AMERICAN CONSULTE
 
      Southampton, England
 
      December 6, 1940.
 
      The American Consul General,
 
      London
 
      
 
 
I have just returned from a tour of both the old new docks 
      where I found the following damage.
 
      
 
 
Every shed but one on the new docks received direct hits but 
      the damage done was comparatively slight in most instances. These 
      sheds are fireproof; otherwise they would have been burned out 
      completely, it looked to me as if all the sheds could still be 
      used. The quay walls received very little debase, as to the flour 
      mill on the new docks which I am told is the largest in England 
      - the main building containing all the offices was entirely destroyed, 
      but the mill itself apparently escaped serious damage, although 
      the conveyer system for feeding wheat from the vessels to the 
      mill was partially demolished.
 
      The large King George V graving dock got a direct hit, but only 
      superficial damage was done which should be easily repairable. 
      Cadbury's warehouse received a direct hit end was seriously damaged. 
      Other buildings were, of course, damaged, and, as previously 
      reported, General Motors assembly plant was completely gutted.
 
      
 
 
The old docks are another story. Here there were numerous 
      old sheds made entirely of wood and very inflammable, and the 
      damage was very serious. It looked to me as if at least 50 per 
      cent of the sheds were either completely demolished or me badly 
      damaged as to be unusable. The sheds around the Empress Dock 
      were entirely destroyed. The big plant of Harland and Wolff on 
      the docks was not as badly damaged and I previously reported, 
      in fact, most of it seems intact. It seems useless to attempt 
      enumerating each particular part of the docks that was damaged. 
      The quay walls on the whole escaped damage. The sheds around 
      the Ocean Dock are of more recent construction and are fairly 
      useable.
 
      
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
      G.K. DONALD
 
      American Consul General