Show Switzerland Best Prepared o of Nervous Neutrals By JAMES JAl THRASHER NEA XEA Service Staff Correspondent Of Europe's four nervous neutrals Switzerland is the least jittery least vulnerable able and best prepared Politically as L Last a S t l well as geoa geo eo graphically c a II 11 y Of Four Switzerland is Ji sitting on top Articles Arf of th the e wo world ld Nature which gave her the theA A Alps for a mighty fortress also omitted to give her rich fields and raw materials materials materials ma ma- and seacoast to tempt a predatory neighbor That is probably why Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland Switzer Switzer- land hasn't had a serious fight on her hands in mote more than years Off and on from the treaty of Westphalia in 1648 to the outbreak of hostilities in 1939 the great European powers powers powers pow- pow ers have specifically recognized Switzerland's neutrality Has JIas Tough Citizenry Every European leader knows that this little landlocked country country country coun coun- try has not only the toughest terrain but also perhaps the toughest citizenry on the continent con con- Next August the Swiss will celebrate the anniversary anniversary anniversary sary of their fre free democratic confederacy They have a fierce love for this freedom and this democracy They have always kept peace among themselves though there are four official languages and two official religions in m a country country country coun coun- try of only square miles If their domestic tranquility is threatened they are prepared to defend it the hard way Every Swiss knows t that hat h a t while his country's neutrality is s recognized recognized recognized in this war it isn't guaranteed guar guar- Switzerland's manhood is one great company of militia On August 28 1941 the federal assembly assembly assembly as as- seeing the inevitable course of events issued the general general general gen gen- eral mobilization n order Two days later the assembly elected Colonel Henri general of the army there is no peacetime peacetime peacetime peace peace- time general And on September Septem Septem- ber 2 the day days after England declared war trained fully equipped Swiss soldiers were at their prearranged posts of duty Since Switzerland's population is only a proportionate army in in the United States would total more than men This organizational feat was possible largely because soldiering soldiering soldiering soldier soldier- ing rivals yodeling as the Swiss national pastime William Tell wasn't the country's only crack shot Switzerland had its first shooting festival lin in 1348 A hundred hun hun- hundred hundred dred years later they traded cross-bows cross for firearms and they've been holding these festivals festivals festivals fes fes- fes- fes regularly ever since A Swiss boy preps for the army the way American youngsters youngsters youngsters young young- play sandlot or high school football with ambitious eyes on Sh Channel AND GERM p i iN W N rr Vichy o 4 Sp on Se rey Though surrounded by potential Invaders Invaders rland Switzerland and feels more se secure secure secure se- se I cure than other European neutrals thanks thank to the Alps her mighty natural fortifications fortification the college varsity He begins gymnastics in the third grade of school and rifle drill starts drill starts in his early teens At 20 he is called up for army training and there are few things more heartbreaking heartbreaking heartbreaking heart heart- breaking to him than a tion Training and inspection go on yearly until he is 48 Every Swiss soldier is allowed to take his gun his uniform and an and rounds of ammunition home with him at the end of maneuvers maneu maneu- vers The right of a free man manis manis manis is treasured and respected and there is no trouble Army Cut Down Doun The Swiss standing army has been cut in half since the fall of France but the country remains remains remains re re- re- re mains alert The small air force is growing Ski troops keep fit and active Antiaircraft and antitank guns are manned Switzerland doesn't contemplate a strategic retreat to the Alps if attack comes The relatively level northern boundaries are both mined and manned But if the Swiss are belligerent ent at any threat of their liberty liberty liberty lib lib- erty they view the conflict outside outside outside out out- side their borders without passion passion passion pas pas- sion or partisanship Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland Switzer Switzer- land is not only the birthplace of the International Red Cross It has served and stands ready to serve again as a haven for forthe forthe forthe the wounded of all armies It is isa isa isa a clearing house for exchange of prisoners The warring world not only respects Switzerland but needs her G |