Page 221 - PERSIAN 8 1931_1940_Neat

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(Hi) IT. M. S. “ Duncan ” and (lie First Destroyer Flotilla, accompanied by
1lic Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf Division, in II. M. S. “ Sborebam ”,
arrived on the 7th October and left for Basrah on the 12th. The usual courtesies
wore exchanged and the visit was the occasion of a combined parade of Landing
Parties from the Flotilla and the Bahrain Armed Police. The salute was taken
by 11 is Fxcollency Shaikh Hamad bin ’Isa A1 Kalifah. The moral effect of the
visit of the Flotilla has boon excellent. The Arab population of the Persian
Gulf has noted our strength and information from a number of sources tends
to show that the visit of the Flotilla has resulted in British Shipping being
treated with more respect and less petty obstruction on the Persian Coast than
has been the case for some time.
(w) His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Squadron,
Vice-Admiral M. E. Dunbar-Nasmith, V.C., C.B., in II. M. S. “ Hawkins ”, paid
Bahrain a visit from the Gtli to 10th November.
M H. M. S. “ Colombo ” of the Fourth Cruiser Scpiadron was at Bahrain
from the 171 li to 21st December.
18. Royal stir Force.—(i) Flying Boats of No. 203 (F.B.) Squadron, Rovnl
Air Force, paid frequent, visits to Bahrain and Wapiti aeroplanes of No.*84-
Squadron. Koval Air Force, came on a number of occasions.
(a) A Rangoon Flying Boat made a forced landing at Ras al Bitty ah on
the 24th July and a Wapiti aeroplane sank through the surface of the Manamah
landing ground on the 20th July and broke a propeller. The machines left
without incident in both cases after repairs had been effected.
(««) In June the Political Agent returned in a Rangoon Flying Boat from
Sharjah after a tour of the Trucial Coast in H. M. S. 41 Fowey ”. On the 7th
August he again visited Sharjah by Flying Boat.
19. Aviation.—(i) Imperial Airways, Limited, have continued to use the
landing ground at Muharraq, as it was found that the Manamah landing ground
was too soft for heavy aeroplanes of the Hannibal type.
(ii) On the 31st March Imperial Airways’ cast bound aeroplane, Ilanno,
made a forced landing at Jubail owing to bad visibility. She was, however,
rendered assistance by the local people and arrived at Bahrain on the following
day.
(iii) The amount of mails, both to and from Bahrain, carried by air shows
a steady increase.
(iv) Mr. Maurice Wilson, a British aviator, landed, without permission, at
Muharraq in his Moth GABJC on the 31st May. As the Trucial Coast is not !
open to private fliers he was not allowed to leave Bahrain until he gave an under­
taking that lie would not proceed to Sharjah. He left to return to Basrah on
the following morning, but it was later heard that he had flown direct to Gwadur.
In justice to him it should be added that the strength of the wind against
him would have prevented his reaching Basrah.
. 20. British Interests.—(i) Mr. J. Russell of the Mesopotamia Persia Cor­
poration, Limited, held charge throughout the year. The Mesopotamia Persia
Corporation, Limited, are also agents in Bahrain for Imperial Airways, Limited.
(ii) Mr. D. Ilam held charge of the Eastern Bank, Limited, throughout the
year.
(Hi) Messrs. A. H. T. Chisholm, A. C. Sampson, A. F. 'Williamson and
R. H. Arnold of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited, passed through
Bahrain frequently on their way to Dohah in connection with oil negotiations
with the Shaikh of Qatar.
(iv) Major Frank Holmes resigned his appointment of Chief Local Re­
presentative,'The Bahrain Petroleum Company, Limited, and left for the United
Kingdom on the 21st September. Mr. E. A. Skinner, the Company’s Fields
Manager, is acting as Chief Local Representative.
21. Post Office.—(i) During the year three thousand nine hundred and
fifty-one registered letters were received and three thousand ono hundred and
thirty-four despatched as compared with three thousand nine hundred and seven
registered letters received and three thousand two hunderd and one despatched
during the previous year. Three thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight
parcels were received and two hundred and thirty-four despatched and stamps
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