192 THE ALGERIAN FOREST CODE 



ART. 127. In the forest regions, the native rural population, 

 and in general all right holders, shall be compelled, during the 

 period July i to November i, under pain of the penalties set 

 forth in Art. 136, to act as watchmen, which duties shall be 

 regulated by decree from the Governor General of Algeria. 



This watch duty shall be obligatory for the right holders and, 

 if there are insufficient, for all able-bodied men residing in the 

 communes or section of communes bordering the forests. They 

 shall not necessarily be paid. 



ART. 128. During the period of watch duty the Governor 

 General can have detachments, commanded by officers and sub- 

 alterns, sent into the forests to co-operate with the Waters and 

 Forests officers, in carrying out such measures as are legally 

 undertaken against fires. 



The officers and subalterns thus delegated shall be placed 

 under the local administrative authority, and invested with 

 legal police powers which the constabulary possess. The regu- 

 lation of this force shall be applicated to them, in their relations 

 with the official and civil authorities. 



ART. 129. Any European or native requested to help in 

 putting out a fire, who has refused his services without legiti- 

 mate reasons, shall be liable to the penalties carried by Art. 136. 



As concerns the native population, the request shall be con- 

 sidered as having been made legitimately, when it has been 

 addressed to the headman (sheik, adjutant, hudsman (or), 

 ouakhaf) by any officer of the civil authority or by a Waters 

 and Forests officer, or employee, or even by a specially sworn 

 guard- war den. 



The right holders shall besides be punished by the suspension 

 of their rights for a period of three months and a maximum of 

 five years; sentence shall be pronounced by the justice of the 

 peace. 



ART. 130. In all territory, either civil or military, inde- 

 pendent of the sentence passed on individuals incurred by the 

 originators or accomplices of crimes, delinquencies or offences 

 relative to forest fires, the tribes, douars, or divisions can be 

 fined collectively in the following manner and conditions: 



