SENTINELS OF THE FOREST 



CONTRIBUTED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS 



THE branches of the trees bordering the Route 

 Nationale interlaced overhead forming a long vista 

 of restful green. Beyond, on the brown hills and 

 the green, scattered among the fields of yellow mustard 

 and waving grain, the fruit trees hung low in profusion 



THIS WAS FRANCE IN PEACE 



of pink and white blossom. 

 Under foot the daisies riot- 

 ed and forget-me-nots and 

 clover brushed each other. 

 The cattle browsed on the 

 hills and the little stone 

 houses stood neat among 

 their kitchen gardens. It 

 was France at peace. A 

 sharp turn in the road and 

 the scene changed. Gaunt, 

 broken, burnt stalks of 

 trees stood ghastly sentinel 

 along the Route, stumps of 

 fruit trees dotted the fields, 

 seared and shell-torn, across 

 the road an old peasant 

 woman, bent with age 



gathered fagots to warm the cellar where she lived, be- 

 neath the wreck of her home. It was France at war. 

 German devastation had sacrificed sixty-two per cent of 

 her fire- wood and ten per cent of her lumber, to say 

 nothing of her orchards. 



Notwithstanding the heavy demands that came to it 

 from every side, the American Red Cross, realizing the 

 supreme value of "just trees" donated $10,000 in support 

 of the scheme of the Touring Club of France for re- 

 planting the woodlands and orchards of northern France. 

 Early in 19 19, ten thousand live trees were shipped from 

 America to the devastated regions. 



In America, the Red Cross is not concerning itself 

 with the conservation of trees. It is satisfied that the 



AND THIS IS FRANCE IX WAR 



government has a well-organized scheme already work- 

 ing, backed up by such large, national organizations as 

 the American Forestry Association, and strong forestry 

 departments in the various States ; but it has its eye on 

 the man who looks after the trees, the forest fire guard. 

 That sturdy pioneer, who puts himself beyond what is 

 called civilization to stand sentinel for civilization, the 

 man whose lonely vigil stands between a city and a flood 

 of flame — is anything too much to do for a watcher who 

 warns of such a disaster as the forest fires which swept 

 the Superior Lake district last year? — and fights it, often 

 at the risk of life. The Red Cross spent thousands of 

 dollars to succor the victims of that catastrophe and it 

 will work with the men who prevent disasters that we 

 never hear about. It will continue relief in the out-of- 

 the-way places that it has discovered in the course of 

 its Home Service work with the families of the military 

 men. It has taken comfort, cheer, health and even life 

 to the tiny cottages in deep canons, and to the beacon 

 towers on the mountain tops. It has established itself 

 in districts, ninety per cent of which are not covered by 

 any other relief organization. It likes these big, 



free places and it likes the 

 people, and wants to grow 

 up with them, as their 

 families grow, and become 

 a composite part of the 

 home. To continue its 

 work for humanity, the 

 Red Cross must have the 

 united support of the 

 American people. With 

 this end in view, it is hold- 

 ing the third annual 

 Christmas Roll Call. It 

 is hoped and expected that 

 last year's wonderful rec- 

 ord of those who affixed 

 their signatures to the Red 

 Cross roster will be broken. 



SYSTEMATIC- 



DESTRUCTION BY GERMANY OF THE FRUIT 

 ORCHARDS OF FRANCE 



1480 



