JOHN D. LONG, SECRETARY OF NAVY.
The Newport added to the list of captures by bringing in the Spanish schooner Padre de Dios.
May 7. The United States despatch-boat McCulloch arrived at Hongkong from Manila, with details of Commodore Dewey’s victory.
Secretary Long, after the cablegram forwarded from Hongkong had been received, sent the following despatch:
“The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and your officers and men for your splendid achievement and overwhelming victory. In recognition he has appointed you acting admiral, and will recommend a vote of thanks to you by Congress as a foundation for further promotion.”
May 8. A brilliant, although unimportant, affair was that in which the torpedo-boat Winslow engaged off Cardenas Bay.
The Winslow and gunboat Machias were on the blockade off Cardenas.
In the harbour, defended by thickly strewn mines and torpedoes, three small gunboats had been bottled up since the beginning of the war. Occasionally they stole out toward the sea, but never venturing beyond the inner harbour, running like rabbits at sight of the American torpedo boats.
Finally a buoy was moored by Spaniards inside the entrance of the bay to mark the position for the entrance of the gunboats. The signal-station on the shore opposite was instructed to notify the gun[pg 108]boats inside when the torpedo-boats were within the limit distance marked by the buoy.