Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-05-12
HONORS FOR DEWEY.
VOTE OF THANKS FROM CON.
CRESS.
Given at tho Suggestion of President Mo.
Kiniey-Tho Hero of Manila VIII Also
He Made Rear Admiral and Get .
Sword,

Washington, May 9.-Prcsident Nc
kinley today sent to Congress the fol-
lowing message:
'"To the Congress of the United
ION the 9th Of April directed the
secretary OF the navy to telegraph or
ders to Commodore George Dewey of
the United States navy, commanding
the Asiatic squadron lying In the port
or Hong Kong. to proceed forthwith
to the Philippine islands, there to COM
mcnce operations and engage the as
scmbled Spanish fleet.
promptly obcying that order. the
United States squadron, consisting of
the flagship Olympia. the Baltimore,
Raleigh, the Boston, Concord and Pc
trel, with the revenue cutter McCul-
loch as an auxiliary dispatch boat,
entered the hnrbor at daybrcak on the
1st Of May and Immediately engaged
the entire Spanish heet OF eleven ships,
which Were under the protection OF the
fire Of the land forts.
after n stubborn fight. In which tho
enemy suffered great loss, those ves-
sells were destroyed and completely
disabled and the water battery nt
Cavite sIlenced. or our brave officers
and men not one was lost and only
eight injured, and those slightly. AL
OF our ships escaped any serious dam
agc.
by the 4th of May Commodore
Dewey had taken possession OF the
naval station at Cavite, destroying the
fortitlcations there and mt the entrance
Of the bay and paroling their garri-
sons. The waters of the bay are un-
der his complete control. He Inns cs-
tablished hospitals within the Ameri-
can lines where $50 OF the Spanish
sick md 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
ittide that this triumph has come In Il
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 gallant commander
and the brave officers and men, who
aided him, our country owes an In
CiituHtDle ueDt
"Feeling as our people feel and
speaking in their name, l at once sent
message to Commodore Dewey,
thanking him ard his officers and men
for the splendid achievement and
overwhelming victory, and Informed
him that had appointed him an act
ing rear admiral.
Il now recommend that following
our national preccdents 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 for
highly distinguished conduct In con-
fiict with the enemy, and to the OIL
GERS and men under his command for
their gallantry and destruction of the
encmys fleet and capture Of the en-
emy's fortihcations in the bay OF
Manila. WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
Executive Mansion, May 0, 1898"
A joint resolution thanking Commo-
dore Dewey and his men was passed
by both houses, also one empowering
the President to appoint another rear
admiral.
In the Senate n resolution was adopt
ed appropriating $4,000 to purchase
sword for Dewey and medals for his
men.