FOREST FIRE.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, 22 August 1923, Page 5

FOREST FIRE.

IN SOUTH OF FRANCE. , TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION. (A. and N.Z. Cable).. PARIS, Aug. 21. The Riveria forest fire has now ravaged an area of 60 miles between Brignoles and Qojnnes. The flames are still unhated, all that remains of the magnificient forest of Mauves is a mass of cinders. The flames reached a secret place in the Mauves Mountains where French army ce serters and German prisoners who escaped from prison camps have lived for the past few years. They had to flee for their lives. Five forests besides Mauves were completely destroyed. Draguignam, 'which was filled with visitors was only saved by the heroic efforts of the Senegalese troops who were rushed to the spot and cut down miles of forest to cheek the flames.

TWO THOUSAND HOMELESS ‘ (A. and N.Z. Cable). PARIS, Aug. 21.

The forest of. Esterel presents a tragic scene. It is a charred ruin, painfull to those who have known its loveliness. About eighteen miles of its length was ablaze and when the fire was at its height troops and firemen were imported and acres were laid bare. The little town of Mandelieu is practically in ruins and over two thousand‘people are homeless. It is remarkable that there were only four or five deaths. A woman and two children who were driven by the flames from a villa perished among the burning timber only a few yards from a road which would have led to safety. Boats from the naval and air station at Toulon carried many English and American visitors to safety. '