CAB80-20 — Page 164

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Electricity, Light and Power.

90. Damage to water and other engineering works has immobilised the Tower Bridge, which it is expected will be out of action for three or four days. The coal-gas plant at Rochester is out of operation indefinitely, but a full supply of coal-gas has been obtained from Gillingham and water-gas plant is operating. The pressure over the area of supply of the Gas Light and Coke Company, Limited, in London is now normal except in small isolated areas (reduced pressure here is due to presence of water in gas mains). The Willesden Generating Station of the London Power Company received a direct hit, but only a smaÏÏ amount of load was lost (14 hours) and production has recommenced.

Industry.

91. The general industrial damage during the week has been of a relatively slight character by comparison with previous weeks. The only cases worthy of special mention are:--

(a) Haughton Butcher and Company, Limited, Walthamstow.

Loss of 3-4 days' production.

Full production; the 7th October, 1940.

(b) Siemens Brothers, Limited, Woolwich.

Stoppage of assembly and cable manufacture for 2-3 days from the

6th October, 1940.

(c) L.E.P., Chiswick.

Serious fire during night 8th/9th October was extinguished on

the 9th October.

N.B.

These works have been hit on other occasions.

(d) Shell Mex and B.P., Limited, Purfleet.

Railways.

12 cisterns damaged (2 lost with 2,000 tons fuel oil, 10 lost only

50 per cent. of contents).

4 cisterns saved, containing 10,000 tons of gas oil.

An

92. The railway situation, particularly in London, has improved. unfortunate hit on the Southern Railway at Charing Cross on the 8th October has further embarrassed the situation there, and though the District (Under- ground) line was also affected, and the station put temporarily out of commission, the running tracks were restored and trains passing through the same evening.

Other Damage.

93. Civilian damage has once more been inflicted in almost every district of London. The Tower of London was damaged on the night of the 5th/6th. On the morning of the 8th a stick of bombs dropped between St. James's Park and Charing Cross, severely damaging the Paymaster-General's Office and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Damage was also caused to the Admiralty, War Office and Ministry of Transport.

94. In the rest of the country the South Coast towns between Worthing and Margate have been attacked persistently every day of the period except the 3rd, sometimes suffering two attacks in one day. Manchester and Liverpool have also suffered damage during the week, mainly to civilian property.

Among several hospitals which the enemy has hit, the most serious incident was at Shoreditch on the night of the 8th-9th, when, apart from considerable damage to the building, there were heavy casualties.

Civilian Casualties.

96. The approximate figures for week ending 0600 the 9th October are 711 killed and 1,767 wounded. These figures include 549 killed and 1,081 wounded in London.

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