The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-07-27
THE FACTS WITHHELD
Correspondents Protesting
Against Censorship.
FILIPINOS NOT DEMORALIZED
Their Army Not Made UP OF Brigands-
Americans Have Not tho SituS-
ton Well In Hand.

Mania, July IL, Via dOn8 AO4xs
July 19.-The constantly increasing
strictness of censorship Of the press dis
patches which has prevented the cabl-
ing to the United States of anything
that did not reflect the official views
of important events and conditions
resulted In a united effort on the part
of correspondents here to secure an
abatement of the rigor of censorship.
The initiative in this direction was
taken a month ago, and resulted in the
forming of a statement which was pre-
scented on Sunday. July 9. to Major
General Otis. commanding the military
forces of the United States in the Phil
ippines, with request for permission
to telegraph 1t to the United States.
Correspondents also asked for permits.
sion to cable their papers all the facts
and different phases Of events as they
transpired here. The correspondents
had two long interviews with Otis,
in the course of which they claimed
the evident purpose of the censorship
was not to keep information from the
enemy. but to keep from public knowl-
edge the real condition of affairs
here. 1t was also asserted by corre-
spondents that newspapers printed in
Manila which reach the enemy weekly,
ale permitted to publish statements
similar to those which the correspond
snts are forbidden to cable. Otis fin
ally promised greater liberality, agree
ing to pass all matter that he might
consider not detrimental to tie inter-
ests of the United States.
General Otis appointed Captain
Green, of his staff. as censor. The
statement of the correspondent is as
follows:
1.-THE undersigned, all staff corre-
spondents of American newspapers
stationed in Manila, unite in the fol-
lowing statement:
''We believe that from official dis
patches made public in Washington,
the people of the United States have
not received correct impression OF the
conditions in the Philippines. 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 Filipinos in respect to dissension
and decentralization resulting from the
American campaign, and to the brigand
character of their army We believe
the dispatches err In the declaration,
that the situation is we'll in hand,
and the assumption that the insurrec-
ton can be speedily ended without
greatly increased force.
"We think the tenacity of the Fill
Pine purpose has been underestimated
and that the statements are unfounded
that the volunteers are unwilling to
engage in further service. Censorship
has compelled us to participate in this
Misrepresentation by exercising or al.
tering uncontroverted statements of the
facts on the plea, as General Otis stat
ed, that they would alarm the people
at home, or have people of the United
States by the ears. Specifications:
Prohibition of reports; suppression OF
full reports of the field operations in
event of failure; numbers of heat pros
tratlons in the field; systematic mini
imitation of naval operations and the
suppression of complete reports OF
the situation.
"John T. McCutcheon and Harry
Armstrong, Chicago Record; Oscar Z.
Davis and P. g. Mcdonnell. New York
Sun; Robert M. Collins, John P. Dun
ming and G. T.. Jones. the Associated
Press; John F. Bassand, Will Dinwid-
die. New York Herald; Ed s. Keene,
Scripps .McRae Association; Rinehard
Little. Chicago Tribune