The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-07-26
1G. S. c., WEDNESDAY, JULY rs, 1899
Funston, whose regiment swan the

L propose 10 make all Une ueLoes
that are made in this war.
Colonel Thompson, the press censor,
has refused to allow me to mention
regiments Distinguishing themselves IN
battle, saying he was ordered to do SO
by General Otis.
During General Wheatson's advance
to Pasig and beyond with the Flying
brigade Otis ordered all press dispatches
stopped unless they described the
enemy fighting furiously and said enor-
nous losses were inflicted by our
troops.
AS matter of fact on this occasion
the insurgents were contemplate IN
numbers and ran away except in cases
of one or two small bands, and their
losses were very slight.
General Otis conditions for press
dispatches were so outrageously dis
honest that refused to send any dis
patches, preferring to let The Journal
be beaten rather than to telegraph Of
fetal lies.
The most extraordinary thing is that
up to the time left Manila, which was
after the capture of Manolos by Nc
Arthur and Santa Cruz by LaTton,
General Otis had never been at the
front.
Imagine this Jealous clerk, who never
went outside the city, directing with
absolutely tyrannical exactitude the
operations Of divisions commanded by
soldiers like Lawton and Macarthur!
know from my association with
both division in the field that General
Otis treated the generals as though they
were school boys.
When it was announced that LaWton
was on his way to the Philippines to
command all the troops IN the field as
corps commander, every member OF the
little clique Surrounding Otis was busy
belittling Lawton.
When Lawton arrived Otis refused
to assign him to any command for i've
days, although there was heavy fight
ing. Lawton begged permission to take
part in it, offering even to carry mus
ket if necessary.
asked Otis what Lawton's status
was and why be was not assigned.
General Lawton is merely an officer
reporting to me for ORDERS" he replied,
''and when l get ready to give him Or
ders he'll know what his status is.
Otis Jealousy of Lawton was SO plain
as to be childish. For several weeks
Otis never consulted him, nor gave him
the slightest information regarding the
plans of the campaign.
The truth of the situation is that
General Otis is regarded by practically
the whole army, officers and privates
alike, as an incompetent officer who
sacrifices everything to serve his own
vanity and jealousy.
l do not speak with the slightest feel
ing against General Otis, whom be-
lieve to be painstaking, industrious,
and, according to his own light, patrlo-
tic
OTIS SIMPLY a CLERK.
He has accomplished a great deal in
regulating the municipal affairs Of Ma
Mia, but his conduct, or rather non
conduct of the military campaign has
been a series of blunders, due partly to
timidity and lack of experience, partly
to jealousy of other officers and partly
to his incurable habit of wasting his
time correcting press dispatches and
doing clerks work, while generals in
the field, powerless to move without
his orders, are waiting for him to make
up his mind in his Office how to fight
the enemy.
When I complained to General Otis
that he was striking out of my dis
patches things had witnessed with my
own eyes and which the American peo'
pie had right to know, he said:
Il don't propose to allow the Ameri'
can public to know anything about this
campaign that will agitatc or excite i.
So long as l am in command here the
people of the United States will know
only such facts as deem advisable to
be known.
"Auy man who writes anything
aboue this campaign contrary to my
wishes will be expelled from the Philip,
! pines. We are not going to have any
public agitations about this campaign
if l can prevent it"