The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-10
BoNdRS TO MANlLA's HERO.
4Hsvks. A SWORD AND REAR AD-
NjRALSHIP FROM CONGRESS.


Tronze Medals for the Officers and
,Ien of the sauadron-President
sends Message to Congress Max
ING Suggestion and Senate and
House Take Immediate and IMAM
i.nous Action.
Washington, MAY 9.-The President to-
5ak sent the following message to Con-
erass:
~To the Congress of the United States:
IN the 24th of April directed the Secreta-
ri Of the Navy to telegraph orders to
Cnnmodore George Dewey of the United
sbtes navy, commanding the Asiatic
sAIadron, then lying in the port of Hong
king. to proceed forthwith to the Philip
pbe Islands, there to commence operations
and engage the assembled Spanish fleet.
promptly obeying that order, the
Tinted States squadron, consisting of the
f3gship Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh,
Boston, Concord and Petrol with the rev.
enue cutter AIcCulloch as an auxiliary
dtpatch boat, entered the harbor of Ma
MIA at daybreak on the first of May and
Immediately engaged the entire Spanish
feet Of eleven ships, which We're under
the protection of the fire of the land
forts.
After a stubborn fight, in which the en-
envy suffered great loss, their vessels were
destroyed or completely disabled, and the
water battery at Cavite silenced Of our
brave officers not one was lost and only
eight injured, and those slightly. All Of
our ships escaped any serious damage.
"By the fourth of May Commodore
Dewey had taken possession of the naval
station at Cavite, destroying the forufea-
tons there and at the entrance of the bay,
and patrolling their garrisons. The waters
Of the bay are under his complete control.
He has established hospitals within the
American lines, where $50 of the Spanish
sick and wounded are assisted and pro-
tected
THE magnitude of this victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary stand
ards Of naval warfare. Outweighing any
material advantage is the moral effect of
this initial success.
cat this unsurpassed achievement the
great neaft OF our nation tnrODS, not with
boasting or with greed of conquest, but
with deep gratitude that this triumph has
come in a 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 the fight,
TO The gallant commander and the brave
officers and men who aided him, our coun-
try owes an incalculable debt.
Feeling as our people feel, and speak
Ing in their name, I at once sent a mes
sage to Comodore Dewey thanking him
and mis- officers and men for their splendid
achievement and overwhelming victory.
and informing him that 1 had appointed
him an acting rear admiral
Il now recommend that, following our
national presidents and expressing the fer
vent gratitude of every patriotic heart.
the thanks Of Congress be given Acting
Rear Admiral George Dewey of the United
states navy for highly distinguished con-
quot in conflict with the enemy, and to
the officers and men under his command
ior their gallantry in the destruction OF
the enemy's fleet and the capture of the
enemy's Notifications in the bay of Ma
Mia. William NTcTSinle,,
Executive Mansion, May 9, 1898