The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-10

Of Manila Unanimously Adopted.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-Tribute was
paid by the senate and house today
to Commodore Dewey for the victory
he achieved in the battle OF Manila bay.
A message from the president was
sent to both houses recommending
that a vote of thanks be extended by
congress to Commodore Dewey and the
officers and men of his command.
without word of debate and with
out a dissenting voice, the senate
agreed TO a resolution carrying into
effect the recommendation of the presi-
dent
A bill was presented increasing the
number of rear admirals in the navy
from six to seven, in order that the
president might nominate Commodore
Dewey to the highest possible post in
the navy within his gift, and that, too.
was passed without dissent.
In addition, a joint resolution was
unanimously agreed to, directing the
secretary of the navy to present to
and have struck, in commemoration
of the battle OF Manila, bronze medal
for each of the officers and men who
participated in the fight. The resolu-
ton appropriates $4,000 to enable the
secretary to carry it's provisions into
effect.
In the house, as soon as the journal
had been read, the presidents message
was presented. The reading was not
interrupted by applause, but, at the
conclusion, a demonstration on the
floor and in the galleries followed
which continued several minutes.
The recommendation of the president
that vote of thanks be rendered Com
modore Dewey and his officers and men
Will
and, with equal concert, the house
passed the bin creating an additional
rear admiralship for the hero of Ma
Mia.
Mcy<inley's Message.
The presidents message follows:
On the oath of April, I direc ed the SEQ
rotary of the navy to telegraph orders TO
Commodore George Dewey, Of the United
States navy, commanding the Asatic squad
ron, then lying in the port of Hong Kong,
TO proceed forthwith TO the Philippine ISL
ands, there to commence operations and en-
gage the Spanish fleet.
Promptly obeying that order the United
States squadron, consisting of the flagship
Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh. Boston, Con-
cord and Petrel with the revenue cutter
McCulloch an auxiliary dispatch boat,
entered the harbor of Manila at daybresk
the 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 stubborn fight, in which the enemy
suffered great loss these vessels were de-
stroyed completely disabled ard the water
battery at Cavite siienced. OF our brave
officers and men not one was lost, and only
eight injured, and those slightly.
All our ships escaped serious damage.
BY the 18th OF May Commodore Dewey had
taken possession Of the naval station at
Cayite, destroying the Notifications there
and at the entrance of the bay and patroling
their garrisons. The waters of the bay are
under his complete control He has es alb
lished hospitals within the American lines,
where 80 of the Spanish sick and wounded
are assisted and protected
The magnitude of this victory can hard
ly be measured by the ordinary standards
of naval warfare. Outweighing any ma
terial advantage is the moral effect of This
initial success.
At this unsurpassed achievement the great
heart of our nation throbs, not with boast
ing, 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 gallant
commander and the brave officers and men
who aided him, our country owes an in
calculable debt
Feeling as our people feel and speaking
In their name, l at once sent message to
Commodore Dewey thanking him and his Of
fcers and men for their splendid achieve
ment and overwhelming victory, and in
forming him that 1 had appointed him an
acting rear admiral.
| now recommend that, following our
national precedents 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 con-
duct in conflict with the enemy, and to
the officers and men under his command,
for their gallantry in the destruction of
the enemy's fleet and the capture Of the
enemy's Notifications in the bay of Manila.
William Mckinley.