FO371-24688 — Page 163

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Dol

From: G.0.9. Hong Kong.

Το

The War Office.

Page 163

MURET CIPHER

3703 | 177 | 10

TELEGRAM

360 B

S3 CR1 T.

083/5979.

repeated 2, in C. China Station.

7651 cipher 5/8.

Desp. 1938.5.8.40. Recd.1600.5.8.40.

$ 878

13546 in xey-

Further to my 7404 of July 13th not repeated C. in C.

Awatoa sailed today from Manila for Australia carrying 960 Army officers

and men's wives and children. British Army medical officers went to

Manila to superintend cabarkation and arrangemen s of voyage to tropics reported ship only suitable for 800 pe sons and refused to take responsibility for more than that numbe. I had been informed Commodore Hong Kong that only number should be embarked as recommended by Army doctors on advice of civilian shipping experts sent from Hong Kong. Commodore ordered ship to sail with 960 on board without reference to me although he had been informed by Consul General at Nanila that there was room to take those excluled

by arny doctors in ship sailing two days later.

C.4. (Telegrans)

7/8

To:- 4.2. (for action)

Copics to:- Q.H.G.

0.44.0. & 7. D.D.1.0. (0) 1.0.1.2.2a, 2b. M.I.2. 2c.

D. of A.

D. G. A. M. S.

(0) 4.2.

D. of Mov.

4(H)1.2.2c. 3.

D. U.S. 7.5. (C)

3.1.2.4.

C.M.G..

.M.G.F. Shipping.

Var Registry (Admiralty)4.

Col. Offive (Mr. Poynton)

Foreign Office (Mr. Sterndale-Bennett) Dominions Office (Mr. Dixon.)

D. of S.T. Min. of Shipping. Air Ministry (Mr. C.J. Kirk) Admiralty (Mr. G. Dunn).

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