The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-17
DECEIVED.
The People Have Not Been Told
the Truth
Regarding the War In the
Philippines.
A STRONG PROTEST.
Is Formed by Newspaper Cor
respondents at Manila
With Request to Gen. Otis That
They Be Allowed
TO GIVE THE FACTS.
Assert That They Have I'm
willingly Been Made
Parties to Misrepresentation
and False Reports.
TO GIVE THE FACTS.
Assert That They Have I'm
willingly Been Made
Parties to Misrepresentation
and False Reports.
Gen. Otis Yields and Appoints a
New Censor.

Manila, July II, via Hong Kong, July
1.-THE constantly increasing strict
ness of the censorship of press dispatch
es from Manila, which has prevented
the cabling to the United States of any
thing that did not reflect official views
OF important events and conditions re-
suited in a united effort on the part of
the correspondents here to secure an
abatement of the rigor of the censor
ship. The initiative in this direction
was taken a month ago and resulted in
the framing of a statement which was
presented on Sunday, July 9, to Major
General Otis commanding the military
forces of the United States in the Phil
fppine Islands 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 evi-
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, which reach the enemy quick
ly, are permitted to publish statements
similar to those which correspondents
are forbidden to cable. 1t was made
clear to Gen. Otis that the objection
was to the system and not to the cen
sOr.
Gen. Otis finally promised greater lib
crafty agreeing to pass all matter that
he might not consider detrimental to
the interests of the United States
Gen. Otis appointed Capt. Green of his
staff, censor.
THE PROTEST
The statement of the correspondents
IS as follows:
The undersigned, being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers
ang statement:
We believe that owing to official dis
patches from Manila, made public in
Washington, the people OF the United
states have received a correct impress
sion of the situation in the Philippines
but that these dispatches have present
ed an ultra optimistic view that is not
shared by the general officers in the
field.
we 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 campaigu
and TO the brigand character of their
army.
w g DGA4EFG the QlSDaICn6S err IN the
declaration that the situation is well
in hand and the assumption that the
ansurrection can be speedily ended with
out greatly increased force.
We think the tenacity of the Filipino
purpose mas been under estimated and
that the statements are unf0unded that
volunteers are willing to engage in
further service
The censorship has compelled US to
participate in this Misrepresentation by
exercising or alteration of uncOntro-
verted statements of facts on the plea
as Gen. Otis stated, that 'theyy would
alarm the people at home or have the
people of the United States by the
ears
Specifications: Prohibition Of re-
ports; suppression of full reports of
field operations in the event of failure:
mum oers of heat prOstrations in the
neldi systematic intimidation of naval
operations and suppression of complete
Ra2orts Of the situation" CSigned)
JOHN T. M'CUTCHEON
HARRY ARMSTRONG.
Chicago Record.
OSCAR K DAVIS
P. G. MDONNELL.
New York Sun.
ROBERT M COLLINS
JOHN P. DUNNING.
L. JONES.
The Associated Press.
JOHN F. BASS.
WILL DINWIDDIE.
New York Herald.
ED s. KEENE.
Scripps-McRae Association.
RICHARD LYTTLE.
Chicago Tribune.