TALE OF A CITY 24 Reading the report, the General Commander of the British forces in the Gulf instructed the Political Agent in Bahrain, Lt-Col. Percy Gordon Loch, to go to Sharjah on 14 December 1932 to check on the situation in Sharjah. The following day 15 December 1932, he instructed that all necessary arrangements be made to straighten out the matters relating to the construction of the Sharjah Station. Earlier on 14 December 1932, Mr Welsh, Commander of the military group, had arrived from Bahrain on board of an amphibious vehicle which had landed in the Sharjah creek. As Lt-Col. Loch arrived, both Eissa Abdullatif and Welsh were to receive him, and he was taken to the house of the former. A few minutes later, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr al-Qasimi arrived at Eissa’s house to meet Lt-Col. Loch. After a short exchange of compliments, Sheikh Sultan accompanied Loch to the Sharjah Fort. Together with their entourage, they went on foot across the Saqr Suq from its northern gate to the southern gate, then to the Sharjah Fort. Afterwards, they headed for the Sharjah Station construction site where they had lunch and walked about inspecting the site. On the eve of 14 December 1932, Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr sent a short message to Mr Loch requesting to meet him. Mr Humaid bin Kamil was also present at that meeting. During the meeting Sheikh Sultan seemed pleased with the work done so far, but also requested to see the detailed work reports, especially that he was putting a lot of money, and he was unaware how it had been spent. He also said that a great deal of money had been wasted in the past to no avail. Loch said it was too late in the evening to do so but he would request from Natha Singh, supervisor of the construction, to show him the accounts, sinceCaptainMackay was away inBasra receivingmedical treatment. After checking all the accounts and related details himself, Mr Loch returned to Bahrain by his amphibious vehicle on 15 December 1932. 7 At 11.00 A.M. on 15 December 1932, HMS Hawkins, arrived at Sharjah. On board was the General Commander of the British forces together with a sizeable number of British navy officers in the Gulf. 7 Ibid., L.P.&S/12/1965,No.C/235/1932.
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