AMERICAN CONSULATE
 
      Southampton December 2, 1940
 
      Monday: 11.30 a.m.
 
      The American Consul General, London.
 
      Bombing of Southampton night of
 
      Dec. 1/2
 
      
 
 
Sir:
 
      We thought we would have a rest last night and that Southampton 
      was sufficiently down to please even Hitler, but we have gone 
      through the same thing as the night before. I would say that 
      the town is completely finished as far as any business or commerce 
      is concerned. The remaining large department store, which had 
      enormous stocks of foodstuffs and general supplies (Edwin Jones 
      & Co.) is completely burned to the ground; there is no newspaper 
      here; Rank's Flour Mil, apparently the last building on the docks 
      of any importance, was destroyed last night; there is hardly 
      a shop left on the High Street. Strange to say, the electric 
      power plant is still standing, although it makes a wonderful 
      target.
 
      
 
 
My residence had two more high explosives fall within a dozen 
      feet of the building and the largest crater I have ever seen 
      is just across the street and every house to the corner has been 
      destroyed. I mention this merely as an example. I understand 
      that fire engines even came from London and Wells to fight the 
      fieriest. I have been putting out incendiaries most of the night.
 
      
 
 
All the staff is safe. There is still no telephone service.
 
      I am still unable to give any figures of casualties and I doubt 
      there is any authority that knows. On my, way down I saw them 
      taking bodies out of a shelter that got a direct hit.
 
      
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
      (Signed) G. K. Donald 
 
      Consul General
 
      Copied ET Embassy,
 
      London, December 6. 1940
 
      MOS