Archives

1st December 1914
MM. Worms & C° Paris

Dear Sirs,
We beg to confirm our letter of yesterday, and are in due receipt your favor of the 28th ultimo, which came to hand this morning. We confirm telephonic conversations of last evening and this morning.
Situation. The weather is very squally with a high wind from the S.S.W, which makes the chance of floating "Trefusis" SS less hopefull.
The arrivals of tonnage are few, and many of those that have put in an appearance, instead of loading as counted upon, have to enter dry dock to the inconvenience of all concerned, thus the freight market is firmer, especially for prompt tonnage, and the coal market is weak. Everybody recognizes that there will be a rush of tonnage ere long, and many colliery people, acting on this belief, will only sell for prompt delivery.
With regard to this district in comparison with others, you must please keep well in mind that endless difficulties are caused the commercial shippers by the domination of everything  in the interests of the British Naval coaling operations, and it's not, therefore, altogether fair to draw comparisons, as you have been lately doing, between what we can do for you, and what other Houses elsewhere find possible. Shipowners know perfectly well that, if by any chance, their tonnage is essential it would be requisitioned without mercy by the Admiralty, regardless of what commercial engagements they had to carry out, they further know that every day's bad weather is increasing the risk of requisitioning, is it to be wondered, therefore, that very fight shy of Cardiff loading?
Possibly, also, you have not heard how requisitioned tonnage has been thrown up by the British Admiralty, or compelled to charter on low rates for a further period at places all over the world, ranging from Hong Kong to South America, and more would have been heard of this discontent, were not the English people as a whole so eager to promote the country's interests in the Titanic struggle in which the Allies are engaged.
Port Said. "Trephusis" SS. We cannot say anything about this boat, beyond the fact that she is still intact.
"Roxburgh" SS. Nixons hope to finish this steamer this afternoon, seeing that their Admiralty tonnage has failed to arrive.
"Paddington" SS still lies watting a tip.
"Den of Kelly". Even if sold, about which no decision can be known by us until this afternoon, will probably carry out, her charter, seeing that owners are trying to arrange the delivery of her being put off until next voyage.
Chartering. Most people who had tonnage for this port, it now appears, were holding it for 21/-; MM. Ropners induced their owners to accept 20/-, as we advised you in the postscript of our yesterday's letter, they further obtained for us the Prince Liner "Stuart Prince" SS of about 4.800 tons cargo, ready the 10th. inst. with the 18th. canceling, whole freight to be paid here on production of certificate of delivery, thus we escaPE the obligation of making an advance, and having 140 hours, we have a reasonable chance of sailing her according to your convenience, as we tried to explain to you yesterday afternoon. We enclose you copies of charter, but the telephonic advice spared the necessity of telegraphing you.
Later in the evening MM. Moxeys fixed the "Heronspool" SS also at 20/-. Other owners were quick to recognize the different state of the market brought about by these fixtures, and MM. Corys were on the point of closing the "Hartland" SS of 7.000 tons, ready the 7th. inst. at the same money but altered their minds, although we hear from brokers this morning that they still hope to place her with them, if not at 20/ at some slight reduction. "Kilcattan" SS, .which MM. Burness spoke to you about had been trying for 21/- on this market, but when most of the orders were gone came on at 19/6, and we recommended MM. Burness to offer her to MM. Charles Barrie & Sons, as a possible substitute for their "Den of Kelly" SS.
We told you this morning that we had temporarily gone out of the market, and shall maintain this attitude until further instructions reach us. Please remember that any boat to be got away before Christmas should not be ready later than the 14th/l5th inst., and that it would be very risky to agree the short hours which most owners now ask.
Marseilles. We are moving Heaven and Earth to get a prompt steamer. We mentioned to you yesterday afternoon the "Vega" SS of 4.000 tons, which brokers said might be ready the 10th. inst., but they insisted on the 20th. cancelling with short hours. Our experience with this line has not been a happy one and therefore failing definite news as to her position we contented ourselves with inviting fuller particulars and an offer at 161/2 fcs, owners want 17 fcs at least, and possibly only mention that as a stepping stone, as many now do, for still higher rates. If we have to get two cargoes away before Christmas we cannot afford to take tonnage in indefinite positions, and with this you quite agreed. We have several prompt boats in view, but for the moment everybody seems more disposed to treat for such places as Port Said, Alexandria, etc.
Small coals. We have done the best we can to assure quantities in advance, but do not find colliery people very pliable.
Algiers. This order has also every possible attention.
Havre. The more we labour to prove our superiority to many other shippers the greater our brokers deduce is the necessity of making further shipments. The information which we are able to give this morning of the safe arrival of the "Amiral Sallandrouze de Lamornaix" SS and the return of the Cardiff Pilot which she carried on to Havre, plus the fact that the "Duke of Cornwall" SS is at this port discharging and leaving again Thursday, will do more for us than any amount of special pleading. All the same ship-owners are letting, Northern French ports just now severely alone. The Protective Clubs have privately circulated instructions to their members to avoid raising any questions with, seamen just now, and such questions are certain to arise if ship-owners send their steamers to this port, and others in the vicinity.
Even the Admiralty collier transports have trouble with their crews at present, despite the bonuses, this reacts on the other who get none.
A 1.300 tons boat ready here Thursday, and owned in Glasgow, intimated ever the telephone to the local brokers that at 11/- business was practically certain, and seeing the scarcity of others, we fixed her subject to prompt confirmation, only to find at 6.40 p.m. that she was fixed from the North East Coast. "Duchess of Cornwall" ready Thursdav/Friday,
might, according to local agents, take 11/6, but you rightly considered it was useless entering into such negotiation which they would only turn against us, so we have declined to treat, save with a definite offer from them in hand on a reasonable basis.
Bordeaux. "Mayo" SS. we hope will be loaded on Thursday morning and we note "Cockerill" SS has to be loaded as follows:
N°l hold. 964. with Gas Coal,
N°2 hold 1.148 with Transat Larges,
N°3 hold 797 with Tillery and Abersychan Larges,
N°4 hold 570 with Tillery and Abersychan Smalls,
We are hoping to secure offers of Gas Coals by 3 p.m., when you will be speaking to us, and we note she has to be kept all her lay hours.
As Nuts are being shipped into "Mayo" SS, none will be needed by "Cockerill" SS.
Compagnie générale transatlantique. You may remember they complained once at Algiers of some Lockets Large, perhaps such objection is deeper than may be justified or known to you.
Chargeurs réunis. "Amiral Sallandrouze de Lamornaix" SS. The Pilot safely returned here last night, and we have utilised the Agent's letter, and your telegram received this morning in many advisable quarters, to show all had none better than had been feared with her.
"Ango" SS. We want telegram advising definite sailing from Bordeaux.
"Bougainville" SS. To wait further advice.
"Amiral Olry" SS. In accordance with your telephonic advice, we showed MM. Cory s the sailing telegram, for which they were greatly obliged, and as she loads at Newport they will see to their Custom House business, etc.
Coaling. Herewith copy of letter received from owners of "Groeswen" SS: the matter is now in order on the basis of same and Marseilles have instructions to supply whatever is required for the Atlantic voyage.
We now wait to learn what you wish us to say to MM. Tatem[...re] deliveries at Port Said end December and middle of January.
Yours truly,

[Signature illisible]

PS. The "Hartland" SS of 7.000 tons has been fixed by MM. Corys at 19/6, and "Kilchattan" SS according to MM. Burness, stands for 19/9, which MM. Barrie are considering.
Some little excitement has arisen, owing to MM. Ropners having been called to bock by the local Admiralty Agents for chartering yesterday without their sanction: some of the prompt boats may even be requisitioned it seemed by them, but ours (the "Stuart Prince" SS) is safe, for she is hardly the orthodox Admiralty collier, that we saw to when chartering her.
Nothing definite yet for Havre, but we are expecting to hear something shortly from Truro, anent the "Duchess of Cornwall" SS for Havre.