Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-11-16
BOUNTY FOR DEWEf'S MEN.
Total Amount Asked rs $500, 500
Almiiral's Share, $1O,1Ol.

ANuilrlPS snare, SlO, lO4.
Washington, Nov. l5.-Gn behalf of
Admiral Dewey and his officers and
men Washington attorneys have asked
the court OF claims to find that the
amount of bounty money due them is
$685.. 500. The decision of the. court
will establish Il precedent which will
affect the amount OF bounty TO be dis
tributed among the officers and men
of the North Atlantic fleet, which de-
stroycd the squadron of ADMIRAL Ger
vera. If the finding of the court is i'll
accordance with the request the adj
miral's share OF the bounty will be
$19,194.
Attorneys base their case upon the
claim that the defeated Spanish force
was superior to the American squad
ron. 1t is not contended that the en-
emy's fleet was superior, but that,
taking into consideration the guns at
Corrcgidor, lei Frailc and other forts
at the entrance of the bay and those at
Manila and Cavite. which fired upon
the American ships continuously, the
cnemy's force was superior. Land bat
terics comprised sevcnty-siN guns,
ranging i'm caliber from BOG inches to
9.45 inches, and their weight OF fire is
computed at $3.50 pounds. The en-
emy's vessels were also supported by
mines and torpedoes i'm the entrance to
Manila bay and the bay itself, and
some of these, the brief states, eN-
ploded during the action.
The total number of men on the
Spanish fleet is given at 1913, but no
claim for bounty is made on account
IF Al. ,,,1, t,.,I, rod
comparatively uninjured, or of the
Don Juan de Austria, the lsla de Cuba
and the lsla de Luzon, which We're
raised after sinking and are now in
the United States navy. The compile
ment of the three latter vessels is 49l,
but that number must be doubled to
reach the actual number OH board,
making 9S2, and to this must be added
the complement of the Manila, total
of l,O59. Dcdlcting this from the to-
tai of 1878 leaves 1914 as the number
on board the destroyed vessels.
comparison of the American gun
force entirely aboard ship with the
Spanish forces, partly afiont and part
ly ashore, cannot be made, gun for
gun, unless it be accepted that Il gui,
is equally efficient on vessel as ON
land. In making a comparative sum
mary of American and Spanish guns.
SO per cent. should be added to The
number of shore guns, the attorneys
contend. The result is favorable to
the Spanish side, except in the guns
from 6-pounders down, where there is
slight superiority on the American
side. The weight of gun fire OF the
Spaniards was nearly double that OF
the American forces, the amount OF
metal thrown in one round by the
American ships being $500 pounds
against 1906 by the enemy.
ut must be conceded" the briel
states, "that the entrance of tht
American fleet under Admiral Dewey
through channel mined with tor
pedoes, and it's maneuvers in the bay
where unseen dangers threatened cv
cry moment, required the highest de
gree of personal gallantry and hero
ism. These are not to be disregarde(
in constituting this statute.
SIT is argued that mines should b'
counted as part of the Spaniards
effective force. If mines are to bt
counted in MS part of the force o
vessels they are aiding" the brie
says, 1--WE can conceive of no reason
ing that will exclude shore batterie
II