Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-07-20

Times Herald from Washington says:
..ImQortant cablegrams have been re-
ceived at the state department from
the Philippine commission concerning
a new move in the direction OF peace. |
These dispatches have been in the |
hands of the president for several
days, but he has declined TO make
them public because the ultra optlmls-
tic views heretofore received from the
same source have not been borne out
by subsequent developments. The lat
est DISPATCHES are most encouraging,
but the president wishes to have some
positive results before making them
public. All that can be learned def
nitely is that overtures have been made
by AguinaldO and some of his leaders.
1t was said by a cabinet official last
night that if the promises are fulfilled
the volunteers being enlisted will not
be needed"
Causes a Sensation.
Washington, July 1S.-The publica-
ton of the war reporters formal in
dictment of General Otis management
of the Philippine campaign has caused
a sensation in the departments here.
Secretary Hay had received advices as
late as Monday from civil as well as
military authorities in the Philippines
which led him to declare the situation
there improved materially and that the
prospects for the future had frightened
very much With these advices the
secretary said Gen. Otis had had moth
ing to do and they were from disinter-
ested persons whose opinions must
carry weight. There was a strong dis
inclination exhibited by the officials TO
discuss this last round robin" Gen
eral Miles, who is acting as secretary
of war in the absence of Secretary AL
ger and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
John, would not comment upon the dis
patch and Adjt. General Corbin took
the same attitude.
President Mckinley received a
telegram from San Francisco yesterday
day saying that the Oregon troops
were without overcoats and were SUI
fering from the weather. The dispatch
stated that the men, having just re-
turned from the tropics, cannot with
stand the cold, and that there are
plenty of overcoats in the quarter
masters department. President Nc
Kiney directed that such clothing as
is necessary for the comfort of the
troops be issued to them. 1t was stated
at the war department that the matter
Of clothing for the troops was at their
own disposal. Each man is allowed
500 annually for clothing, and if he
does not use the whole amount he
draws the residue. The Oregon mer
can draw upon this clothing credit il
they want to and get Overcoats OF
other things, but it will be charged tC
their clothing account and taken out OF
the money paid them when they are
mustered out.
Reporters Round Robin"
Manila, July II, via Hong Kong, July
1S.-The constantly increasing strict
ness Of the censorship Of press dis
patches form Manila, which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
of anything that did no. reflect officials
views of important events and condi-
tons, resulted in united effort on The
part Of correspondents here to secure
an abatement of the rigOr of the cen
sorship. The initiative in this direc-
tion was taken a month ago and re-
suited in the framing of a statement
which was presented on Sunday, July
9, to Gen. Otis, with a request for per
mission to telegraph it to the United
States. The correspondents also asked
that they be allowed to cable to their
respective papers all facts and the diff
ferent phases of events as they trans
pired here.
The correspondents had two long in
terviews with Gen. Otis, in the course
of which they complained that the evil
dent purpose of the censorship was not
TO keep information from the enemy,
but to keep from the public a knowl-
edge of the real condition of affairs
here. 1t was also asserted by the cor
respondents that newspapers printed in
Manila are permitted to publish state
ments similar to those which CORE
spondents are forbidden to cable. 1t
was made clear to Gen. Otis that the
objection was to the system and not to
the censor. Gen. Otis finally promised
greater liberality, agreeing to pass all
matter that he might consider not de-
trimental to the interests of the United
States. Gen. Otis appointed Capt.
Green Of his staff censor.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows:
THE undersigned, being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers.
stationed in Manila, unite in the fol-
lowing statement:
I'VE believe that, owing to Official
dispatches 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 Phil
ippines but that the dispatches have
presented an ultra-optimistic view
that is not shared by the general Of
ficers in the field
I'VE believe that the dispatches in
correctly represent the existing condi-
tions among the Philippines in respect
TO dissension and decentralization. re-
sulting from the American campaign
and to the brigand character of their
army.
I'VE believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that the situation is we'll
in hand and the assumption that the
instruction can be speedily ended
without greatly increased force.
I'VE think the tenacity of the Fill
Pine purpose has been underestimate.