"ملف 8/16 تقارير استخباراتية بشأن البحرين" [و‎‎٨‎٣] (٤٣٢/١٦٥)

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(ii) Mr. G.N. Jackson, -Assistant Political Agent, Bahrain,
left on the 28th December 1941 for Ir*q An short leave.
(iii) Dr. S.M. Siddiq, M.A., Ph.D., Indian Assistant,
Bahrain, left on the 23th December 1941 for India on short leave
143* Local Affairs
(i) On the 18th December, tha new bridge on the Muharraq-
Manivaa causeway was opened by His Highness Shaikh Sir Hamad bin
•Isa al Khalifah, K.C.I.K., C.3.I., Ruler of Bahrain, with
appropriate ceremony. Tolls on cars and buses are being
levied, but there is a certain amount of discontent amongst the
travelling public owing to the consequent ris* in bus fares.
(ii) On the 16th December a Blenheim bomber made a forced
landing in Qatar within a few hundred yards of the Shaikh of
Tatar 1 s hunt ing camp. ?Jone of the occupants \?ere injured
although the plane was a total lias. Fortunately Mr. Packer,
Manager, Petroleum Concessions Limited, happened to be with the
Shaikh at the moment and the crew was safely conveyed to the
Company* s camp at Dukhan by him, whence they came to Bahrain.
The Shaikh mounted a guard over the remains of the plane until
such time as a salvage party had finished their work. The
Political Agent has addressed a letter of thanks fcn behalf of
the Royal Air Force authorities to Shaikh Abdullah and sent a
present of fis 50/- for the guard.
(iii) Japanese operations in the Far East are now holding
the attention of the public but it is generally considered
that their successes will be short lived.
(iv) In order to keep down the prices of foodstuffs in
Bahrain, the State Authorities have arranged with Messrs.
Dhexaanmel Issardas, one of the biggest wholesale dealers
in Bahrain, to open retail shops in Manama and Muharraq.
The firm have agreed to sell foodstuffs to the public at
actual controlled prices and it is hoped that this will frus
trate the attempts of other dealers to make undue profits
out of the public.
(v) On Christmas morning it was reported that Major H.T*
Fewitt, Defexnce Officer, Bahrain, had broken his leg as a
result of an accident. He is now under treatment in the Av/ali
Hospital and progressing favourably. Current duties are
being carried out by Captain H. Goddard, R.A.
144. Meteorological
Maximum temperature ... 77.3° on the 19th December
Minimum temperature ... 54.8° on the 22nd December
Humidity exceeded 70% throughout the fortnight,
the maximum being 96% on the 18th December.
Rainfall .06 M on the 24th December.
vSd. R. G. Alban .
Political Agent, Bahrain