Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-18
War Correspondents Compelled
to Misrepresent the Situation.
STARTLING REVELATIONS
While Permitting Victories to be Report
ed, the N.w Telling of Keyerses Is
Blue-Penciled. Existing CondI-
tions In Philippines Alarming.
(By Telegraph.)

(oy al eleSFIpn.)
MANILA, July 11.-Nia Hong Hong.
July 17.-The constantly Increasing
steadiness OF the censorship OF press
dispatches from Manila which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
Of anything that did not reflect official
Views of important events and conai-
tons resulted in Il united effort on the
part OF the correspondents here to Sc
cure an abatement of the rigor of the
censorship. The initiative in this di-
rettion was taken a month ago. and
resulted in the framing of Il statement
which was presented on Sunday. July 8.
to Major General Otis. commanding the
military forces Of the United States in
the Philippine Islands with 4 request
for permission to telegraph it to the
United States
THE COMPLAINT
The correspondents also asked that
they be allowed to cable to their re-
spective papers all facts ana different
phases of events as they TRANSFERRED
here. The correspondents had two long
interviews With General Otis, in the
course OF which they complained that
the evident purpose OF censorship was
not to keep information from the enc
my. but to keep from the public 4
knowledge of the real condition of az
fairs here. 1t was also asserted by tho
correspondents that newspapers print
"a in Manila. which reach the enemy
quIckly. are permitted to publish state
'nents similar to those Which cores
pondents are forbidden to cable 1T
was made clear to General Otis that the
objection was to the system and not to
the censor.
General Otis finally promised greater
liberality. agreeing 10 pass all matter
that he might consider not detrimental
TO the interests OF the United States
General Otis appointed Captain Green,
Of his staff. censor.
THE STATEMENT.
The statement Of the correspondents
is as follows:
The undersigned. being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers,
stationed al Manila, unite in the f3l-
lowing statement:
we believe. that owing to official
dispatches from Manila made pubic in
Washington. the people Of the United
States have not received Il correct i'm
preston of the situation in the Philip
pines. but that these dispatches have
presented an ultra optimistic view that
IS not shared by the general officers in
the field
We believe the dispatches incorrect
~ represent the existing conditions
among the Filipinos in respect to dis
sension and decentralization resulting
from the american campaign S..;and to
the brigand character of their Amy
We believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that the situation is well
in hand and in the assumption that
the instruction can he speedily ended
without greatly increased force
We think the tenacity of the Fill
plna purpose has been underestim
and that the statements are unfoundsd
that volunteers are willing to engage in
further service.
The censorship has compelled us to
participate in this Misrepresentation 5y
eXcising altering uncontrove1ted
statements of facts on the plea. as
General Otis stated. that they would
alarm the people at hcmc,' or have
the people of the United States by the
ears
SPECIFICATIONS: Prohibition OF hes
pital reports; suppression Of full re-
ports of field operations in the event of
failure: numbers Of heat prostrations
IN the field: systematic intimidation OF
naVii operations, and suppression Of
complete reports of the situation"
The statement is signed by the fol-
lowing correspondents: John T. Nc
Vntcheon, Harry Armstrong. Chicago
Record; Oscar x. Davis p. McDon-
nell, New York Sun; Robert NJ. Col
Inns. John F. Cunning, L. Jones the
Associated Press; John r. Bass, VIII
11lhwlddle, New York Herald; e. s..
Meme Scripps-McRae Association;
Richard Little. lCsnica go Tribune