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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

George R. Gordon, Tonnage Committee, Allied Maritime Transport Council, to Philip A. S. Franklin, Chairman of the Shipping Control Committee, New York

Chronological Copy.                         File No. <42-2-4>

               Cablegram Sent Oct 18, 1918   Y-13

To   Discom New York                   Serial No. SM 670

Prep. by  C-3            Curtis SX D.R.

                                       Clear

Shipmission No. 670 For Franklin from Gordon. In Belgian Relief statement for the month of September showing the periods of time occupied by steamers on voyage from Rotterdam to American ports and periods spent in port while loading we find that steamer DICTO was at Baltimore 16 days, GOGSJO at Philadelphia 15 days, GOTALAND at New York 15 days and GOTHLAND at New York 17 days. As we are doing our utmost on this side to accomplish Belgian Relief turnaround in not to exceed 65 days will you kindly advise me whether the delay in the American ports was due to the fact that cargo did not reach the seaboard or whether it is due to some other reason which is not clear on this side. I would like very much to have this information as I have been maintaining the position that this trade should operate almost as smoothly as in peace times and we do not seem to be accomplishing that standard as time spent in American port seems, from this distance, to be excessive. Stevens, Rublee1 114018 SM 670

Sims               

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: Raymond B. Stevens, Vice-Chairman, United States Shipping Board and United States Representative, Allied Maritime Transport Council, and George Rublee, United States Representative, Allied Maritime Transport Council.

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