The Monte Vista journal., 1898-05-14

Washington, May 9.-President Nc
Kinley to-day sent to Congress the fol-
lowing message:
ITO the Congress Of the United
ION the oath Of April I directed the
secretary Of the navy TO telegraph or
ders to Commodore George Dewey OF
the United States navy, commanding
the Asiatic squadron lying In the port
Of Hong Kong, to proceed forthwith
to the Philippine islands, there to CON-
mence operations and engage the as
sembled Spanish fleet.
Promptly obeying that order, the
United States squadron, consisting OF
the flagship Olympia. the Baltimore,
Raleigh, the Boston, Concord and Pc
trel, with the revenue cutter McCul-
loch as an auxiliary dispatch boat,
entered the harbor at daybreak on the
LIST Of May and Immediately engaged
the entire Spanish fleet OF eleven ships,
which were under the protection Of the
fire Of the land forts.
After n stubborn fight In which the
enemy suffered great loss. those yes.
sells were destroyed and completely
disabled and the water battery at
Cavite silenced or our brave officers
and men not one was lost and only
eight injured, and those slightly. All
Of our ships escaped any serious dam
age.
by the 4th OF May Commodore
Dewey had taken possession OF the
naval station at Cavite, destroying the
Notifications there and at the entrance
Of the bay aud paroling their garri
sons. The waters OF the bay are uIl
der his complete control He has es
tablished hospitals within the AmerI
can lines where 80 of the Spanish
sick md wounded are assisted and
| protected.
1.-THE magnitude OF this victory car
hardly be measured by the ordinary
standards of naval warfare. Out
weighing any material advantage is
the moral effect OF this initial sue
cess. AT this unsurpassed achieve
ment. the great heart OF our nation
throbs, not with boasting or with
greed Of conquest. but with deep grnt
itudc that this triumph has come in n
just cause. and that by the grace OF
God. an effective step has thus been
taken toward the attainment of the
wished-for peace. To those whose
skill. courage and devotion have won
lUt HsUt. 10 tUV sulEiHt
and the brave officers and men, who
aided him, our country owes an In
calculable debt.
Feeling as our people feel and
speaking In their name, | at once sent
message to Commodore Dewey,
thanking him and his officers and men
for the splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory, and l Informed
him that ! had appointed him an act
Ing rear admiral.
Il now recommend that following
our national precedcn,s and express
ing the fcrvcnt gratitude OF every pa
triotic heart. the thanks OF Congress
he given Acting Rear Admiral George
Dewey OF the United States navy for
highly distinguished conduct In con-
iilct with the enemy. and to the ofii-
GERS and men under his command for
their gallantry and destruction OF the
cncmy's fleet and capture OF the en-
emy's foriliications In the bay OF
Manila. WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May .. 1Sss."
A Joint resolution thanking Commo-
dorc Dewey and his men was passed
by both houses also one empowering
the President to appoint another rear
admiral.
In the Senate q resolution was adopt
ed npproprlatlng $4,000 to purchase u
sword for Dewey. and medals for his
men,