ART. 103. The Confederation encourages all associations and, in general, all efforts toward the bodily development of its young men from the time of their leaving school until incorporated in the army.

A physical examination takes place at the time of enlistment.

The Confederation imposes restrictions upon the preparatory physical instruction. It organizes the schools for monitors.

ART. 104. The Confederation similarly grants subsidies to associations and, in general, for all attempts having as object the military instruction of its young men before the age of military service. The Confederation sees that instruction in firing is made of primary importance, and gratuitously furnishes arms, ammunition, and equipment. The Federal Council fixes the necessary regulations.

As now in operation, the preliminary military training is conducted in two forms: (a) Compulsory "preparatory gymnastics" given in public schools as a part of official programs, and (b) voluntary drill and rifle shooting given outside the school, in cadet corps organized in accordance with article 104 of the act of 1907.

Preparatory gymnastics.-Regular attendance at the classes of preparatory gymnastics is obligatory for boys during the entire legal school age; children can be excused from taking this instruction only by special permit of the war department. This subject is taught by specially trained instructors, and is given a minimum of two hours per week in every school year.

The course is divided into three parts comprising, respectively, the ages: (1) From the entrance to and including 9 years of age, (2) from 10 to 12 years, and (3) from 13 years to the end of the school period. In the first part instruction consists mainly of games and free exercises. The last two parts embody the regulations of "physical training schools for preparatory military instruction" for which special manuals have been prepared by the Federal authorities.

A detailed program of the instruction comprised in each part of the course is given in Appendix II.

Voluntary cadet corps.-The voluntary cadet corps are organized in three groups, according to the kind of training pursued; there are corps for drill with arms, without arms, and for target practice. The Federal Government encourages the establishment of new corps and the development of those existing by an untiring activity in the form of circulars to teachers, prizes and subsidies to students, issue of rifles and ammunition, etc. As the ultimate aim of this work is to attract every boy to some sort of preparatory military training, special emphasis is placed on the complete representation of every school in the enrollment; for this purpose the cooperation of the teachers is solicited by the Federal Government.

Instruction in the cadet corps is given by army officers. Members of each corps wear distinctive uniforms. For target practice the Federal Government furnishes light rifles and ammunition. To en

courage this practice a prize of 5 francs is given to each cadet who comes up to a certain standard of proficiency in marksmanship.

The growth of the cadet corps since the enactment of the military law of 1907 has been steady, and the interest of the boys in this work is such that practically every Swiss school boy is enrolled in some voluntary cadet corps.

The establishment of the "Cours des jeunes tireurs," corps specially devoted to target practice, was at once attended with great success. The enrollment in these corps in 1910 was 1,141; in 1912 it increased to 2.397.

The drill corps have likewise made considerable progress. From a membership of 10,950 in 1908 they increased during the four years ending with 1912 to 12,821 drilling with arms and 8,744 drilling without arms, or a total of 21,565.

SWEDEN.1

Compulsory military training was introduced into Swedish schools about 50 years ago, in connection with the rifle-volunteer movement which at that time began to make progress. About 10 years ago the military exercises were altered to rifle practice, i. e., the training concentrated more upon shooting than upon ordinary military drill. Rifle practice is not given in elementary schools, excepting those in Stockholm. It is compulsory, however, in all public secondary schools (die deutschen Gymnasien), the age limits of training being 15 to 18. In Sweden there are only a few private secondary schools, and in some but not all of these instruction in rifle practice is given. Moreover, it is given in technical schools of secondary type and in training schools for teachers. Military training forms a part of the ordinary course of secondary education; consequently the Government appropriates a sum of 50,000 Swedish crowns annually to supply rifles, ammunition, ranges, etc.

The boys devote 60 hours yearly to rifle practice, the time being distributed over the first 15 week days of every school year during the last four years of the course (i. e., from 15 to 18 years of age, inclusive). Four hours each day on these prescribed days are spent in military exercises, the remainder of the day being occupied with ordinary school work.

Instruction is given by special instructors appointed by the secretary of state for war. In general, they are the teachers of gymnastics of the respective schools. These instructors are in most cases

1 A. B. Wood: The Military Training of Youth in Schools. A report, based on official information, read before the Section of Educational Science of the British Association, at Manchester, Sept. 9, 1915.

men on the active-service list. A Swedish authority considers that the training has produced an undisputed beneficial effect on the boys, and has made them well fitted for their subsequent military training in the Swedish Army.

NORWAY.

Military training in the form of what might be called professional drill is not given in Norwegian schools. Although rifle practice is not compulsory, it is promoted by voluntary courses and is extremely popular with the youth of Norway. It is also encouraged in the schools by large Government grants.

ITALY.1

In Italy, outside of the special military schools, military training as such is given only in what are called "national colleges." These institutions are controlled and subsidized by the Government. In scope they correspond to the gymnasia, but are all boarding schools; the students wear uniforms and are under discipline all the time. Twice or three times a week they are obliged to attend military drills comprising exercises with and without arms and rifle shooting. As regards other schools, no military training is prescribed, but various military and semimilitary clubs have numerous followers among the school boys. The most popular of these are the Ricreatori, organizations arranging Sunday recreations in the form of gymnastic exercises, marches, drills, etc. Members of these organizations wear uniforms and usually have a brass band accompanying them in public exhibitions.

RUSSIA.

Military drill is given as an optional subject under the name of gymnastics in all primary and secondary schools for boys. The instruction consists of marches and various military formations, setting-up exercises, and some elements of physical training. The training is given by army officers or noncommissioned officers. Most secondary schools have their own brass bands. All students of public schools wear distinctive uniforms of military pattern, which, however, have no relation to military education.

An attempt to introduce gun practice in the gymnasia was made in 1915, according to press advices, but no recent official reports confirm this information.

1 Statement by Baron Pietro Arone di Valentino, first secretary of the Italian Embassy, Washington, D. C.

NETHERLANDS.

The work of military training of school youths is carried on in Holland entirely outside the schools by societies specially organized for this purpose. The most popular form of this activity is that of summer camps. The camps are organized for schoolboys over 15 years of age and are of 14 days' duration. This time is devoted by the boys entirely to physical and military exercises, swimming, and games. Target shooting and field-service drill are regularly practiced in the camps. The authorities provide for this purpose, without cost, instructors and physicians, as well as arms, ammunition, tents, blankets, and all other supplies that may be required.

Summer camp societies occasionally make arrangements for the boys in the summer camps for long excursions, either walking or bicycling.

Two organizations similar to Boy Scouts have recently developed in Netherlands. They are "Padvinders" (pathfinders) and "De Jonge Verkenners."

GREECE.1

Military gymnastics and rifle shooting have been recently much encouraged in the secondary schools of Greece. In 1911 rifle practice was prescribed for the students of gymnasia, institutions with a four-year course, corresponding to the American high schools. Instruction in shooting is given twice a week. Every year intercollegiate matches in target shooting are held in the larger cities. These matches are known as othpia (salvation), commemorating the failure of an attack upon the life of the late King. In Athens, where such contests are attended with much festivity, the King personally distributes the trophies.

Other annual games take place in various centers at Easter. In these games teams of pupils representing different primary schools compete in physical exercises and military movements. The best teams are awarded diplomas or trophies.

Physical training is given in all primary schools, and comprises, as a rule, simple military drill.

The Boy Scout movement is also rapidly gaining in popularity among schoolboys in Greece; it must be observed, however, that Greek Boy Scouts have strictly military organization, and the work done by them is in the nature of true military training.

1 Statement by M. A. Vouros, Greek chargé d'affaires ad interim, Washington, D. C.

JAPAN.

Military training has a firm position in the Japanese school system, owing partly to the tradition assigning to military arts a prominent function in the education of boys, and partly to the modern development of military power in the nation.

In public schools military instruction is given in connection with gymnastics, but by separate teachers, mostly retired officers and noncommissioned officers.

Gymnastics and military instruction are taught in every school, the time allotted to these subjects varying from three to six hours per week.

The extent of military instruction in the several kinds of schools is shown in the following excerpts from official programs:

Elementary schools.-Military drill is obligatory for boys above 5 years of age. In the higher section of the course the drill consists of individual and section exercises.

Middle schools.-Military gymnastics is given throughout the course. It consists of horizontal-bar, shelf, wooden-horse, and parallel-bar exercises. Military drill consists of individual, section, and company drills, blank firing, and mimic fighting. Fencing and jiujitsu are optional.

In higher schools, special colleges, and technical schools of all grades gymnastics, including military drill, still forms an important part of the curriculum. In medical colleges military drill is practiced in the first year only.

MEXICO.1

Military training has been practiced in Mexican schools for over 25 years. As early as 1889 a national congress of teachers adopted a recommendation to State governments urging the introduction of military training in every school in the country. This recommenda tion was later acted upon by the legislative powers of the several States, with the result that military instruction was introduced in every Mexican school where competent instructors could be secured. A recent decree issued by First Chief Carranza gave added sanction and new stimulus to this work.

The regulations generally adopted provide as follows:

In elementary schools military training commences with the third grade, at the average age of 10 years. Regular classes are held twice a week, half an hour each; once every week there is drill in larger bodies, for which students of several schools are brought together.

In the third grade the training consists of free exercises and simple drill in individual movements. In the fourth grade pupils

1 Statement by Prof. Gregorio Torres Quintero, chief of the department of education, State of Yucatan, Mexico.