Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-07-28
TRUTH KEPT SECRET.
GEN. OTIS IS ACCUSED OF HID
ING FACTS

l06Vb VITO 10 " VT CtOs-
ING FACTS.
Newspaper Mem at Manila File o.
Formal Protest Against Distortion
Of Their Press Telegrams-Dispatch.
Via Hong Kong seartles Washington
Warrington special:
The protest received at Washington by
cable via Hong Kong, from newspaper
correspondents in Manila against hi cen
sorship established by Gen. Otis has.
, caused a profound sensation in Govern
ment circles.
The protest sets forth that news has
been suppressed and that the newspaper
men have been compelled ito participate
In Misrepresentation" by the action of the
censor In "excising or altering u%ncontro-
verted statements OF fact" The protest
is signed by John p. Dunning, Robert NJ.
Collins and Il. Jones of the Associated.
Press; e. s. Keene Of the Scripps-McRae.
Association, Oscar x. Davis and r. g..
Mcdonnell of the New York Sun, John
F. Bass and Will Dinwiddie OF the New
York Herald, John T. McCutchcon mo
Harry Armstrong Of the Chicago Record
and Richard II. Little of the Chicago
Tribune.
That the telegraphic reports of Gen.
Otis were censored at the War Depart
ment was we'll known, but the impression
has been that newspaper correspondents
were permitted to send about what they
wanted to, provided they avoided men
tionng future military movements.
The disclosures of the extent to which.
Gen. Otis has deprived the country of
proper information have confirmed a
quiet belief that the general in command.
was afraid to have the truth known, and
1t is believed his official dispatches have
been distorted to conceal his mistakes in
the belief that the censorship would pre-
vent the press correspondents from send
ing the facts.
1t q been a general maxim among
army men that newspaper correspondents
are privileged to give actual results of
battles In their WI language, the censor
ship being restricted to the prevention of
the news of future military movements
from reaching the enemy.
Otis shaDss the News.
Gen. Otis has apparently proceeded far
beyond this, and hos assumed to dictate
what shall be sent and how the story
shall be told. 1t seems to be we'll UNDER
stood about the department that Gen.
Otis has made a serious blunder in at
tempting to deceive the people of the
United States as to the situation in the
Philippines, for now even his truthful,
reports will not be believed, and the peo-
pie will naturally think the conditions N
the island much worse than they really
are.
1t has been painfully felt at the War
Department hat Gen. Otis made IL mis-
take in not getting out to the firing line
now and then, but as the insurgents were
north. south and east of Manila it was
supposed that be felt he could best direct
operations from the city. The failure of
one strategical movement after another
was plainly evident, and yet the general
continued to send IN the most optimistic
reports.
The result of the formal protest by the
correspondents has been to cast suspicion
on the official reports of Gen. Otis as to
the situation, and it is admitted hat now
the only course will be for the President
to interfere and modify the censorship at
Manila, SO that the correspondents may
be permitted to describe the situation as
it is, which will be n salutary check on .
the commanding general.
1t would not be Mt all surprising il the
explosion should result i'll the recall of
Gen. Otis before the rainy season ends.
1t is recognized TINT his usefulness will
he destroyed as o o as he people learn
that he has Systematically deceived them
as to the situation in Luzon.
Army men say the published protest
will do u vast amount of harm. and they
think the correspondents should have ca
bled the President direct, and thus have
avoided scandal.
Ignore Round Robin.
AT the regular semi-weekly cabinet
meeting Tuesday IN extraordinary prob
lem Of the Philippine war presented it.
self. The newspaper correspondence
"roalpd robin" was by far the most per-
picking question the President and his
cabinet had met in many days. The cabi.
nee was divided as to the manner of deal
ing with it. The members condemned it
to q man in private conversation. Two
departing the correspondents. Bot in ALL
these expressions there was a sober nd.
mission that public opinion as to the
rights and limitations of the pres in war
have greatly changed since Gen. 'Tseum-
se4r Sherman disciplined Whitelaw Reid
and Gen. Jeff G.. Davis sent the late
Joe" McCullagh out of camp in a rag,
Ing snowstorm one night.
1t was stated at the Wal Department
Tuesday that no attention whatever
would be paid to the Ground robin" of the
Manila correspondents. The protest was
not cent to Gen. Otis, and it is said will.
not be. and Gen. Otis will not be called.
upon for an explanation. In addition to.
this it was inthnatsd that very encour-
aging news had been received from the
Philippines,
ACCUSES SECRETARY GAGE.
worthington c. Ford of Boston Tells.