to equip the fighting forces. The transport and communications 
      systems were rapidly expanded but not quickly enough to meet 
      the demands as they grew. In any event, however, output at the 
      plant's referred to became from the outset of the war onwards 
      more and more common dependent upon the maintenance and growth 
      of these systems. As long as there was no bombing, the expansion 
      of transport and communications facilities served to meet requirements 
      in a fairly satisfactory manner but as soon as bombing commenced, 
      it became apparent that they were, in the very nature of things, 
      particularly vulnerable.
 
      
 
 
Already tendency in the direction of locating replacement 
      plant outside the Birmingham area has been noted. But it is recognized 
      that general and early decentralization of the area's tremendously 
      important war industries is entirely out of the question. Accordingly, 
      it would seem to be certain that if the Germans continue regularly 
      and indiscriminately to bomb the area, they will succeed in preventing 
      its output from rising above the low level to which it has already 
      been reduced by bombing. On the other hand, however, the centralization 
      of the industries referred to will constitute an enormous advantage 
      if the Germans should for any reason stop bombing the area.
 
      
 
 
In conclusion, just a few words about the recuperative powers 
      of this area's transport and communications services.
 
      
 
 
There are already distinct signs that these powers will begin 
      rapidly to wane if the necessity for exercising them as they 
      have been exercised during the last few weeks persists for an 
      extended period. Shortages of materials and equipment are even 
      now holding up repair and replacements. There are just so many 
      men available for cable and road construction work and their 
      number is extremely difficult to augment. That a week of bombing 
      followed by a week of freedom therefrom will offer no problem 
      is merely an idle boast, for it has been demonstrated by experience 
      that what is undone by bombing in the transport an %d communications 
      fields in a week takes much longer than that to repair.
 
      
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
      James R. Wilkinson
 
      American Consul