COPY
H.M.S. AUSONIA,
H.M. Dockyard,
Chatham,
Kent.
10th November, 1948.
37
Dear Chandler,
Your letter V.5102/48 of 3rd November, 1948.
As far as I can remember no naval stocks of flour, sugar and rice were held, and our siege requirements were to be obtained from Colony's resources.
By the war plans the Victualling Store Officer was to have some 20 lorries to collect full supplies during the first ten days, and stow the whole lot under his control at pre-arranged points, suitably dispersed. When the time came we were never able to spare more than four lorries for this purpose, and those only for the first three days or so. In view of the large number of Chinese to be fed the highest priority was given to rice, and very little flour or sugar was actually collected. Your figure of 400 bags would seem to be about correct.
After this initial stock had been drawn, no more was taken. The Army set up a baking organisation in Lane Crawford's Bakery, and right up to the surrender we were able to draw bread from them. This fact, coupled with the extreme shortage of lorries towards the end, makes me certain of this.
I very much regret that I can offer no opinion on the last paragraph. I undoubtedly saw the flour, but cannot remember how it was packed.
Yours sincerely,
C. B
(Sgd.) 7:
HICKMAN
F.S. Chandler, Esq.,
Director of Victualling Department, Branch 8,
Queen Anne's Mansions,
London, S.W.1.
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