The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-18
OTIS MAY NOW SEND FACTS.
INDUCED BY CORRESPONDENTS TO
RELAX CENSORSHIP.

General Commanding Agrees 10 Pass
All Matter Not Detrimental to the
Interests of the United states.
Correspondents Make Statement
showing That Only the Best News
Is Allowed to Be Published-suc-
cessful Campaigns Reported.
Manila, July H. via Hong Kong, July
1.-THE constantly increasing strictness
of the censorship Of press dispatches from
Manila, which has prevented the cabling
to the United States of anything that did
not reflect official views of important
events and conditions, resulted in a unit
ed effort on the part of correspondents
here to secure m abatement Of the rigor
Of the censorship.
The initiative in this direction was TAX
en- a month ago and resulted in the franz
ing of a statement which was presented
on Sunday, July to Maj. Gen. Otis, com
mandiug the military forces Of the United
States in the Philippine Islands, with a re-
quest for permission to telegraph II to the
United States. The correspondents also
asked that they be allowed to cable to
their respective papers all facts and the
different phases Of events as they trans
pired here.
The correspondents had two long inter
views with Gen. Otis, in the course OF
which they complained that the evident
purpose Of the censorship was not to keep
information from the enemy but to keep
from the public a knowledge of the real
condition of affairs II was asserted by
the correspondents that newspapers print
ed in Manila. which reach the enemy
quickly, are permitted to publish state
ments similar to those which correspond
ents are forbidden to cable. 1t was made
clear to Gen. Otis that the objection was
to the system and not to the censor.
Cen Otis finally promised greater hber-
ality, agreeing to pass all matter that he
might consider not detrimental 20 the in
terests of the United States Gen. OTIS
appointed Capt Green of his staff as cen
sor.
what Correspondents Say.
The statement of the correspondents IS
as follows: "The undersigned, being al
staff correspondents of American newspa-
pers stationed at Manila, unite in the fol-
/ lowing statement:
I'VE believe that, owing to official dis
/ patches from Manila made public II
| Washington, the peotse of the United
! States have not received a correct i'm
preston of the situation In the Philip
| pines, but that these dispatches have pre-
| sented an ultra-optimistic view that Il
| not shared by the general officers In The
| field
I'VE believe these dispatches incorrectly
represent the existing conditions among
! the FIlipinos in respect TO dssension anc
Generalization resulting from the Amer
lean campaign and the brigand character
| of their army.
1--WE believe these dispatches err in tn,
declaration that the situation Is well II
| hand and in the assumption that thf
insurrection can be speedily ended with
out a greatly increased force.
1--WE think the tenacity of the Filipino
purpose has been underestimated, anC
! that the statements are unfounded tina
! volunteers are Wiling 10 engage IN Iur
| ther service.
| "The censorship has compelled us to par
| ticipate in this Misrepresentation by excis
| ing or altering uncontroverted statement:
| of facts on the plea, as Gen Otis stated
that they would alarm the people at home.
or have the people of the United States by
the ears
/ 'SDECIlCdllODSs i ipllliiOh VI ilbSiitdh i'
ports: suppression OF fun reports of field
! operations I'm the event of failure; number!
of heat prostrauons in the field; system
attic minimizGtion Of naval operations, anC
suppression of complete reports of the sit
uation."
The statement was signed by John L
| McCuthcheon, Harry Armstrong chicago
Record; oscar X. Davis and +. g. Nc
Donnell. New York Sun; Robert M. Col
Inns. John p. Dunning. and l.. Jones, th'
| Associated. press; John F. Bass and vii
| Dinwiddie, New York Herald; E. S. Keene
scripps -McRae Association; Richard Lii
| tie, Chicago Tribune.