Private Law 75–257

That the claim of

Union Shipping and Trading Company, Ltd.

Claim of, submitted to District Court.

the Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, against the United States of America for damages alleged to have been caused by a collision on April 25, 1918, near Pauillac, in the Gironde River, France, between the Spanish steamship Consuelo (at the time of the collision the British steamship Reims) and the American steamship Berwind, then in the transport service of the United States War Department, may be sued for by the said Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, in the District Court of the United States for

Jurisdiction conferred.

the Southern District of New York, sitting as a court of admiralty and acting under the rules governing such court, and said court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine such suit (in accordance with the principles of libels in rem and/or in personam), and to enter a judgment or decree for the amount of such damages (not including interest) and costs, if any, as shall be found to be due against the United States in favor of the said Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, or against the said Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, in favor of the United States upon the same principles and measures of liability as in like cases in admiralty between private parties and with the same rights of judgment or decree for the amount of such damages (not including interest) and costs, if any, as shall be found to be due against the United States in favor of the said Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, or against the said Union Shipping and Trading Company, Limited, in favor of the United States upon the same principles and measures of liability as in like cases in admiralty between private parties and with the same rights of appeal: Provided, That at the

Provisos.

Admissibility of certain reports in evidence.

trial of said suit the written report or reports concerning said collision made by the pilot, master, any officer or member of the crew of the steamship Berwind, who is not available to testify because he is dead or cannot be found, may be admitted in evidence if offered in behalf of the United States: Provided further, That such notice of the said

Notice to Attorney General.

suit shall be given to the Attorney General of the United States as may be provided by order of the said court, and it shall be the duty of the Attorney General to cause the United States attorney in such district to appear and defend for the United States: Provided further, That said suit shall be brought and commenced within four

Commencement of suit.

months of the date of the passage of this Act.