The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1899-07-21
Censorship Of War News.

Manila. July IL via Hong Kong
The conditions of the censorship have
been steadily growing worse since the
beginning of the insurrection and have
finally reached a climax. A meeting
was held month ago OF all the staff
correspondents of American news.
papers stationed at Manila and tele.
gram was drafted presenting the sit
uation according to. the concensus Of
the best opinion and was submit tied to
General Otis. The general was an
cry. He summoned the correspond
ents and threatened to try them all by
court-martial on charge of conspir-
acy. He said the telegram accused
him of lying. This the correspondents
disavowed and modified the language
of the message, but General Otis re-
fused to pass the telegram, which is
now sent to Hong Kong for transmits.
sion.
General Otis offered to improve the
conditions of the censorship and ap-
point new censor, but the correspond
ents explained that their complaint
was against the system, not against
the censor. Otis asked the CORES
pondents to submit the changes in the
system which they deemed essential.
The correspondents asked permission
to report first, all of the facts, and
second, all of the phases of the situa-
ton, both of which had therefore been
impossible. General Otis nominally
granted the desired reforms. He modi-
fed his concessions, however, SO that
there was slight advantage from the
change. The activity at the front de.
layed a settlement of the matter and
General Otis illness caused further
delay.
A final meeting of the correspond
ents was held today and General Otis
was informed the following message
would be sent to Hong Kong.
"The undersigned, comprising the
entire staff correspondents ofAmeri
can newspapers at Manila, unite in the
following statement:
"We believe that, owing to official
dispatches from Manila made public
in Washington, the people ofthe United
States have received an incorrect i'm
preston of the situation in the Philip
pines, and that these dispatches pre-
sent an ultra.optimistic view which is
not shared by the general officers in
the field. We believe that these dis
patches incorrectly represent the ex-
isting conditions among the Filipinos
in respect to the internal dissensions
and decentralization resultant from the
American campaign and the brigand-
like character of their army. 1t is
believed that these dispatches err in
the declaration that the situation is
we'll in hand and in the assumption
that the insurrection will be speedily
ended without greatly increased
force.
"We think that the tenacity of the
Filipinos' purpose is under. estimated
and that the statements that the vol
unteers are willing to serve further
are unfounded. The censorship has
compelled us to participate in this
Misrepresentation by excising or alter
ing uncontroverted statements Of the
facts on the plea, quoting from Gener-
al Otis, that they would alarm the
people at home and have the people
of the United States by the ears!'
"Our specifications are: The pro.
hibition Of hospital reports, the num-
bers of heat prostrations in the field,
the suppression Of full reports of field
operations in case of their failure, the
prohibition of complete reports of the
situation and a systematic minimiza-
ton OF naval operations.
"Bass and Dinwiddie, New York
Hearld McCulcheon and Armstrong,
Chicago Record: Little, Chicago Tri-
bune: Collins, Jones and Dunning,
Associated Press; Keen, Scripps-Mc-
Rae League: Davis and Mcdonnell,
the Sun.
General Otis particularly resented
the parts Of the dispatch having re-
ference to the volunteers and to the
naval operations. The correspondents
cited many proofs of their allegations.
1t is impossible to describe the censor
ship by cable. Many grounds of conf
plant have been intOlerable, 1t re-