Archives

22nd April, 1918
Messrs Worms & Co. - Newcastle-on-Tyne

Dear Sirs,
We thank you for your favours of Saturday.
"Peter Maerks" ss. We are much obliged by what you write in your favour of the 19th inst. received this morning. On the information you give us we might possibly cavil at the way in which the accounts are made up, but the sums asked in the aggregate compare favourably with others, and therefore if nothing has been paid at Rouen we shall settle on the basis claimed.
Man power bill. We are afraid that to prove ourselves as Ship Managers would be insufficient to protect essential members of our respective staffs, and have been pressing Paris to substantiate therefore through the French Authorities our claim to be working extensively for them. If such status be obtained through the good offices of Messrs Burness, who Paris have instructed herein, we think we could manage the rest ourselves. Unfortunately time presses, and nothing can be done on the other side in what little is available. Such protection is specially needed here in consequence of the large number of boats which we have to handle for the Chargeurs réunis Cie, which need incessant vigilance by those trained to the work, as even their stores have to be seen to by us, in the face of quiet obstruction from those aboard; moreover, owing to the steadily increasing shipments direct and indirect made here by the British Admiralty in everything the claims of the vessels under our care have to be persistently advocated by a responsible hand. Unfortunately for us, the Writer's Deputy is menaced in the near future, and it is for him alone that we are at the moment specially concerned. One cannot be in several places at once, and those in the bost of health are not always sure of maintaining it, hence the undersigned is much worried.
Yours very truly,

G. W. M.