Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-30
FORESTS DEAUDED
BY WARRINC nations
Devastation of Timber Lands
in Belgium and Northern
France Enormous
RUSSIA ALONE
ESCAPES RAVAGE

ring countries Of Europe is described
by Percival S. Ridsdale editor Of
American Forestry. Washington. D.
g.. He says Belgium, the major
portion Of which Is in possession OF
the Germans. had some forested land
which was. as il might we'll he term
ed. more of a. scenic than a com
mercial nature Advices indicate that
these forests have virtually been de-
stroyed. Much Of the timber was used
by the Germans for military purposes:
in the construction of trenches, in
road building in the erection of shell
tiers. barracks. etc. considerable was
used for fire wood. and IL has been
stated with what accuracy It is i'm
possible to say that timber not used
in this way OF needed in the military
zone has been shipped TO Germany
for home consumption, Most probably
this is so. Before the war Germany
imported large quantities of timber
from Russia and in the last few years
preceding the war these imports
greatly increased English writer's,
calling attention to this fact, insinuate
that the Germans knew the war was
coming and imported as much tim
her as possible in order to conserve
her own supplies and TO he able to
provide for the expected large demand
by the military in case Of war.
AS regards Belgium then, II would
not be at all surprising to learn. when
the war is over. that there remains on
Belgian soil no timber Of commercial
been wiped out, and that thousands OF
her roadside and street trees have
been used for fuel and for other pur-
poses by the Germans.
In northern France. on both sides
of the fighting front. great damage
has been done the forests. not only
hy the tremendous bombardments
which have marked the lighting
there, and by the hail Of bullets from
small arms which have swept forest
cd spaces, but by the trench builders.
the road engineers and others who
needed timber for construction work.
Thousands of now roads or passage
ways have been built for the rapid
transportation Of guns, munitions,
supplies and men to thousands of
points along both fronts. Many Of the
roads or passageways are Of the type
known as corduroy roads, the base
being made of tree trunks, overlaid
with branches. and these branches
overlaid with earth. These roads
alone necessitate the cutting of thous-
ands upon thousands of trees. In the
lining of trenches and the building
Of shelters there has been unceasing
demand for more and more timber
and when il has been on hand in the
shane of single trees. groups OF
trees. woodlands or forests. il is fair
to assume that II has been freely
used.
In addition. the destruction by shot
ard she'll has been tremendous. Trees
that have not been blown down OF
cut through or shattered have beer
so badly damaged that they will die
others, pitted with bullet holes OF
wounded by other shot, are now oper
10 disease or insect attack. as TO the
long stretches of forested lands where
there has been no fighting not much
is known. but the inference is that
owing to the unceasing military de-
mands for timber the annual cutting
is very much greater than II was II
times Of peace, and this means. doubt
less, that virtually all timber that has
matured has been cut and used, fol
France. like England. was in times o.
peace a large importer of timber, and
like England, her supply from Rus
STA. whence most Of it came, has beer
cut off since the war started.
There is no occasion for concern re
garding Russian forests, for the losse
due to warfare are infnitesimal whel
compared with her tremendous fores
resources. Then, too, even in the for
ests where there has been sever
fighting the damage done the trees /
hardly worthy Of note. because tn
forests are so dense and so extensive
Russia with her wonderful forests vii
have a glorious opportunity for an i'm
mense lumber business when the wa
is over, and II she can take advantag
Of It she will become the main sourc
Of timber supply for all the warrin
countries of Europe.
Virtually no advices have com
from Italy regarding any destruction
Of forests due to the war. nor ha
much been reported or written abou
Austyia's situation in this respect.
done great deal of cutting in cap
tured enemy territory. chiefly il
Poland and western Russia. and tina
she has conserved her own forest re
sources in the thoroughly eficien
and scientific manner in which sh,
has for so long managed her forests
but news of what she has or has no
done would doubtless be OF some mill
tary value TO enemies.
The effect of the war on the forest
o. the British Isles will likely be tn
utter destruction of most of them
The war has created imperative nee'
of lumber and at the same time ha
cut off England's main source o
supply as well as made prices TO
what can be imported almost prohibit
tive In time of peace England
timber imports were valued at abou
two hundred and fifteen million dol
lars a year and this figure give
some idea of the amount she ha
needed since the war started. So grea
Is her need, in fact, that already man,
of her home forests have been Gu
down. and as everything must b.
sacrificed 10 the war, II is altogethe
probable that trees on many estate
L