The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-20
NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS
UNITE IN MAKING STATEMENT
That Important Facts Are Kept Prom the
Public

Pubic,
Manila, July l2-yia Hongkong,
July II. The conditions OF the CEN
sorship have been steadily growing
worse since the beginning Of the insur-
rection and have finally reached eli
max A meeting was held q month
ago OF all the staff correspondents OF
American newspapers stationed at Ma
Mia, and q telegram was drafted pre-
senting the situation according to the
best opinions and submitted to General
Otis The general was angry. lie
summoned the correspondents and
threatened 10 court martial them all
on charge Of conspiracy. lie said
that the telegram accused him OF lying
This the correspondents disavowed and
modified the language Of the message,
but General Otis refused to pass the
telegram, which is now sent TO Hong
kong for transmission.
General Otis offered TO improve the
conditions Of tho censorship and ap-
point new censor, but the CORE
spondents explained that their com
plant was against the system,
not against the censor. General
Otis asked the correspondents to
submit the changes in the system
which they deemed essential The
correspondents asked permission to re-
poit, first, all Of the facts, and, second,
all Of the phases Of the situation, both
Of which had heretofore been impOs-
sible. Gen. Otis nominally granted
the desired reforms lie modified his
concessions, however so that there
were slight changes. The activity at
the front delayed settlement Of the
matter and General Otis illness caused
further delay. a final meeting Of
the correspondents was held today and
Gen. Otis was informed that the follow
ing message would be sent to Hong
kong:
The undersigned, comprising the en-
tire staff Of correspondents Of American
newspapers at Manila unite in the fol-
lowing statement:
That owing t. the official dispatch
es from Manila made public in Wash
ington the people of the United States
have received an incorrect impression
OF the situation in the Philippines and
that these dispatches present an ultra
tptimistic view which is not shared
by the general officers in the field. We
believe that these dispatches incorrectly
represent the existing conditions
among the Filipinos in respect OF in
ternal disssensions and Generalization
resultant from the American campaign
and the brigand.like character OF their
army. II is believed that these des-
patches err in the declaration that sit
uation is well in hand, and in the as
sumption that the insurrection Will lie
speedily ended without greatly
increased force.
I'VE think that the tenacity of the
Filipino purpose is underestimate, and
that the statements that the volunteers
are willing to serve further are IN.
founded. The censorship has compelled
US to participate in this misrepresenta-
tion by exercising or altering unoon'
troverted statements of facts. on the
plea, quoting General OTIS, that they
would alarm the people at h ONE and
have the people OF the United States
by the ears. "
Our specifications are:
THE prohibition Of hospital reports,
the numbers Of heat prostrations in the
field, the suppression Of full reports Of
field operations in case Of their failure,
the prohibition Of complete reports Of
the situation, and systematic min
imitation Of Naval operations "
Bass and Dinwiddie. New York
Herald.
McCutcheon and Armstrong, "Ohi-
cago Record. -
Little, "Chicago Tribune "
Collins, Jones. and Dunning, Assoc
lated Press.
Keen, Scripps Nc Rae League.
Davis and Mcdonnell the Sun
Gen. Otis particularly resented the
parts Of the despatch having reference
10 the volunteers and the naval opera
tions. The correspondents cited many
proofs OF their allegations. 1t is i'm
possible 10 describe the censorship by
cable. Many grounds Of complaint had
become intolerable. IL remains TO be
seen what relief the notifications will
develop.
| INDIGNATION OF SOLDIERS RELATIVES
OVER THE LACK OF INFORMATION.
The Washington d. O., Times says
This lack Of information in the War
Department regarding the location and
condition Of the various regiments I'M
der General Otis in the Philippines. is
causing much indignation and increas-
ing anxiety Of the relatives and friends
of the men In the service there.
To the many enquiries received daily
at the department for certain regi-
ments. the officials make the one stereo-
typed answer, 1--WE do not know where
the regiments are. The last report we
had was made last March, and as there
is no law requiring such a report to be
made, we will be unable to furnish
any information in the future.
This answer is one well calculated to
rouse the ire and indignation OF the
many anxious parents and relatives who
are unable to ascertain whether their
sons and relatives are camped in the
swamps or an the mountains, and the
comments that are made on what Is