“President of the United States of America.

“To All Who Shall See These Presents:  Greeting: 

“Know ye, that, reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor and fidelity and abilities of

“George Dewey.

I have nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, do appoint him Admiral of the Navy from the second day of March, 1899, in the service of the United States.

“He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of Admiral by doing and performing all manner of duties thereto belonging.

“And I do strictly charge and require all officers, seamen and marines under his command to be obedient to his orders as Admiral.

“And he is to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall receive from me or the future President of the United States of America.

“Given under my hand at Washington the second day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and in the one hundred and twenty-third year of the independence of the United States.

“By the President: 

William M’Kinley.

“John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy.”

The Admiral personally responded, cabling to the Secretary of the Navy: 

“Manila, March 4.—­Please accept for yourself, the President and Congress and my countrymen my heartfelt thanks for the great honor which has been conferred upon me.

Dewey.”

He will draw from the Government $14,700 a year, including allowances, and is entitled to a larger staff.  His direct pay is $13,000 per annum, a rise of $7,000.  He outranks any officer in the United States army, the fact being that Rear Admirals rank with the Major-Generals, who are the highest officers at present in the army, and Dewey is a full Admiral.  This is the result of not being afraid of torpedoes or to risk ships in front of shore batteries.  On the 3rd of March the President nominated Brigadier-General Elwell S. Otis, U.S.A., to be Major-General by brevet, to rank from February 4, 1899, for military skill and most distinguished service in the Philippine Islands.  The nomination was confirmed by the Senate.  Secretary Alger sent the following congratulatory message to General Otis: 

“You have been nominated and confirmed a Major-General by brevet in the Regular Army.  The President wishes this message of congratulations sent you, in which I cordially join.”

The Spanish way of dealing with unfortunate officers appears in this: 

“Madrid, Friday.—­Admiral Montojo, who was in command of the Spanish squadron destroyed by Admiral Dewey in the battle of Manila Bay, and the commander of the Cavite arsenal were this evening incarcerated in the military prison pending trial for their conduct at Manila.  Admiral Cervera has also been imprisoned, along with General Linares, the two men in the Spanish service who gave the Americans trouble.