The western recorder., 1898-05-12

Washington. May 0.-President Nc
Kinley to-day sent to Congress the foi-
lowing message:
ssTo the Congress OF the United
States:
.On the oath Of April I directed the
secretary OF the navy to telegraph or
ders TO Commodore George Dewey OF
the United States navy, commanding
the Asiafic squadron lying In the port
of Hong Kong. to proceed forthwith
TO the Philippine islands, there 10 COM
mcnce operations and engage the as
sembled Spanish fleet.
promptly obeying that order, the
United States squadron, consisting OF
the flagship Olympia. the Baltimore,
Raleigh, the Boston, Concord and re
trel. with the revenue cutter McCui-
loch as an auxiliary dispatch boat
entered-sthe harbor mt daybreak on tne
list of May and Immediately engaged
the entire Spanish fleet Of eleven ships,
which were under the protection OF the
fire OF the land forts.
AFTER a stubborn fight. In which the
enemy suffered great loss, those yes
sells were destroyed and completely
disabled and the water battery at
Cavite siIenced. OF our brave officers
eight injured, and those slightly. All
Of our ships escaped any serious dam
age.
"By the 4th of May Commodore
Dewey had taken possession OF the
naval station at Cayite, destroying the
Notifications there and pt the entrance
of the bay and paroling their garri'
sons. The waters of the hay are un'
der his complete control. He has es-
tabIished hospitals within the Ameri-
can lines where. $50 OF the Spanish
sick and wounded are assisted and
| protected.
"The magnitude of this victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary
standards of naval warfare. Out
weighing any material advantage Is
the moral effect OF this initial sue
cess. At this unsurpassed achieve
ment. the great heart Of our nation
throbs. not with boasting or with
greed Of conquest. but with deep graf
'itude that this triumph has come IN q
Just cause. and that by the grace OF
| God. nm effective step has thus peen
taken toward the attainment OF the
wished-for peace. To those whose
skill. courage and devotion nave Won
the fight, to thp gallant commander
anu tht pIuS tsV-i> ti' '-fe s--f =,
aided him. our country owes an IN
calcuIable debt.
Feeling as !. our people feel and
speaking In their name, a. once sent
n message to Commodore Dewey
thanking him and his officers and men
for the splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory. and / informed
him that had appointed him an ACT
| inc rpar admiral .s
II now recommend that following
our nationai preeedents and express
ing the fervent gratitude Of every pa
triotic heart. the thanks of Congress
be given Acting Rear Admiral George
| Dewey of the United States navy FOL
highly distinguished conduct i'll con
fict with the enemy. and to the ON
GERS and men under his. command FOL
their gallantry and destruction of the
enemys fleet and capture of the en-
cmy's Notifications in the. bay ol
Manila. WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
Executive Mansion. May 0. 1S9s.
A Joint resolution thanking Commo
dore Dewey and his men was passed
| by both houses, also one empowering
the President to APPOINT another .real
admiral.
In the Senate n resolution was adopt
ed approprIating $4,000 to purchase .
| sword for Dewey and medals for his
men.