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.
