The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-09-21

Z instructed them 70 withhold such facts
from the papers; also that he had re-
ported to Washington a percentage oI
| ~ sick when the surgeons agreed that
from 20 TO 30 per cent Of the command
was sick that not more than 10 per
cent Of some regiments were fit for duty
and that the hospital force was entirely
inadequate, as well as the hospital
room, 70 that they were compelled to
discharge hundreds Of men who were
really sick 10 make room for more ur.
gent cases.
ellis reply was that the hospitals
were full Of perfectly well men, who
were shirking, and should be turned
out. To send home figures Of the mum
bers in hospitals would be entirely mis-
leading.
1--WE reminded him that while he had
been reporting to Washington that the
volunteers will render willing service
until relieved, the same volunteers were
sendingregimental petitions TO tho gov
ernors Of their states 10 use every inilu.
ence to secure their recall that some
regiments had petitioned him 10 relieye
them from duty; that the members of
various reSiments had at certain stages
Of the war been in frame Of mind
closely resembling mutiny; that the
members Of the Third artillery, who had
enlisted for the war with Spain, had
threatened TO stack their guns on the
Fourth OF July unless discharged sooner.
ain the matter Of prejudice against
the navy, IL was stated on the parts Of
the correspondents that all were com.
PEELED 10 change their accounts Of the
taking Of Iloilo, TO make it appear that
the army had done the work with inn
material assistance from the warships,
and that only "A few houses were burnt.
The unquestioned facts told in the
original stories were that the soldiers
did not land until three hour after the
marines had raised the flag and chased
the insurgents out.
General Otis explained that the navy
was 80 anxious for glory that it DISC
beyed instructions by landing before
the proper time, etc, although the cor
respondents would not have been per
mitted to send that explanation had
they known il, and were forced to give
an entirely false account Of what oc-
Cured The fact is questioned by no
one that almost all Of the business
quarter and much OF the other sections
were burned.
al reminded him that two stories by
Dunning describing the work Of the
navy in patrolling the coasts and
taking prizes were killed without
reason, aud the others agreed that
he entire attitude of the censorship
oward the navy had been one Of pre-
udice and discrimination There
seemed 30 be a childish fear that
he navy would get some advertising. |
'hc ccnor and Otis himself A.
Ways made us refer to the gunhoats
'peratcd by Captain Grant ~ army
in their eagerness To keep
lac navy from getting any credit not
h due
Regarding the suppression Of re-
'orts Of field operations which were
hilurcs, We told the general that the
ihole purpose Of most Of the import
mt movements, beginning with the all
ancc from Ia Iona church in March,
AL been 10 round up and capture, or
,re the surrender of various divisions
the Filipino army, that all Of them
ad failed 10 accomplish this, yet We
AL been Obliged 10 represent that Otis
M accomplishing just what he in
'ndcd and winning u series Of glorious
icccsscs and administering NO cn Of
nal crushing blows.
"Ots is very hard man to argue
ith or 10 pin down toany definite prop
'ition and his explanation Of the fail
re- Of Halls expedition the first week
June was characteristics lie said;
iut how could We capture them when
icy were not thore2 They all got out !
lat night before We started, and there
ere not 1000 We found, but only 100.
"Wo rehearsed in detail the elections
the censorship which | have outlined
the beginning Of this letter. There
~ no question oi the fact that he
vi not allowed MS Ia send full reports
the conditions here unless those re- 4
'rts were reflections OF his own vie VS.
e asked that when there were differ
Il views held boy the people whose
'inions were worthy of consideration,
q should be allowed to explain the
.rious views and phases Of the qucs-
ln instead OF echoing his opinions as
ough they were rock ribbed and un-
lpcachablo facts.
"navis said when | returned to
anila asked what would he per-
itted 10 send and YOU told me all
rts, news about military opertions.
4 helpful 10 the enemy aud my
'inions as opinions. An of the com.
ittec agreed that the fuldl.ment of
at rule would hc satisfactory, and |
iclaimed any desire toscnd nay per-
nal opinion lor the Associated Press.
neral hates Was present throughout 4
q Interview. At the close GvLeral ,
Is turned To him ana askcd; What Z
midi Nnm ln Miih ihn... r..ntl,,.n,. | :.