1296

SWITZERLAND

The following table shows the strength of the Swiss troops (Auszug and Landwehr) in 1912.

Troops

Auszug or Elite

Landwehr

-

Total

Staffs

1,233

Infantry : Auszug, 106 battalions .

96,186

}

147,160

,, Landwehr, 37 battalions

—

50,974

Cavalry : Auszug, 36 squadrons and 4 maxim

detachments ....

5,569

\ 1

9,926

,, Landwehr, 36 squadrons

4,357

Artillery: Auszug, 78 field and mountain "\

batteries

26,394

,, ,, 10 i)osition companies .

]

,, ,, 16 fortress companies

1

35,800

(partly Landwehr)

j

,, Landwehr, 15 position companies "|

,, ,, Parks and ammunition >•

9,406

columns )

Engineers : Auszug, altogether 28 companies

.5,875

)

7,406

, , Landwehr, altogether 24 companies

1,531

/

Medical and other subsidiary services .

9,196

3,301 69,569

12,497

Total

143,220

214,022

The Swiss infantry are armed Avith the Swiss repeating rifle. The field artillery has now been completely rearmed with a Q.F. shielded gun, 7*5 cm. calibre. The 'position' artillery has batteries of 8 '4 and 12 cm. guns.

The total expenditure on the army now amounts to not less than 43 million francs (1,720,000Z, ) yearly, a sum relatively large, being nearly one- third of the total Federal budget. A sum of 220,OOOZ. was granted in 1910 for the fortifications of the St. Gothard Pass and St. Maurice.

Production and Industry.

The soil of the country is very equally divided among the population, it being estimated that there are nearly 300,000 peasant proprietors, representing | a population of about 2,000,000.

Of the total area 28 "4 per cent, is unproductive ; of the productive area 35 "8 per cent, is under grass and meadows. 29 per cent, under forest, 18 '7 per cent, under fruit, 16 '4 per cent, under cropb and gardens. Rye, oats, and potatoes are the chief crops, but the bulk of food crops consumed in the country is imported. The area and yield of the principal crops for 3 years were as follows : —

Area

! Yield

1909

910

1911

Acres

i 1909

1910 Cwts.

1911

Acres

Acres

Cvvts. 1

Cwts.

Wheat

105,963

104,728

104,642

1,910,789 1

1,475,893

1,887,608

Barley

12,844

12,844

12,800.'

202,689 ■

169,2.36

194,424

Oats .

80,769

80,522

80,631

1 1,578,221 1

1,239,750

1,385,371

Rye . .

60,268

60,021

59,907

997,703 j

806,821

913,717

Maize

3,211

3,211

3,285

62,971 1

47,229

60,610

Vines

63,412

59,870

58,539

8,989,9681 '

1

5,358,815 1

18,804,9401

1 Gallons of wine.