The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-10

which were under the protection OF the
fire. OF the land forts. After a stubborn
fight, in; which the enemy suffered great
loss, these vessels were destroyed or
completely disabled and the water bat
terry at Cavlte silenced. OF our brave
, officers and men not one was lost and
only eight injured, and those slightly.
5tSAll of our ships escaped any serious
damage. BY the fourth OF May, Com
modre Dewey had taken possession OF
the naval station Mt Cavite, destroying
the Qualifications there and at the en-
trance OF the bay and paroling their
{ garrisons. The waters OF the bay are
under his complete control. He has es-
tablished hospitals within the American
lines where@yo hundred and fifty of
the Spanish sick and wounded are as
sisted and protected.
The magnitude OF the victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary
standards Of naval warfare. Outweigh
Ing any material advantage Is the NOR
al effect OF this initial, success. AT this
unsurpassed achievement the great
heart of our nation throbs, not with
boasting or with greed OF conquest, but
with deep gratitude that this triumph
has come in O just II and that by
the .graceSo ( God an effective step has
thus been taken toward the attainment
Sof the wIshed-f for peace. 10 those
whose skill, courage. and devotion have
won the fight. to the gallant comman-
der and the brave officers and men who
aided him. our country owes an meal
culable debt.
Feeling as our people feel and speak,
Ing in their name I at once sent a mes
sage to- Commodore Dewey, thanking
him and his officers and men for their
splendid achievement and overwhelm-
ing victory. and informing him that I
had appointed him m acting rear ad-
miral. Z
now recommend that following our
national presidents and expressing the
ferycnt gratitude OF every patriotic
heart, the thanks OF Congress be given
Acting Rear Admiral George Dewey. OF
the United States. navy, for highly dis
/ tinguished conduct in conflict with the
enemy, and to the officers and men un-
der; his command for their galIantry In
the destruction OF the enemy's fleet and
the capture OF the encmy's f~octInca-
lions In the Bay OF Manila.
.tSigned.) WILLIAM M'EINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May Q. 1898,
sfsnf oAlcl. tuC Acstullb vi NIt
message the following joint resolution
was introduced In the house:
Resolved, By the senate and house
OF Representatives OF the United States
OF America, In Congress assembled, that
IN pursuance OF the recommendation OF
the President, made in accordance with
5 the provisions OF section 1903, OF the re-
/. vised statutes, the thanks OF Congress
and of the American people are hereby
rendered to Commodore George Dewey,
United States navy, commander-in-
i chief OF the Asintic station, for highly
IN distinguished conduct in conflict with
She$ enemy as displayed by him in the
destruction OF the Spanish fleet and
batteries In the harbor OF Manila, Phil.
tppine; Islands, May i, 1893. sC
Section 2. That the thanks OF Con.
gress and OF the American people arc
hereby extended through Commodore
Dewey, to the officers and mon under
MS command, for the gaIlantry and
sion. - So
Section .. Be 1t further resolved. that