| Show prepared by N national geographic cS society cletY washington ash glon D C U S service r c swiss border BEHIND troops which recently recently y mobilized for possible emergency is one of t the he worlds oldest republics in 1291 the first three of Switzer lands cantons or states joined in a defensive league against the house of hapsburg in view of the malice of the time they swore e to have no ruler other than their own and to maintain their independence by the their irown own armed strength later ot other er provinces were added until today the nation is made up of 22 largely autonomous cantons of Switzer lands p population 0 p u I 1 a t 1 0 n amounting to something over four millions more than 70 per cent speak german about 22 per cent speak french and the rest italian an and d other tongues the official languages lanan are these three plus a latin derivative added last year as a fourth state small but important surrounded by germany former austria france italy and the little principality of liechtenstein switzerland has a geographic position chat that is at once an asset and a liability traditionally a buffer state shu she is also an important trade link between powerful neighbors though she has no seaboard of her own either to defend or to use she controls mountain passes over which rides the commerce of some of the most populous regions of south and central europe nearly half of her domestic imports in 1938 came from neighboring countries some 34 per cent of her exports were sold in nearby near by markets A mountainous country with much unproductive land and few natural resources switzerland imports quantities of food as well as raw materials that keep her factories humming with a rather dense population in an area less than half the size of indiana she has become a highly industrialized nation only about one quarter of her working people are engaged in agriculture another 6 to 8 per cent are occupied in the tourist business while between 45 and 50 per cent are em visitors to switzerland find nd it interesting to visit frontier posts where they watch the file guaras guards on duty duly at both frontiers mong along the swiss frontier all roads and rail ways were mined last autumn by swiss authorities aloyed by industries many of which had their early beginnings in handicrafts carried on at home during the long winter ev evenings edings I 1 make quality products because of domestic lack of raw materials and fuel and the high cost of transport switzerland has specialized in quality products such articles as swiss watches chocolate cheese embroideries and toys are known around the world for in addition to europe switzerland has valuable commercial relations with the united states south america and the far east germany continues to hold the no I 1 position in swiss trade both as customer and vender although in 1938 1933 purchases of german goods declined considerably soviet russia was the only important trader who sold more to switzerland last year than during 1937 with a high average income and standard of living switzerland is one of Eu ropes richest countries her gold reserve is estimated at about millions for defense from now on however much more of the national income will be diverted to military preparedness according to recent news dispatches from the swiss capital one report sets proposed expenditures for defense and public works at more than perpetual neutrality was guaranteed switzerland in 1815 at the congress gressom of vienna by prussia austria france great britain portugal spain sweden and russia but the swiss army was maintained on a war basis all during the world war for defense switzerland has relied for centuries on a national militia based on compulsory universal service it has been estimated that switzerland today could raise an army of nearly men between the ages of 20 and 48 |
