varying thickness, so as to produce relief.
The Topographic Bureau supplies Government maps at a
reduced price to—
1. Agents approved by the Military Department, one per
canton.
2. Private individuals who order maps to the value of
50 fr.
3. Subscribers to original editions of the “Atlas Topo-
graphique.”
4, Federal Departmental offices.
5. Cantons which have contracted to share the expenses of
surveys.
6. Military schools.
MISCELLANEOUS. 285
; Further details regarding the Federal Survey will be found
in the “Report upon the Third International Geographical
Congress at Venice, 1881,” by Captain G. M. Wheeler, published
by the United States War Department, 1885.
(2) Interior Economy.
For details regarding the interior economy of corps, discip-
line, and duties in quarters, &c., the reader is referred to the
“ Dienst-Reglement ” (Official) and Feiss’ “ Lehrbuch fiir die
Unteroffiziere der schweizerischen Infanterie,” 1889.
(j) Newspapers.
The “Bund,” published in Bern, is generally recognised as
the semi-official organ of the Government. The principal official
publications are the “ Bundesblatt” (“ Feuille Fédérale Suisse”),
which contains the laws and decisions of the Assembly, and the
“ Militir-Verordnungsblatt” (‘Feuille Militaire Fédérale”), in
which the orders of the Military Department are published.
The chief military journals are the “ Allgemeine Schweizerische
Militarzeitung” (weekly), the “Schweizerische Zeitschrift fiir
Artillerie und Genie,” and the “Revue Militaire Suisse” (both
monthly).
(k) Army Lists.
There is no single Army List containing the names of the
Officers of the Elite and Landwehr. The “Etat der Offiziere
der Stabe und der eidgenéssischen Truppenkérper” gives the
names of all federal officers serving with the staffs or troops,
including of course the field otticers of cantonal troops,
who are commissioned by the Confederation, and the members
of the Corps of Instruction; the officers “at the immediate
disposal of the Federal Council” are also detailed in this list,
which is published annually in April. With regard to cantonal
officers below the rank of Major, “ Militiir-Etats ” are published
by two or three of the Army Divisions, which include the
names of all Officers of the Elite and Landwehr within the
Divisional District; but in order to ascertain the numbers and
names of all the cantonal officers, it is necessary to consult the
lists published annually by the several cantons,
286 INDEX.
Adjutant-General .. ve “
Adjutants ..
Administration of War Material, " ‘Administrative Section
pA Technical Section ..
Administrative Ty oops
Schools ., eg ae is
Advanced Guards. é& i ee es oe
Allowances.. . <3 oe oe .
Ambulance, Vield.. * 7 as os ie
55 Mountain Be oa a :
Ammunition, Administration of.. ae a aye
33 Control of .. 3 as ae eis
3 Depét, Federal .. avs is ae
ie Factory .. are on eal
¥ Field gun .. ‘ st "
5 Guns of Position . as xe ore .
3 Magazines .. sa oe oe
35 Mountain gun ke
7 Proportion carried by Artillery of Position
3 * i Cavalry ..
ia i a Field Batteries Pe
- - 3 Infantry .. os
Pe 5 ‘s Mountain Batteries
3 5 ay Park Columns .,.
34 in Dane Parks ..
3 Provision per Rifle oe a
. Raw Material, Depot of a e ee
‘i Small Arm.. oe oe ee
9 Supply in the Field re te ict
Apothecaries Xe aie i avs as 23, 54,
Area of Switzerland is a ae ie ae
Armourers .. as is 5 Ar
Arms, Administration of. ais ao .
3, Controllers of or e
» Side.. Se 5
» Small, Description of oe
» Provision, Maintenance, and Inspection’ of
Army Corps sit ae ve
Army List .. .
Army, Normal and ‘Actual Strength of..
ee oe oe
on oe
Arsenals, Cantonal ie ate a ‘is =
Articles of War .. a5 ie ws ay ae
Artificer Companies ee . we +e
Artificers .. +.
Artillery (see separate branches) —
Arms and Ammunition .
Corps Equipment .. oe
Entrenching Tools .. .
Organisation .. . oe . i
Schools oe As ve De
Tactics. . ae oe os , ee
Landwehr .. ara be Be re a
2 8 ws, 388 Ee Ee os
PAGE
F 108, 230
91, 228, 233-4-5
1. 22,182,198
wee 23, 224
es 88, 1124
ee ae «185
ve ae O78
tee «166
; .. 85, 239
; ss 86
; 182, 199
1 we 200
tee «199
a es. |
See TD.
ve 215, 218
tae 200
. 220
74, 216, 218, 219
as 61, 62, 63
.. 65, 213
; 56, 58, 59
. ae 71, 220
. 67, 213, 214
. 80, 213, 214
209
225
oe 207
5 277
4, 87, 98, 153, 155, 297
116, 119, 138, 187
* . 182
ie = 187
wee 209
+. 206
.. «186
‘ 55
ee 285
wee 110
. 198
" 105, 118
Es 79, 1124
te we 45,79
a 211
$e 203
ee 65
64, 1124
129
273
65, 66
INDEX.
Artillery of Position ..
9 Zs Ammunition carried by ..
5 39 Division of .. a sa
a si Réle of .. ts oe
Assembly, Federal... i ies ae
Auditors .. “ ee a ws nie
Badge, Federal (Brassard) , ae ‘
» International .. oe ae
Bakers oe an a we +e ay
Bands ts an o oe ‘ ae
Barracks .. oe ae “8 ais ei
Battalion, Engineer ae . : 2
#¥ Infantry . . .
$5 Landsturm a8 :
55 Train .. a or By cl
Battery, Field te we fee ae ae
7 », Ammunition carried by .. .
ib » Entrenching tools carried by
» Mountain ae aa ER a
33 ey Ammunition carried by ..
Bayonet .. “i ve oe . vs
Bearers... a Sis ss a us
Billets . oe oe ve oe oe
Bridge Trains is ae a re “
Brigade, Infantry .. sis oe ‘3 ay
» Artillery... ae ais st oa
Budget .. “’.. . +e Pe
Bundesgericht .. 0. 0 ae eevee
Bundesrath.. fe ae oe ai oa
Butchers .. Be a a9 a we
Cadets oe as ai es is Pr
Camps oe . aie . hi oe
Canteens ..
Cantonal Military Authorities .. se o
» Troops .. oe ae ae o.
Cantonments ae ve ‘ os si
Carabiniers, Company of .. . oe 5
2) Battalion of .. oe oe oa
Carbines .. ee oe . ve ar
Carrier Pigeons .. ae ° 6 :
Cartridge, Smallarms .. 05. we
a8 Gun... a8 oa a ‘
Cavalry, Arms and Ammunition. . a ‘
» Corps Equipment oe oe oe
3 Depéts .. 4a x ox en
» Entrenching tools wy , ‘
3 Horse, Weight carried by a A
e Horses, Provision of ‘ ate te
3 Landwehr se 5 ne ee
si Organisation .. xs as a
» Lioneer Duties .. ss are a8
os Saddlery .. oe ao aia
» Schools .. ae ae s os
a3 Tactics ae te ae
Chaplains .. 0 its oe se a
Chefs d’arme a oe . = se
Chief Auditor .. 6 a ate ae
» Commissary of the Army.. ee se
» Veterinary Surgeon ste aie aa
ay rs le of the Army .. ae
Clothing, Administration of .. ‘ oe
5 Articles of, List of .. af a
Controllers of: .. 3% a se
”
eee Ee ee
er ee
287
PAGE
a ‘i 72,1124
its es 74
re ais <2 73
Pe ea we 276
mete a BLD
“e o 24, 92, 260
cow we BOL
nese. BOL
teas ve 88, 108
Ri ke el 2 BBD:
nee 176, 226
: