WHY THEY WOULDN’T SHOOT
A correspondent sends to the “Manchester Guardian” this story, evidently from an ironical Swiss paper. A few soldiers belonging to the brass band of a regiment in garrison at Basle went to a certain café for refreshments. One of them sat down alone at a table. Later a civilian, a German, joined him, and the two began to talk war politics.
“Would you shoot the Germans if they invaded Switzerland?” asked the German.
“Oh, no, never!” exclaimed the soldier.
“Waiter, a pint of beer and a beefsteak with potatoes for this brave man,” ordered the civilian. “And your pals sitting at the next table—would they also not shoot the Germans if they tried to invade this country?”
“Oh, no, never!” retorted the Swiss.
“Waiter, a glass of beer for each of the soldiers at the next table!” ordered the civilian. And, addressing again the soldier, he asked: “Is this generally the view held in the Swiss army in regard to a possible German invasion? Are all the Swiss soldiers so Germanophil?”
“I don’t know,” replied the soldier.
“But why would you not shoot the Germans?”
“Because we belong to the band!”