The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-07-18
An Ultra Optimistic View Pre-
sented mt Shared by Field
Officers.
SITUATION IS ALARMING
FlIlpIBos Not DemOrsiized and Fail
ures Of Ameriesn Arms in Many
InsAsnees Suppressed.

MANILA. July II. via HSngkong. July
1.-THE constantly increasing sirletness
OF censorship Os me press dispatches
which has prevented the cabling 90 the
United States Of anything that did not
reflect the Official views Of important
events and conditions resulted in a united
effort OH the part Of correspondents here
to secure an abatement OF the rigor Of
censorship The initiative In this dlrec.
ton was taken mo1uh ago, and result
ed IN the forming Of statement which
was presented on Sunday. July ., to Ma
jor General Otis. commanding the mlli-
,ary forces OF the United States in the
Philippines. with request for permission
TO telegraph 1t to the United States
Correspondents also ask for permis-
sion 70 cable their papers all the facts
and different phases Ot events as they
transpIred here. The correspondents had
two long interviews with OTIS, in the
course OF which they GAINED the evident
purpose OF the censorship was not 10 keep
information from the enemy. but to keep
from publhc knowledge Of the real con-
ditlon Of affairs here. II was also assert'
ed By correspondents that newspapers
printed In Manila which reath the enemy
weekly are permitted to publish state
menls similar TO thoSe which the eorre-
spondents are forbidden to cable. OTIS
finally promised greater iiberality. agree
ing 70 pass all matter that he might con-
slider NOT detrimental to the interests OF
the United States.
General Otis appointed Captain Green,
Of his staf, as censor. The statement OF
the correspondents Is as follows.
''The undersigned. all stan correspond
ents OF American newspapers stationed
in Manila, unite in the following state
ment:
I'VE believe that from Official Dispatch
es made public In Washington the people
OF the United States have not received
a correct impression of the conditions m
the PhEippines. but that these dispatches
have presented an ultra-optimistic view
that is not shared by general officers In
the field. We believe that the dispatches
incorrectly represent existing conditions
among the F'iliplnos in respect to dis.
senslon and disqualification resulting
from the American campaign, and to the
brIgand character Of their army. We be-
lieve the dispatches err in the declara-
tion that the situation is well in hand
and the assumption that the insurrection
can be speedily ended without greatly In.
creasing force,
1--WE think the tendency OF the Filipino
purpose has been underestimated and
that the statements are unfounded that
the volunteers are unwilling to engage in
further service. Censorship has COM
PEELED us TO participate in this misrepre-
sentatton by exercising or altering uT.
controver;ed statements Of the facts on
the plea. as General Otis stated that
they would alarm the people at home or
have people of the United States by the
ears. Specifications Prohibition of re-
ports: suppression of full reports of the
field operations In event of failure; sys-
temGtic intimidation OF naval operations
and the suppression Of complete reports
of the situation.
"John T. McCatcheon and Harry Arm.
strong, Chicago Record; oscar X, Davis
and p. G. Mcdonnell New York Sun:
Robert NJ Collins, John P. Dunning and
c, L. Jones, the Associated Press; John
F. Bass and VIII Dlnwiddle, New York