Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-15
Answer in Sampson Libel
Has Been Filed.
THE NEW YORK in ACTION
This Will Reduce the Amount of the
Money to be Paid to Each of the
Officers and Sailors That Were On
the Fleet.

New York. Jan ia special to the
Herald from Washington says: "And the
attorney general AYERS that all the here
lnaboVe named vessels Of the king OF
spain were sunk or destroyed on or about
July 3, 1898, by the libellant (Rear Ad-
miral Sampson) and the vessels under his
command"
This Is an extract from the answer lust
filed by Attorney General Griggs to the
libel filed in the supreme court of the
District of Columbia by Admiral Samp-
son on his own behalf Inc also in behalf
OF his officers and enlisted force of the
north tlantic station, who took part in
the Santiago naval engagement against
the 1nfanta, Maria Teresa and miscellane-
Gus stores and supplies captured upon her
and other Spanish warships.
1t forecasts the purpose Of the Depart
ment Of Justice to support the contention
that the armored cruiser New York &C.
tually participated in the battle with
Cervera's fieetand that her addition to the
force made it superior to the Spanish
squadron.
Should 1t be decided by the court of
claims that the American force at San
tlago was the equal or superior to the
command Of Admiral Cervera the Amer
lean officers n men will be entitled to
bounty amounting to 500 for each officer
and man on board the Spanish fleet. II
the American force was inferior to the
Spanish squadron then a bounty of 5000
for each officer and man on the destroyed
vessels will be allowed.
1t is expected that the court of claims
and the district supreme court will deter
mine the question Of whether the New
York took part in the battle and by it's
decision an end will be put to the contro-
versy which has been agitating the navy
and country since the battle occurred.
According to the brief submitted by the
attorneys for the libellants, Admiral
Sampson "is informed and believes that
the said naval force Of the king Of Spain,
supported as aforesaid Thy the Spanish
Land batteries) was of equal or superior
strength to the naval vessels of the Unit
ed States"
The libellant's brief further asserts that
the New York was included in the fleet.
While the attorney general in his reply
makes no statement relative to the AM
erican force actually engaged in the bat
tie with Cervera's fleet he denies that
the said naval force of the king of Spain,
supported by any land batteries to the
fire of which the said vessels of the Unit
ed States navy We're exposed during the
said engagement, was of force equal or
superior to the force of the vessels Of the
United States navy"
The attorney general further asserts
that all of the Spanish vessels were sunk
or destroyed 80 that neither of the said
vessels of the said king Of Spain, nor any
naval stores, supplies or other property
upon the same could become the subject
Of condemnation of prize to the libeliant
and the officers n crews of the vessels
under his command"
After the destruction Of the Spanish
vessels the United States raised the In
fanta Maria Teresa and the property
taken from other vessels. The property
or the proceeds from it's sale. he declares.
is now in the possession of the govern
ment and for that reason no part Of it
has been or ear be sent in for adjudica-
ton to any court. He therefore prays
that the libel be dismissed.