The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-05-13
HONORS FOR DEWEY.
A Vote of Thanks Extended by Con-
gress to the Commodore.
MEDALS FOR Els OFFICERS AND MEN.
a Bill Passed to Allow the Gallant Commo-
dure to Be Promoted to Rear Admiral
-President's Message to Com
gress on the subject.

htN@hEt w Nph-
gress on the subject.
WAsHINeroN, May 10. Fitting trib-
ute was paid by congress yesterday to
Commodore Dewey for the magnificent
victory achieved in the battle of Ma
Mia bay. message from the presi-
dent was received by both houses rec
ommending that vote of thanks be
extended by congress TO Commodore
Dewey aud the gallant officers and
men of his command. without word
of debate and without dissenting
voice both houses agreed to resolu-
ton carrying into effect the recon-
mendation 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 Commo-
dore 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 pre-
sent to Commodore Dewey a
sword of honor, and to have struck,
in commemoration of the battle OF
Manila, bronze medal for each of the
officers and men who participated in
the gallant fight. The resolution APP
propriates $4,000 to enable the secre-
tary to carry its provisions into effect.
President Mckiniey's message rec
ommending a vote of thanks was as
follows:
| TO the Congress- Of the United States
| On the cath of April | directed the secretary
OF the navy to telegraph orders to Commodore
| GEORGE Dewey. OF the United States navy, com
handing the Asintc squadron. then lying in
the port OF Hong Kong, to proceed forthwith to
| the Philippine islands, there to commence oper-
| ations and engage the Spanish fleet Promptly
! obeyng that order the United States squad
! ron, consisting OF the flagship Olympia. Balti-
more Raleigh, Boston, Concord and Petrol
| with the revenue cutter McCulloch as an aux
! Hilary dispatch boat, entered the harbor Of Ma
| Mia at daybreak on the LIST OF May and imme-
| diately engaged the entire fleet OF II ships
which were under the protection Of the fire Of
| the land forts After stubborn fight, in
| which the enemy suffered great loss, these ves-
sells were destroyed or completely disabled and
| the water battery at Cavite silenced or our
brave officers and men not one was lost and
only eight injured and those slightly All OF
our ships escaped any serious damage, BY the
4th OF May Commodore Dewey had taken pos
session OF the naval station at Cavite. destroy
ing the Notifications there and at the entrance
OF the bay and patroling their garrsons The
waters OF the bay are under his complete con-
troll He has established hospitals within the
American lines, where $50 of the Span
ish sick and wounded are assisted
and protected The magnitude of this
victory can hardly be measured by the
ordinary standards OF naval warfare. Out
ts... 81 l.. Il
effect of this initial success AT this unsur-
passed achievement the great heart Of our ma
tion throbs, not with Boosting nor greed OF
| conquest, but with deep gratitude that this
triumph has come in 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 skin, cour-
age and devotion have won the fight to the
gallant commander ana the brave officers and
men who aided him, our country owes an in
calcuabe debt
Feeling as our people feel and speaking in
their name at once sent message to Commo-
dore Dewey, thanking him and his officers and
men for their splendid achievement and over
whelming victory, and informing him that 1
had appoint'd him an acting rear admiral |
now recommend that, following our national
presidents and expressing the fervent grgti-
tude OF every patriotic heart, the thanks Of con-
rress be given Rear Admiral George Dewey. OF
the United States navy, for highly dstln-
guished conduct IN conflict with the enemy and
| TO the officers and men under his command for
their gallantry in the destruction Of the
enemy's feet and the rapture Of the enemy S
fertilization In the bay of Manila,
WILLIAM Mckinney.
Executive Mansion Mayo, 1898
The resolution adopted in response
to the recommendation is as follows:
Joint resolution, rendering the thanks II con-
| rress to Commodore Dewey, u, $. N, and 70
the officers ana men Of the squadron under his
| command
Resolved, BY the senate and the house OF
| representatives OF the United States OF Amer
lea, in congress assembled. that in pursuance
of the recommendation 81 the president made
in accordance with the provisions Of section
1908 Of the revised statutes, the thanks of con-
press and Of the American people are hereby
| rendered to Commodore George Dewey, u. s,
N, cOmmRnder-ln-chiefof the Asiatic station
for highly distinguished conduct in confic,
with the enemy as displayed by him In he de-
| structi0n OF the Spanish feet and batteries IN
the harDor Of Manila, Philippine islands May
! /. 1898.
Sec, 9 That the thanks OF congress and OF
the American people are hereby extended
through Commodore Dewey TO tho officers and
mon under his command for the galantry and
skin exhibited by them on that occasion,
Sec, BE II further resolved, That the presi-
dent of the United States he requested to cause
this resolution 10 be communicated to Com
modore Dewey and through him to the officers
and men under his command
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