CO129-427 - Public Offices - 1915 — Page 243

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The greater part of the population affected is probably

without food and with little chance of getting any for

some days. To increase the distress a great fire broke

out in the city on the evening of the 13th instant and

burned all that night and the following day.

life and property will be enormous.

The loss of

The Concessions on Shameen are under water to a

depth of some four or five feet and the ground floor of

nearly every house is completely flooded. The Consular

houses, which are among the oldest on the Concession, have

suffered to a greater extent than others. A part of the

Constable's quarters has already fallen.

The front of

the Consul-General's house has sunk and threatens to

collapse at any moment and there are serious cracks in the

Vice-Consul's house. None of these buildings are safe and

have had to be evacuated.

Thanks to the strenuous

efforts of my staff, who were working for three days up

to their waists in water, the archives and records of the

office have been placed out of reach of the water and will

be safe, provided that the office builling does not

collapse.

I shall report to His Majesty's Office of Works in

due course as to the condition of the Government buildings.

Yesterday