The Mena star., 1898-05-11
THE HERO OF MANILA
Congress Confers Distinguished Hon.
 ors Upon Commodore Dewey.
Law Passed That Makes His Promotion to an Admiralty Prob ble-Unanimous Vote of Thanks by Congress-
 Sword of Honor and Medals.

WAsHINGToN, May 10. Fitting trib ute was paid by congress yesterday to Commodore Dewey for the magnificent victory achieved in the battle of Ma nila bay. A message from the presi- dent was received by both houses rec ommending that vote of thanks be extended by congress to Commodore Dewey aud the gallant officers and men of his command. Without word of debate and without dissenting voice both houses agreed to a resolu- tion carrying into effect the recom- mendation of the president.
 | Congress went farther even than that. A bill was presented increasing the number of rear adnirais in the navy from six to seven, in order that the president might nominate Commo- dore Dewey to the highest position in the navy within his gift, and that, too, was passed without dissent In addition, a joint resolution was unanimously agreed to directing the secretary of the navy to pre- sent to Commodore Dewey sword of honor, and to have struck, in commemoration of the battle of Manila, bronze medal for each of the officers and men who participated in the gallant fight The resolution ap- propriates Sl0,000 to enable the secre- tary to carry it's provisions into effect. l President McKinley's message rec ommending a vote of thanks was as | follows:
 | of tho mi itod tnta
 On the 2ith of April directed the secretary | of the navy to telegraph orders to Commodore George Dewey. of the United States navy com manding the Asiatic squadron. then lying in the port of Hong Kong, to proceed forthwith to l the Philippine islands there to commence oper- ations and engage the Spanish fleet Promptly obeying that order the United States squad ron, consisting of the flagship Olympia, Balti- more, Raleigh, Boston. Concord and Petrel with the revenue cutter McCulloch as an aux Hilary dispatch boat, entered the harbor of Ma nila at daybreak on the 1st of May and imme- diately engaged the entire fleet of II ships, which were under the protection of the fire of l the land forts. After stubborn fight in | which the enemy suffered great loss these ves- sels were destroyed or completely disabled and the water battery at Cavite silenced Of our brave officers and men not one was lost and only eight injured and those slightly All of our ships escaped any serious damage. By the 4th of May Commodore Dewey had taken pcs session of the naval station at Cavite. destroy ing the fortifications there and at the entrance of the bay and patroling their garrisons The waters of the bay are under his complete con trol. He has established hospitals within the American lines where 250 of the Span ish sick and wounded are assisted and protected The magnitude of this victory hardly be measured by the ordinary standards of naval warfare. Out weighing any material advantage is the moral oFF,n t~f& 4- tw4st t,1 At s114 passed achievement the great heart of tion throbs, not with boasting greed of conquest. but with deep gratitude that this triumph has come in just cause and that by the grace of God effective step has thus been taken toward the attainment of the wished-for peace. To those whose skill, cour- age and devotion have won the fight, to the gallant commander 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 a message to Commo- dore Dewey. thanking him and his officers and men for their splendid achievement and over- wheming victory, and informing him that had appointed him an acting rear admiral. now recommend that, following our national precedents and expressing the fervent grati- tude of every patriotic heart. the thanks of con- gross be given Rear Admiral George Dewey of the United States navy, for highly distin- guished conduct in conflict with the enemy and to the officers and men under his command for their gallantry In the destruction of the enemys fleet and the capture of the enemy's rortifcaton in the bay of Manila
 WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
 Executive Mansion, May g. 1898
 The resolution adopted in response to the recommendation is as follows:
 Joint resolution, rendering the thanks of con- gress to Commodore Dewey, U. s. N, and to the officers and men of the squadron under his command
 Resolved, By the senate and the house of representatives of the United States of Amer ica, in congress assembled. that in pursuance of the recommendation of the president made in accordance with the provisions of section 1908 of the revised statutes, the thanks of con- lrress and of the American people are hereby rendered to Commodore George Dewey, U. & N, commanders in-ehief of the Asiatic station, for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy as displayed by him in the de- struction of the Spanish fleet and batteries in the harbor of Manila Philippine islands. May l. 1898
 Sec ?. That the thanks of congress and of the American people are hereby extended through Commodore Dewey to the officers and men under his command for the gallantry and skill exhibited by them on that occasion.
 Sec 8 Be it further resolved, That the pres- dent of the United States be requested to cause this resolution to be communicated to Com modore Dewey and through him to the officers and men under his command