“He just said what I told you and nothing more,” said Bob.
“I will go over to headquarters and see what I can find out,” said Bill as he walked away.
“Where’s Captain Smith?” asked Bill as he entered the Adjutant’s office.
“He left for Corps Area Headquarters a few minutes ago,” replied the Adjutant. “He gave instructions just before he left to hold your planes on the ground until he returned.”
“What’s it all about?” asked Bill.
“I don’t know anything more than you do,” replied Maxwell.
Bill returned to the planes and gave instructions for the pilots to shut off their engines. There was nothing more to do but wait until Captain Smith returned. The officers sat around and each gave his version as to why they were held on the ground. Finally, after a wait of about three-quarters of an hour, Smith returned in a motorcycle side car and went into his office. Bill hurried over to the office to get such information as he could.
“Take a look at this,” said Smith as Bill came in.
He handed Bill a telegram to read.
“Salem, Oregon.
“Request airplanes for use in detecting and preventing forest fires stop Over two hundred fires now burning in northwestern part of state stop More breaking out all the time stop Smoke pall so bad that regular lookouts can not see through stop Unless help is secured I am afraid that most of timber in state will be burned stop
Olcott,
Governor.”