Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1898-05-09

WASHINGTON, May D. - c6nat 3i
Lodge presented and the Senate passed
resolution authorizing the President
to present a sword TO Admiral Dewey
and medals to the officers and men
under him, who were in the battle OF
Manila. 1t appropriatos $4,000 for the
purpose.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The House
and Senate passed bill increasing the
number of Rear Admrals thus making
provision for the promotion of Dewey
The resolutions and bill as presented by
the Senate and the House were iden-
tical.
WASHINGTON, May 9.--The House
resolution thanking Admiral Dewey
was passed by the Senate. This was
necessary In order that both houses
might act on the Same resolution.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The Senate
passed the House resolution creating a
rear admiralship for Dewey. 1t now
goes to the President.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The Presi-
dent today sent the following message
to Congress: On the Gath of April,
directed the Secretary of the 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 Philippine
Islands, there to commence operations
and engage the Spanish fleet.
Promptly obeying that order, the
the flagship Olympia, the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Boston, Concord and Petrol.
with the revenue cutter Hugh Nc
Culloch, as auxiliary dispatch boat,
entered the harbOr OF Manila at day
break on the 1st Of May, and i'm
mediately engaged the entire Spanish
fleet Of eleven ships, which were under
the protection of fire from the land
forts. After stubborn fight, in which
the enemy suffered great loss, these
vessels were destroyed or completely
disabled and the water bettery at Cavite
silenced.
OF our brave officers and men not
one was lost and only eight were in
jured, and those slightly. All our ships
escaped serious damage. BY the 4th
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 paroling their garrisons. The
waters of the bay are under his COM
plete control He established hospitals
within the American lines, where 250
Spanish sick and wounded are assisted
and protected.
The magnitude of this victory can
hardly be measured by the ordinary
standards Of naval war fare. Out
weighing any material advantage, is
the moral effect of this initial success.
at this unsurpassed achievement, the
great heart Of our nation throbs not
with boasting or the greed of conquest,
but with deep gratitude that this
triumph came in just cause and that
by the grace of God an effective step
has thus been taken toward the attain
ment of wished for peace. To those
whose skill, courage and devotion won
the fight, to the gallant commander and
the brave officers and men who aided
him, our country owes an incalculable
debt.
Feeling as our people feel and speak
ing In their name, l at once sent a mes
sage to Commander Dewey thanking
him and his officers and mon for theiI
splendid achievement and everwhelm-
ing victory, and informing him that
had appointed him Acting Rear Ad
miral I now recommend that follow
Ing our national precedents and ex-
pressing the fervent gratitude of every
patriotic heart, the thanks of Congress-
Be given Rear Admiral George Dewey
II the United States Navy, for highly
distinguished conduct in conflict will
the enemy, and to the officers and mel
under his command for their gallantr.
in the destruction Of the enemy's fee
and the capture of the enemy's f0rti6
cations in the bay of Manila.
(Signed) WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS.
WAsuINaToN, May 9.-The follow
Ing is the Joint resolution Offering th
thanks Of Congress to Admiral Dewey
introduced IN the House by Cha1rma
Bouteile, of the Naval COMMITTEES, i'm
mediateiy after the receipt Of the Pres
dents message today:
Resolved, That in pursuance of th
recommendation of the President mad
In accordance with the provisions G
section 1903, Revised Statutes. tn
thanks Of Congress and Of tho Ameri
can people, are hereby rendered Com
modore George Dewey, United State
Navy, Commander in Chief of th
Asiatic Station, for highly distlnguishe
conduct in conflict with the enemy, a
displayed BY him In the destruction 9