-2-
 
      
 
 
but has some broken windows and a building next to it was 
      completely destroyed as were many others in the neighborhood.
 
      
 
 
I spoke to the Southampton postmaster who said that he was 
      able still to get out some telegrams but he did not, know when 
      the telephone service which is completely dead, will be resumed. 
      Last night couriers had to be sent out by motor cycles to neighboring 
      towns for fire fighting assistance.(l) Fires were still burning 
      at 3 p.m. today although many of them had burnt themselves out; 
      it was an impossibility to fight all of them and only the most 
      important were tackled first.
 
      
 
 
The Civic center received further direct hits and the interior 
      is described as a mess. It will probably be evacuated.
 
      
 
 
All taxicabs in town were sent last night to the New Forest 
      for safety and no taxis were available today.
 
      
 
 
Almost all the sirens have been destroyed.
 
      
 
 
Time bombs are all over town and in front of my residence 
      there are three. Three large high explosives fell in the grounds 
      and missed the building by about ten feet, damaging it somewhat.
 
      
 
 
We were putting out incendiaries all through the raid. Everyone 
      who can is leaving town this afternoon and in fact since last 
      Saturday's raid hundreds of people drive out to the open country 
      and sleep in their cars.
 
      
 
 
The staff is all-safe.
 
      I have not been able to get even a reliable estimate of casualties, 
      but I feel they are heavy.
 
      Many parts of town are without water, gas or electricity but 
      the electric power plant has not yet been destroyed,
 
      Very truly yours,
 
      {Signed)
 
      G.K. Donald
 
      Consul General