The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-17
MANILA'S CENSOR
Correspondents Claims That
They Are Not Permit
ted to Cable Facts.
PROTEST TO CEN. OTIS
The Commander Promises
That His Orders Will Be
Modified.

IBy Cable to the Associated Press.3
MANILA, July IL fvia Hong Kong, July
II, 1S9s)-The constantly increasing strict-
ness of the censorship of press dispatches
from Manila, which has prevented the
cabling to the United States of aaythins
that did not reflect official views Of i'm
portant events and conditions resulted in
a united effort on the part ef corre-
spondents here TO secure an abatement ok
the rigor of the censorship
The initiative in this direction was TAX
en- month ago. and resulted in the franz
ing Of a statement which was presented
on Sunday. July 3, tod Major General FL
wen S. Otis, commanding the military
forces of the United States in the Philip
pine Islands. with a request for perznis-
sion to telegraph it to the United States
The correspondents also asked that they
be allowed to cable to their respective pa
pers ali facts and the different phases Of
events as they transpired here The cor
respondents had two long interviews Win
General Otis, IN the course OF which they
complained that the evident purpose o.
the censorship was. not to keep inforrna-
ton from the enemy, but to keep from the
public a knowledge Of the real condition
of affairs here.
It was also asserted b the newspaper
correspondents that newspapers printed IN
Manila, which reach the enemy quickly,
are permitted to publish statements SIM
liar to those which correspondents are
forbidden to cable. It was made clear TO
General Otis that the objection was ma1e
to the system and not to the censor
General Otis finally promised greater
liberaldty. agreeing TO pas all matter that
he might not consider detrimental to the
interests of the United States. General
Otis appointed Captain Green Of his stan
censor.
The statement of the correspondents IS
as follows:-
1.-THE undersigned, being all stan cors
respondents Of American newspapers stav
toned in Manila, unite In the following
statement
1--WE believe that, owing to official dis
patches from Manila made public IN
Washington, the people Of the United
States have not received a correct i'm
preston Of the situation in the Philip~
pines. but that these dispatches have pre-
sented an ultra-optimistic view that is
'sos shared by the general officers in the
I'VE believe the dispatches incorrectly
4
| the Fflipinos in respect TO internal dis
sension and decentralization resulting from
the American campaign and TO tne
brigand character of their army.
We believe the dispatches err In the
declaration that the situation is weA IN
hand. and in the assumption that the M
surrection can be speedily ended without
a greatly increased force
I'VE think the tenacity OF the Filipino
purpose has been underestimate and thar
| the statements are unfounded that volun-
teers are willing 10 engage in further SER
vice.
THE censorship has compelled us to
participate in this Misrepresentation by
exeising or altering uncontrovertdd state-
ments of facts on the plea, as General
Otis stated that they would alarm the
people at home or have the people OF
the United States by the ears.
Specifications Prohibition OF reports;
suppression of full reports of field opera
tions in the event of failure: numbers OF
heat prostra tions in the field: systematic
nginiinization of naval operations ana
suppression of complete reports OF the
situation.
John 7. McCutcheon,
Harry Armstrong Chicago Recorq@
Oscar K. Davis.
?. 6. Mcdonnell .-New York Sun-"
Robert NJ Collins,
John p Dunnfng
IL Jones, The Associated Press.
"Iohn F.. Bass.
s.WiIl Dinwiddie. New York Herald
''E. D. Skeene Scripps-McRae Associa~
tion.