Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-12
man HoNoR FOR DEWEr.
Message From President Mckinley to Con-
gross,

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man HONoR gOR DEWEY.
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Message From President Mckinley to Con-
grass.
Washington, May .. Tho President
to-day aant tho following message to
Congress:
To the Congress OF tho United States I,
ON tho 18th of April. directed the
Secretary OF the Navy to telegraph
ordera to Commodore George Dewey uf
the United States Navy, commanding
the Asiatic Squadron, then lying 10
the port Of Hong Kong. TO proceed
forthwith to the Philippine islands,
there to commence operations and on
gage the assemhled spanish fleet,
Promptly nbeying that order, the
United Siatos Squadron, consisting OF
the flagship Olympia. Baltimore,
Raleigh, Boston, Concord ami Petrol,
with revenue cuiter McCulloch aB an
auxiliary dispatchbnat, entered the
hnrbor Of Manila at dnybreak, on tho
hrst Of May, ann Immediately engaged
thu entire spanish fleet OF IL ships,
which were under tho production Of the
fire of tho land forts.
After stubborn fight, in which tho
enemy suffered great loss, those vessels
were destroyed or completely disabled
and the wator battery Mt Cavite
silenced. tlf our brava officers and
men not nne was lost and only eight
Injured aud those slightly. All OF our
Bhips escaped any serious damage
By tho 1th ut May, Commodore
Dewey had taken possession of the
naval station al Cavite, destroying the
Notifications there and at the entrance
OF the bay, and parOlling their gar
risons. Tie waters of tho bay are
under bic complete CONTROL lie has
established hospitals within tho Ameri-
can lines, whore $50 Of tho Spanish sick
anil wounded are assisted and protected.
The mugnitude Of this victory can
hardly be measured by tho ordinary
standards Of nava warfare. Outweigh
ing any material advantage is the moral
elicit of this initial SUCCESS. At this
unsurpassed achievement the great
heart Of our nation throbs, not with
honsting or with greed of conquest, hut
with deep gratitude that this triumph
has come in Just cauHu, and that by
the grace of God an effective stem has
thus baen taken toward the attainment
OF tho wished for peace. 10 those
whose skill, courage and degotion have
won the light, to tbs gallant comman.
dor and the brave officers and men who
aided him, our country owes an meal
oulabls debt.
Feeling as our people feel, and speak.
ing in their name, al once sent a mea-
aage to Commodore Dewey. thanking
him and his olficers and men for their
splendid achievement and oyerw helm.
ing victory, and informing him that |
had appointed him an ucting rear al
miral.
i now recommend that, following our
national praGedents, and expressing the
fervent gratitude OF every patriotic
heart, the thanks of Congress be given
Acting Rear admiral George Dewey of
the United StateH Navy, for highly dis
tinguished conduct 10 conflict with the
enemy, and TO the officers and men
under his command for their gallantry
10 the destruction OF the enemy's fleet
and the capture OF the enemys fortitl.
cations in the Bay of Mapila.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May 9th, 1893.
Washington, May 0-Senator Hale
and Representative Boutele, chairman,
respectively, oil the Senate and House
committees on naval affairs, were called
to tina White House during this cabinet
session. this morning, to consider the
resolution OF thanks to Commodore
Dewey, recommended in the President's
message. The two chairmeu subse-
quently met at the Capitol and decided
upon the form Of legislation for making
Commodore Dewey rear admiral, to
bs introduced simultaneously. Tho Con-
gressional resolution is as follows:
'Juint resolution tendsrng tho
thanks OF Congress to Commodore
George Dawey. u. s. N, and to tue
officers and men of the squadron under
hiH Command.
:" Resolved, by the Senate and IIonso
OF Representatives If the United States
OF America, in Congress assDmhled,
Ihat IN pursuance of tha rOcommenda
tlon OF the President, made in accord
anoe with the provisions of seotiop
1908 of tho Rsvisod Statutes, tho
THANKS of Congress- and tho American
people are hereby rendered to Com
podore Goorgs Dewey, u. S. NJ, com.
mander- in. chief of the Aaiatic Station,
for highly distinguished conduct ia
conflict with the enemy as dIsplaynd by
him in the destruction of the SPANISH
fleet and nntterios in tho harhur of
Manils, Philippine Islands, May lat,
1898:
'Siection 2, That the thanks Of the
Congress and of tine american people
are hereby extended through Com
lnodoro Dewey to the officers and
men under his command, for the gal
lautry and skill exhibited by them on
that occasion.
Section 3, BE it further resolved,
That the President of tho United Statos
be requested to cause this resolution to
ba communicated to Commodore Dewey,
and through him TO the officers and
men under his ommand. =
PROVIDING FOR pEwEY's PROMOTION.
Congress to-day passed tho bill rails
ing the number Of admirals from six to
seven, to provide for Commodore
Dcwey's promotion.
TO FEED AND ARM cuBANs.
The Houae to-dRy passed. the Senate
bill authorizing the President to feed
Cuhans and arm people in Cuba.