The Washington times., 1910-08-08
Troops Ordered Out by Pres
ident TO Assist the
Rangers.
FLAMES SWEEPING
OVER FIVE STATES
Millions Already Lost by COnfla-
grahOns Started by Campers
and Locomotive Sparks.

Billions Of dollars worth OF forests
are in danger, approximately S18.0oo.U0
worth Of properly already has been de-
strcyed, and for the first time since the
establishment of the forestry service.
the War Department has been appeal
ed tU TO order virtually every soldier
stationed in five States of the North
west 10 furnish aid 10 the forest rang
ers in combating the worst series Of
nres in history
The forest fires. IL was reported TO
the Agricultural Department today,
have been rapidly spreading The ex-
tent Of tie damage would have been
inestimable had not the War Depart
meut- upon official Instructions from
TIE President, responded 10 the appeal
for help.
Montana, oregon, Washington, idaho.
and CSlifoTuIa-
The locality worse hit than any
other is al CeOUr d'AIene, Mont,
furnace or trees, several millions OF
dollars worth of property is threat
enec- The loss reported from this
point mas gone into seven figures
Messages We're received from the
authorities at Ceour d'AIeue al noon
today that the force of forest rangers
at that place have been augmented
by several hundred regular soldiers
Efo are doing valiant work in assist
lnE the fight The entire force At
Ceour d'Alene IS something more than
SUI rangers and soldiers.
Troops Rushed To Aid.
OfhciaIs al the Forestry Bureau here
said today that regular troops have
been dispatched post haste TO the scenes
OF The nres from Forts Logan, Harrison
and NissouIa in Montana, the military
reservations at WaHa Waua. Washing
ton, and Fancouver, Washington, and
Fort Boise. in Idaho
Most or the troops regularly stationed
at these places have for several weeks
been in annual encam2meut al Ameri-
can Lake, Washington, and Fort D. A
Russell. WEUminE-
II was al first feared that II would be
difficult for them 10 be sent 10 the
scenes OF the rTes IN time To be Of as
siSJauce- sportation facilities, how
ever, were learned 90 be good. and the
War Department viii order troops from
The encamumeu1s II IL is found that the
fulfill expectations Of authorities and
ger the flames under control IA two or
three days
Most Destructive In History
Associate Forester Potter said today
that the fires now raging exceed even
the destructive conda Erations which
swept the same general localities in
1899 1909 and 1908 It was because
Of the seriousness Of the situation
that members of the Northwestern
Pine Manufactures Association and
the Western Forestry and C0nserva-
tiOn Association decided TO call upon
President Taft by direct telegram
President Taft took UP the mat
ter with the War Department. which
immediately acted in conjunction with
the department Of Agriculture. with the
result JlGc The Forest Service today
was authorized TO call upon post com
uanders al all regular srriv POSTS
Presidents Order.
After several exchanges OF tele=ranss.
President Taft wired the Acting Sec-e-
tary Of War as follows.
You may direct the commanding. Of
hcgUs OF posts. Upon application to them
70 lend every assistance possible it, the
auDpressiCL OF forest fires"
Reports received here say that at least
l75.G35 acres OF forests already have
been destroyed and the flames are
spreading rapidly The forest RANGERS
have fought vaiantIv against the ad-
EanClDE walls OF fame. but have been
unable 90 check them
More than 800 men are now engaged
IN the Gre-hgutIGg lu various sections
They have worked in shifts as far as
possible out in many Instances where
~elIleIneIliS or towns were endangered
fueE have naftIcd -ou<tauffe- for t1f-fF-
six or tcrtE-eichJ hours without rest
The aid n the soldiers VIII relieve the
forest rangers and IL IS hoped may re-
SUIT IN prey IentlnE much greater destruc-
ton
The season has been Extraordinarily
CRY ana the forests burn Ike tiuder-