The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-16
DEWEY FILES
BOUNTY CLAIMS
Growing Out Of the Famous Naval Battle
at Manila Bay.
FIRST ONE TO Be ENTERED
COntrOVerted Questions Of Fact and Lax
Are llqOlVed.
WILL FURNISH A PRECEDENT
Secretary of the Navy, After Consulting
Attorney General, Has Referred
the Matter So That 1t May
Receive Investigation
WILL FURNISH A PRECEDENT

Washington, July 15.-Admiral George
Dewey today filed in the court of claims,
through his attorney. his claims for naval
bounty, growing out of the battle at Ma
Mia Bay. May l. 1898. This is the first of
this class of claims filed in this court, and
it is anticipated that there will be between
four and five of them altogether. Many OF
these claims were originally filed before
the navy department under the provisions
of section 1888 of the revised statutes for
sinking or otherwise destroying vessels be-
longing to Spain, on various dates during
the period from April q, when active naval
operations against that country were en-
tered upon until the suspension of hostili-
ties upon the signing of the protocol Au-
gust ~, 1898.
Questions Involved
These claims involve controverted ques-
lions of fact and law. the decision OF which
will affect a number of cases and will fur
nlsh a precedent for the future action of
the navy department in the adjustment OF
this class OF cases. The secretary of the
navy after consultation with the attorney
general and with his approval, has re-
ferred to the court of claims a number of
those claims in order that the matters in
volved may receive judicial consideration.
The claims referred to the court of claims
are the following:
United States battleship New York, Span
ish fleet, Santiago. Cuba, July 8, 1898.
United States ship Concord, Manila Bay,
May l. 1898.
United States steamship Manning, Span
ish fleet, Santiago, Cuba. July 8, 1898.
United States torpedo boat Ericsson, sur
render Spanish fleet, Santiago, Cuba, July
4, 1893.
United States steamship Yale, surrender
Santiago, Cuba, July 16, 1898
United States battleship Massachusetts,,
prize money and bounty for sinking Reina
Mercedes, Santiago, evening July 4, 1885,
United States steamship McCulloch, Man
lila Bay, May 1, 1898.
United States battleship Texas, Almi-
rante Oquendo, Infanta Maria Teresa,
Vizcaya Crstobal Colon, Pluton, Furor,
Rena Mercedes, July and A, 1898.
United States battleship Texas. vessels
taken by the arrangements of capitulation
of Santiago and eastern province of Cuba.
United States steamship Hist for sinking
of Estrella, disabling gunboat Cuba Espana
and torpedo boat Delgado; sinking of sloop
with soldiers, burning armed vessel all in
engagement against superior force, harbor
Manzanillo, Cuba, July 30, 1898
Claims to BE Referred
The secretary of the navy is given au-
thority to refer these claims to the court
of claims for decision under the provisions
of section ? of the act of March 8, 1883 en-
titled IAN act to afford assistance and re-
lief to congress and the executive depart
ments in the investigation of claims and
demands against the government"
The purpose of the reference of the
claims is to get a judicial determination by
the court of the rights of all the parties
interested.