The Swiss Soldier.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 November 1913, Page 4

The Swiss Soldier.

IMPRESSIONS OF CANADIAN VISITORS. The Swiss manoeuvres of the Second Army Division were interesting this year from the fact that they were attended by no fewer than twenty-four Canadian officers of rank, in charge of the Hon. Samuel Hughes, Canadian Ministei of Militia. General Sir lan Hamilton and General Ellison also attended. All were in mufti, and followed the manoeuvres in eight motor cars brought from London. The impressions which the manoeuvres made upon the Canadian Minister of Militia and his twenty-four otlicers was highly favourable. In speakng to me recently (says Ihe special correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette), both Mr Hughes and LieutenantColonel Watson agreed that they were greatly struck with the spirit of discipline in the Swiss army, and, above all, with the ijuiet manner in which orders were is,io .»ui)uoi|s Auu inoi[)]A\ 'p.ms bawling, , troops and mountain artillery being moved from one point to another without the least possible fuss or bustle. The new travelling kitchens whirli have not long been adopted by the Swiss army, also received very favourable comment, as did the manner which the men carried their knapsacks, the weight, of which, by the way, is shortly to lie .somewhat reduced. The Canadian olficers were also much impressed with the readiness and with the intelligence of the average Swiss soldier Tuul in particular- which does not at all surprise me —with the beautiful and excellently-groomed and trained horses of the cavalry. Yet another fact which made a deep impression upon the Canadian officers were (he cleanliness and neatness of the Sv.'iss soldiers and the exceed"ing practicality of I heir uniforms, which the lion. Samuel Hughes said he thought were as nearly perfect as could be. Mr Hughes was not surprised when I told him that the Swiss marksmen were hist at the International rifle shooting match just concluded in Ohio. "Yes," he said, "1 remember reading an article about ihe Swiss niarkmanship, which appeared in the Pall MalfGazette of February lasv. year. The article which was reprinted* in Canadian papers, excited a great deatl of interest, especially as we are very anxious to remove the prejudice which exists in some quarters against Sunday rifle practice."

Mr Hughes asked me particularly whether Sunday rifle shooiing was customary in Protestant Switzerland as, of course, it is. I may here add that out of iln , seventeen international rilleshooting matches in which Swiss teams have taken par! (from I8i)7 to the present year), Swiss shots have been victorious in pixieeii cases, in two instances having scored more than 5000 points. None of these international rille matches have ever been held in lh I'nifd States, although in I!!!):! the place chosen was South A merica -Buenos Ayres. Twice have they la ken place at The Hague, and -twice at Lyons, but never in (ireut Britain. *maman cctoth enwamaur-jaa