The Washington weekly post., 1899-07-18
WAR NEWS kept BACK
Rigorous Censorship of Dis
patches at Manila.
STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDENTS
Of the Associated Press
and Various American Newspapers Al
lrge that Gen. Otls Has Endeavored to
Prevent the Real Condition of Affairs tn
the Philippines from Becoming Known
to the People in This Country.

Manila. July II, via Hongkong, July H.
The constantly increasing strictness Oh
the censorship of press dispatches from
Manila. which has prevented the caDllhs
TO the United States of anything that olu
not reflect official views OF important
events and conditions. resulted IN unlleu
effort on the part of correspondents mere
to secure an abatement of the rigOr OIL
the censorship. The initiative in this d.
rection was taken a month ago, ana re-
suited in the framing of a statement
which was presented on Sunday, July y
TO Maj. Gen. Otis commanding the mill
tary forces of the United States in the
Philippine Islands, with a request for per-
mission TO telegraph it TO the united
States The correspondents also asked
that they be allowed to cable 10 their
respective papers all facts. and the diner
ent phases of events as they transpired
here.
An Unfutflled Promise.
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 knowledge of the real
Oh affairs mere II was dlSO
serted by the correspondents that news
papers printed in Manila, which reach
the enemy quickly, are permitted to pub
lish statements similar to those which
correspondents are forbidden to cable. 1t
was made clear TO Gen. Otis that the OBJ
lection was to the system and not to the
censor.
Gen. Otis finally promised greater liber-
ality, agreeing TO pass all matter that he
might consider not detrimental TO the in
terests of the United States. Gen. Otis
appointed Capt. Green. of his staff,
censor.
An Agreed Statement of Facts.
The statements of the correspondents is
as follows:
The undersigned, being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers
stationed in Manila, unite in the fol-
lowing statement: We believe, that
owing to official dispatches from Ma
Mia made public in Washington, the
people Of the United States have not
received a correct impression of the
situation in the Philippines, but that
these dispatches have presented an
ultra-optimistic view that is not shar-
ed by the general officers in the field.
We believe the dispatches Incorrect
1y represent the existing conditions
among the Philippines in respect to
dissension and Generalization result
ing from the American campaign and
to the brigand character of their army.
We believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that ''The situation is well
in hand" and in the assumption that
the insurrection can be speedily ended
without greatly increased force.
We think the tenacIty of the Fill
pinO purpose has been underestimated,
and that the statements are unfound-
ed that volunteers are willing to en-
gage in further service.
The censorship has compelled us to
participate in this Misrepresentation
by excising or altering uncontrovert-
ed statements 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
Specifications: Prohibition of hos
pital reports; suppression of full re-
ports of field operations in the event of
failure; numbers of heat prostrations
in the field; systematic intimidation
of naval operations. and suppression of
complete reports of the situation.
JOHN T. MCUTCHEON,
HARRY ARMSTRONG,
Chicago Record.
OSCAR K, DAVIS,
p. G. MDONNELL,
New York sun
ROBERT NJ. ROLLINS,
JOHN p. DUNNING,
L. JONES,
The Associated Press.
JOHN F. BASS,
WILL DINWIDDIE,
New York Herald.
z. d. KEENE,
ScrippsMcRea Association
RICHARD LITTLE,
Chicago Tribune.