May 15, 1947 #16 Val A. Browning 79 quai Coronmeuse Liege, Belgium Subject: Dear Ocean Shipping and Insurance Val, Note that Doug sent you a copy of his letter of May 9th referring to damages we have had in past shipments and the eventful trip of SS Mont Clair which left Antwerp March 28th with 2700 euns, went aground twice, finally arriving May lith. Am sending on to you complete copies of 1) my telegram to Doug in reply to his letter, 2) his telegraphic reply, 3) my letter to Doug May 14th. The important thoughts relating to this episode are to me, emergencies of keeping we not We have not but we do instantly the this closer track States. be for have upon It lack will Would very to large shipments, a shipment really transoceanic had mind service? future thirdly, should soaked procedure that one for us they to may figure be determinedin appreciate participate. I will to our the in be suggestion not repeat the transit, followed shipments customs your with the exact of dealing in an information much for these in as have desirability remain insofar we the of years getting procedure second, better well angles able of sort, in many not wet. surance of My of investigate become will first, has and the United as to in-~ how various FN angles the proble we will m be up against in the event of a wet shipment. letter to Doug is as complete on this subject as I can be. Regarding the matter of following dates of departure and arrival, it would seem to me highly desirable, since FN gives us shipping dates with reasonable care, that we determine, if possible, the length of the average voyage and then be careful to check immediately when there is delayed arrival. In this case we did not start check- ing soon enough; we dition of our guns, put on freight opportunity to cars make were did not get any helpful information on the consequently, the boat docked and the guns and any started to St. Louis before valuation of a possibly bad other words, we tion and intelligently. act so late we lost our chances to we had the situation. obtain conwere | In informa| Am praying that the assumption is correct that this shipment has not received extensive water damage. When the praying period is over and there are some facts, we will of course inform you immediately. Might add that there are not very good grounds for this assumption because experience in the past has indicated that dock inspectors on this side are extremely careless about picking up damaged crates, I do not believe we have much evidence that there is inspection.