SWISS READINESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20032, 2 September 1939, Page 13

SWISS READINESS

FRONTIER FORTIFICATIONS ROADS AND BRIDGES LONDON, Aug. 8. The reorganisation of Swiss national d'jfence, Ibegan three years ago, is now -’h-r'o-t .eemiolrto II mean 1 ! Iho increase 'and fresh distribution, of forces, the modernisation of armaments, the development of the Air Force and cf anti-a'rcral't defence, the .'building of fortifications along the f'cdiiers, the lengthening of the periods'df military instruction, and the reorganisation, of auxiliary services. All out the last object have now been achieved. Switzerland has during the past three years spent £46,000,000 on the reorganisation of national defence, and a further £6,000,000 will 'be necessary for the current and following year' —a very heavy .burden for a small country. Army of 500,000 Men With a 'pcipulati'cw of 4,000,000, Switzerland can now put an army of about 500,000 men in the field. According to the new laiw which came into force at the ,beginning of July, every Swiss citizen is liable to military service from the age of 18 to 60, and the initial period of instruction is now four months instead of three. In an emergency, while the various Army units .were (being mobilised in m, p :« Pinpointed nlaces, the frontiers would ibe occupied .by troops formed of men residing in the districts concerned who could Ibe at their fighting posts in or behind the fortifications within, a:: hour. The two bases of the fortified system are the powerful mountain forts cif the .St. Gothard and of St. Maurice. A new lme of concrete forts armed with modern, machine-guns and heavy artillery extends all along the borders, and a second line is being erected some distance (behind, these two miniature “'Maginot” lines being permanently manned toy a volunteer force of about 5000. Guns Cover Roads All the roads leading into Switzerland are defended by vertical rails dipped in concrete ■ beds and covered by machine-guns. All the bridges, railroads and roads are mined, and from any foil on the frontier all the mines can be blown up simultaneously from Basle to Siangan's. The auxiliary services, which were formed 40 years ago, are being reorganised, and are expected to reach a total of about 500,000 men and women, enough to meet the needs of th ( e j A.R.P., police, transport, Red Cross, | public and other services.