72 TIMBER SUPPLIES AND RUSSIAN FORESTS 



commercial basis possible. And yet in recent years 

 her imports from Russia have increased rapidly, the 

 increase being greater in proportion than the increase 

 to Great Britain. And she has been importing from 

 elsewhere also. Why ? Was it because she really 

 required the materials, or is the reason to be found in 

 the fact that she has been deliberately storing up her 

 woods, undercutting in them, with a set purpose in 

 view. Did her wonderful organisation for the World 

 War and her deliberate intention to make it as fright- 

 ful as possible foresee the enormous damage that would 

 be done to towns and the enormous demand which 

 would exist for timber at the close of the war ? During 

 the war we know that she has been cutting down the 

 woods in the territory she has occupied and either 

 utilising the materials for trench construction or other 

 purposes or storing them up for the great demand she 

 expects at the peace ! We know how Belgium is 

 suffering in this respect. In a recent Foreign Office 

 Memorandum it was stated that in one month from 

 October 26 to November 25, 191 5, the Germans ex- 

 ported from Belgium into Germany by one route alone, 

 amongst other things, 340 tons of pit props cut from 

 promising young woods. 



To return to Russia. From Russia we imported 

 35 per cent, of our timber supplies in 1913. In 

 Russia the Allies have for the purpose here con- 

 sidered a source of supply which should fulfil the 

 objects required. Russia in Europe has an area of 

 447,500,000 acres of forests, Finland another 

 62,800,000 acres, and Siberia and Turkestan the 

 gigantic total of 853,000,000 acres more. Now much 



I 



