The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-18
United Effort to Abate RgOr of Press
Censorship.
GEN. CORBIN SAYS THIS IS DONE
lie Says All That l. Suppressed Is
What Would Give Information to
FilipinOs rs TO Plans Of Cam
paign-GencraI otis Has
Furnished the Press
All the News.

h -
ton OF the war correspondents formal
Indictment Of General Otis manage
ment OF The Philippine campaign caused a
sensation i'm the departments here Sec
retary Hay had received advicos as late
as to-day from civil as we'll as military
sources i'm the Philippines which led him
10 declare that the situation there was
certainly improving materially and that
the prospects for the future had bright
ened very much. with these advices, the
Secretary said. General Otis had nothing
10 do and they were from disinterested
persons whose opinions must carry
weight.
Generally there was strong disincllna-
tlon exhibited by the officials to discuss
the last "round robin
General Miles. who was acting as Sec
retarv of War i'm tho absence of Secretary
Alper and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
iohn would not comment upon the dis-
patch. and Adjutant-General Corbin TOOK
the same attitude
WITHOUT CAUSE
Regarding statement that caoie ui',
nafcnes received I'm Washington ana
otner news regarding the war had oeeh
censored contrary to the usual custom
Adiutant-GenerM Corbin to-day said.
.'rne censure of the sO-called censored
press Is without just cause ana eVldehly
made under msapprehension OF tdcls.
There has been no information teceN'n
from General Otis that has not been
given 20 the press promptly on the bul-
letin board in the hall OF TINS ONCE
"rhe standing instructions Of tho
President and Secretary Of War are
that the public shall bee given an inior-
nation we receive. this has been done
and will continue 10 be done. or course,
plans Of campaigns that would be OF
nelp 20 AgulnaldO and other insurgents
have not and VIII not be PROMULGATED
but an facts OF events transpired have
been given i'm fullness.
THEIR LETTERS.
4 statement was prepared al Army
HEADQUARTERS to-day and given out for
publication. IN which it was said.
'rhere has been some discussion In
the press recently relating 90 an alleged
difference of opinion regarding the num-
ber OF troops to be sent 90 the Philip
pine Islands IN the first instance
Thcn follow a number Of letters from
General Miles and General Merritt. IN
which each recommended what troops
he thought necessary tO DE sent 90 the
islands.
These estimates. according 90 the let
ters. ranged from II 900 TO ljil0. I'm con-
cluslon the statement SAYS:
THE DIFFERENCE.
eft thus appears there was no contro-
versv regarding the number Of troops
90 be sent. General Miles in fact. having
designated more than General Merritt
called for. but only q difference Of opin-
ton as 10 the composition of the force.
General Merritt desiring 90 have more
regulars than were designated by General
Miles
Certain newspapers have attempted
20 snow that General Miles dld not want
more than 5000 troops 10 be sent 10 the
Philippines under General Merritt but
the above official correspondence shows
this not 10 be the fact
CENSORSHIP.
MANILA. July n.-via HONG KONG.
July 1.-THE constantly increasing strict-
ness OF the censorship of press dis
patches from Mania. which has pre-
vented tie cabling 90 the United States
of anything whicn does not reflect ofn-
cial views of important events and con-
ditiOns. has resulted In united effort ON
the part Of correspondents here 90 see
cure an abatement OF the rigor Of the
STATEMENT PRESENTED.
The nitiatiyc in this direction was ta-
ken month ago and resulted in the
framing of statement which WAS pre-
sentcd ON Sunday. July 9TH. tO Major
General Otis. commanding the military
forces of the United States I'm the Philip
pine Islands. with "a request for ptrmis-
son % telegraph 10 90 the United States
The correspondents also asked that
they be allowed 90 cable % their respcc-
tive papers AN facts and the different
phases Of events as they transpircd here
Tho correspondents had two long in
teryiews with General Otis. I'm the course
OF which they complained that the evi.
dent purpose OF the censorship was not
io Keep Information from the enemy. but
to Keep from the public n knowledge of |
the real condition Of affairs here.
II was also asserted by the cOrresDOn-
dents that NEWSPAPERS printed in Manila
which reach the enemy quickly. are
permitted 10 publish statements SINH
lar 10 those which correspondents are
iorhidden 90 cable II was made clear
to General Otis that the objection was |
% the system and not t0 the censor.
GREATER LIBERALlrY.
General OTIS finally promised greater |
lb-rdlity. agreeing to pass all matter !
that he might consider not detrimental |
to the interests OF the United States.
General OTIS appointed Cant. Green OF |
bis stan, censor. The statement Of the |
correspondents is as follows.
THE undersigned, being all stan cor |
resp)noel.ts OF American newspapers
ltationed in Manila. unite in the follow |
ug statement.
we believe that owing TO official dis |
patches from Manila, made public I'm /
Washington. the people Of the United |
States have not received "a correct i'm |
preston Of the situation i'm the Philip |
pines. but that these dispatches have |
presented an ultra optimistic view that |
IS not shared by the general officers in |
he field
we believe the dispatches incorrectly |
'epresent the existing conditions among |
he Philippines IN respect 20 dissension |
md demoralzatiOn, resulting from the |
American campaign and 20 the brigand |
character of their army.
DISPATCHES ERR.
we believe the dispatches err IN the |
declaration that the situation Is well
n hand and In the assumption that the
nsurrectiOp can be speedily ended with.
,ut a greatly increased force
we think the tenacity Of the Filipino |
purpose has been underestimate and
hat the statements are unfOunded that |
volunteers are willing 10 engage I'm fur
her service.
The censorship has compelled US to
IN this wisrcuresc station bv |
xercisirg or altering uncontrovertad
tatcmeuts of facts on the plea. as Gen.
ral OTIS stated. that they would alarm