Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-05-12

.dOPtS Resolution Of Thanks
60 Admiral Dewey,


= aident was received by both houses
recommending that vote of thanks
be extended by congress to COmmO-
dOre Dewey and the gallant officers
and men Of his command. Without q
word of debate and without dissent
ing voice, both houses agreed to a
resolution carrying into effect the
recommendation of the president.
Congress went farther even than
that. A bill was presented increasing
the number of rear admirals in the
navy from six to seven, in order that
the president might nominate Com
mOdore Dewey to the highest position
in the navy within his gift, and that,
too, was passed without dissent.
In addition, joint resolution was
unanimously agreed to directing the
secretary of the navy to present to
Commodore Dewey a sword of honor,
and to have struck, in cOmmemora-
ton of the battle of Manila. bronze
medal for each of the officers and
men who participated in the gallant
fight The resolution apprOpriates
100000 to enable the secretary to car
ry it's provisions into effect.
President McKinley's message rec
ommending a vote of thanks was as
follows:
ITO the Congress of the United
States: On the oath of April, | direct
ed the secretary of the navy to tele-
graph orders to Commodore George
Dewey, of the United States navy,
commanding the Asiatic squadron,
then wing in the port of Hong Kong,
to proceed forthwith to the Philippine
islands, there to commence operations
and engage the Spanish fleet.
Promptly obeying that order, the
United States squadron. consisting of
the flagship Olympia, Baltimore, RAJ
leigh, Boston, Concord and Petrol,
with the revenue cutter, McCulloch,
as an auxiliary dispatch boat, entered
the harbor of Manila at daybreak on
the LIST of May and Immediately en-
gagged THE entire Spanish fleet of elev-
EN- ships, which were under the pro-
lection of the fire of the land forts.
After stubborn fight in which the
enemy suffered great loss, these ves-
sells were destroyed or completely dis
abled and the water battery at Ca
wife sienced.
"Of our brave officers and men. not
one was lost, and only eight injured,
and these slightly. All of our ships
escaped any serious damage. 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,
and paroing their garrisons. Tie
waters of the bay are under his COM
plete control. He has established hos
pitfalls within the american lines,
where $50 of the Spanish sick and
wounded are assisted and protected.
"The magnitude of This victory can
hardly he measured by the ordinary
standards of naval warfare. Out
weighing any material advantage is
the moral effect of this initial success.
At this unsurpassed achievement, the
great heart rf car nution throbs, not
with boastjng nor greed of conquest,
but with deep gratitude thai Ibis tri-
unph has come ia It just cause, and
that, by the grace nt cod al effective
step has thu, been aiken toward Inc
attainment Of the wi>hrd-tor peace
To those whose skill courage ana de-
votion have won the fghr. TO the gall
liant commander and the brave Off
GERS and men who aided him, our
country owes an iuracuahle debt.
Feeling as our people feel, and
speaking in their name, 1T once sent
a message to Commodore Dewey,
Thanking him and his officers and
men for their splendid achievement
and overwhelming victor. aNd inform
ing him rhat have appointed him an
acting rear admiral. | now recon-
mend that, following our ma tional
precedeutS, and expressing the fer
vent gratitude of every patriotic
heart. the thanks of congress DE given
Acting Rear Admiral George Dewey,
of the United States navy, for highly
distinguished 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 fortifcation in the bay of
Manila.
civilian MKINLEY.
l.ENunntiun ALan sinn ALnA- O 1909 -