AMERICAN CONSULATE 
 
      Birmingham, December 5, 1940.
 
 
      Walter H. McKinney. Esquire.
 
      American Consul.
 
      London, W.I.
 
 
      Dear. Mr. McKinney:
 
      Britain's war effort is being much hampered as a result of breakdowns 
      and dislocations in the transport and communications services 
      in the Birmingham area.
 
      While it if true that, generally speaking, particular but not 
      small difficulties may be quickly remedied, these so frequently 
      arise that their over-all effect is probably more untoward than 
      is the over-all effect of the fewer difficulties that take, if 
      often seems, an inordinate length of time to ove %rcome.
 
      
 
 
The explosion of a small bomb on or near a main railway line 
      leading into this thickly settled and highly industrialized zone 
      causes damage which can be repaired in a few hours, but before 
      the elapse of that much time, the schedules or many thousands 
      of work and business people have been upset and consequent dislocations 
      and confusion occasioned in many hundreds of enterprises directly 
      or indirectly helping the country in its war effort. An example 
      may assist to a better understanding of the manner in which relatively 
      insignificant damage can disrupt a great city's plans for the 
      day.
 
      
 
 
A very small high explosive bomb fell at the edge cf the rails 
      between Birmingham and Warwick. The track was made impassable, 
      but the damage was repaired before evening. However, the morning 
      train between Leamington and Birmingham were much delayed, and 
      several thousand people who daily travel over this line to the 
      latter place from outlying residential districts and safe area, 
      arrived at their accustomed destinations from one to four hours 
      late. The trouble was not all-attributable directly to the bomb 
      referred to. Upon reaching Birmingham, travelers found that mid-morning 
      trams and buses could not even begin successfully to cope with 
      the situation. Hence a vast majority of those who could not reach 
      their places of employment by walking had simply to wait either 
      until some motorist gave them a lift or until a seat or standing 
      room became available on a public vehicle operating upon lull 
      schedule.
 
      
 
 
To the man in the street, why it should take so long for more 
      serious damage to be remedied passes all comprehension.
 
      About two weeks ago a large bomb exploded in the middle of a 
      thoroughfare in a residential section off Birmingham.