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

Congress Thsnks Dewey for HIS Vic
tOry-S10,OO for Medals and Sword.
WASHINGTON, May lO.-The Presi-
dent to-day sent the following mes
sage to Congress:
To the Congress of the United States: On
the oath day OF April directed the Secre-
tary of tie Navy to telegraph orders to
Commodore George Dewey of the United
States navy, commanding the Asiatic
squadron then lying in the port of Hong
Kong, to proceed forthwith to the Philip
pine islands. there to commence operations
and engage the Spanish fleet
Promptly obeylng that order the United
States squadron, consisting of the flagship
Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh, Boston, Con-
cord and Petrol. with the revenue cutter
McCulloch as an auxiliary dispatch boat
entered the harbor of Manila at daybreak
on the first of May and Immediately en-
gagged the entire Spanish feet of eleven
ships, which were under the protection of
the fire of the land forts. After stubborn
fight, in which the enemy suffered great
loss, these vessels we're destroyed or COM
pletely disabled and the water battery at
Cavlte Silenced. of our brave officers and
men not one was lost and only eight in
jured 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 Notifications there
and at the entrance of the bay and parol-
ing their garrisons The waters of the
bay are under mis- complete control. He
has established hospitals within the Amer
lean lines, where 250 of the Spanish sick
and wounded are assisted and protected
The magnitude of this victory can hardly
be measured by the ordinary standard of
naval warfare. outweighlng any material
advantage in the moral effect OF this initial
success. At this unsurpassed achievement
the great heart of our nation throbs, not
with boastlng 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 gall
liant commander and brave officers and
men who aide ed him, our country owes an
incalcuable debt
Feeling as our people feel, and speaking
in their name, l at once sent message to
Commodore Dewey, thanking him and his
officers and men for their achievement and
overwhelming victory and informing him
that had appointed him an acting rear
admiral
Inowrecommend that following our ma
tional 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 conduct in
conflict with the enemy aud to the Officers
and men under his command for their gal
lantry in the destruction of the enemy'E
feet and the capture of the enemy's fortiA-
cations in the bay of Manila.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
Executive Mansion, May 9. 1898.
Immediately after the receipt of the
Presidents message in Congress to-
day the following joint resolution of
fering the thanks of Congress to Adj
miral Dewey was introduced in the
House:
Joint resolution rendering the thanks of
Congress to Commodore George Dewey,
United States Navy 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
America In Congress assembled, That In
pursuance of the recommendation of the
President, made in accordance with the
provision of section 1903 of the revised
statutes, the thanks of Congress and of the
American people are hereby rendered to
Commodore George Dewey United States
NAVY commander-ln-chief of the Asiatic |
station, for highly distinguished conduct in
conflict with the enemy as displayed by him
in the destruction of the Spanish feet and |
batteries in the Aarbor of Manila, Philip |
pine islands, May 1, 1898
Section 2-That the thanks of Congress |
and of the American people are hereby ex- |
tended through Commodore Dewey to the |
officers and men under his command for |
the gallantry and skill exhibited by them |
on that occasion.
Section 3-Be It forther resolved, that the |
President of the United States be requested |
to cause this resolution to be communicate
ed to Commodore Dewey and through him
to the officers and men under his command.
The House p assed the resolution OF
thanks on rising vote.
In the Senate Mr. Lodge presented
a resolution authorizing the President
to present sword to Admiral Dewey
and medals to officers and men under
him who were in the battle of Manila.
1t appror"iates $4,000 for the pur-
pose. The resolution was passed.
The bill creating an additional rear
for Dewey was also passed
in the Senate.