The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-05-20
4 MESSAGE 70 congress.
The President, in Special Message
20 Congress, Recommends
Thanks to Dewey.
70 HIS BRAVE OFFICERS AND MEN ALSO,
Resolutions Of Thanks Promptly Adopted
by Both Housss-Aiso Isiii Creating
an Extra Rear Admiral In the Navy
the Understanding Being that the Rank
Is to be BESTOWED Upon Dewey.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-The president
sent the following message to con-
gress:
TO THE CONGRESS- or THE UNITED STATES
On the 2ith OF April l directed the secretary Of
the navy 10 telegraph orders TO Commodore
George Dewey the United States navy CON-
handing the Asiatic squadron, then lying in the
mort OF Hong Kong. to proceed forthwith 10 the
Philippine islands. there to commence opera
lions and engage the Spanish fleet
Promptly obeying that order. the United
States squadron. consisting OF the flagship
OLYMPIA. Baltimore, Raleigh Boston. Concord
md Petrol, with the revenue cutter McCulloch
a. an auxiliary dispatch boat, entered the har-
Dor VI Manila ut duybreak on the first OF May,
and Immediately engaged the entire spanish
fleet OF II ships, which were under the pro-
lection OF the fire OF the land forts
After stubborn fight, in which the
enemy suffered great loss their vessels were
destroyed or completely disabled and the water
battery AZ Cayite silenced. or our brave oni-
Gers and men not one was lost, and only eight
injured. aud those slightly. All OF our ships
escaped any serious damage
I3y the fourth OF May Commodore Dewey had
taken possession OF the naval station at Ca
wife destroying the fortifications there and at
the entrance OF the bay, and paroling their gar
rsons. The waters Of the bay are under his
complete control lie has established hospitals
within the American lines where 30 OF the
spanish sick and wounded are assisted and pro-
tetted.
The magnitude OF this victory can hardly be
measured by the ordinary standards OF naval
warfare. Outweighing any material advan-
tasr is the moral effect OF this initial success.
Al this unsurpassed achievement the great
heart OF our nation throbs, not with boasttng
or with greed OF contest, but with deep
gratitude that this triumph has come
in just cause. and that. by the
grace of God. an effective step has thus
been taken toward the attainment OF the wished
Tor peaee. To those who-a skin. courage and
devotion have won the II zht to the gallant Cola
uander and the brave officers and men who
aided him. our country owes incalculable
debt.
Feeling people feel and speaking in
their name. at once sent a message to Com
modore Dewey. thanking him and his officers
ana men for their splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory, and informing him that
1 had appointed him an acting rear admiral
now recommend that. following our national
preccdenis. and expressing the feryent grati-
tuie OF every patriotic heart. the thanks OF con-
rress be given Acting Kear-Admiral Dewey OF
the United States navy for highly distinguished
conduct in conflict with the enemy. and 10 tho
officers and men under his command for their
eallantry in the destruction OF the enemy Q
neet aud the capture of the enemy's fortltca-
lions in the bay OF Manila
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion. May .. 1898