The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-18
CORRESPONDENTS COMPLAIN
oftbe Rigid censorship OF Press Dis
Watches Iaron, the phtiipninea.

patches EEottA kAlg NllNNfNss'-'-'
MANILA, July II, via Hong Kong,
July 1.-THE constantly increasing
gtrIctness OF the censorship Of press
dispatches from Manila. which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
OF anything that did not reflect official
views OF important events and condi-
tons, resulted in an united efiort on
the part OF correspondents here to se-
cure an abatement OF the rtgor OF the
censorship The Initiation in this d.
rectlon was taken a month ago and
resulted in the framing OF a statement
which was presented on Sunday. July
9, to Major General Otis, commanding
the military forces of the United States
In the Philippine Islands, with q re-
quest for permission to telegraph 1t to
the United States. The correspondents
also asked that they be allowed to
cable to their respective papers all
facts and different phases OF events as
they transpired here. The cortespon-
dents had two long Interviews with
General Otis. In the course OF which
they complained that the evident pur.
pose Of the censorship was not to keep
Information from the enemy, but to
keep from the public knowledge Of the
real condition Of AFFAIRS here. It was.
also asserted by the correspondence
that newspapers printed in Manila,
which reach the enemy quickly, are,
permitted to publish statements slmilaF
to those which correspondents are forYl
hidden to cable. 1t was made clear TO-
General Otis that the objection was to
the system and not to the censor.
General Otis finally promised greater
llberalIty, agreeing to pass all matter
that he might consider not detrimental
to the interests OF the United States,
General Otis appointed Captain Green,
OF his stan. censor.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows:
"The undersigned, being ati stan cor
respondents of American newspapers,
stationed in Manila, unite in the follow
ing statement:
1--WE believe that owing to Official dis
patches from Manila made public in
Washington, the people of the United
States have not received a correct im-
precision Of the situation In the Philip
pines; but that these dispatches have
presented an ultra optimistic view that
is not shared by the general officers in
the field.
I'VE believe the dispatches Incorrect
ly represent the existing conditions in
the Philippines in respect to dissenslons
and Generalization resulting from the
American campaign and to the brigand
character OF their army.
1--WE believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that the situation is well
in hand. and in the assumption that
the lnsurrection can be speedily ended
without a greatly Increased force.
I'VE believe that the tenarity OF the
Filipino purpose has been underesti-
mated and that the statements are un-
founded that volunteers IRE willing to
engage in further service.
1.-THE censorship has compelled US to
participate in this misrepresentation by |
exclsInE or altering uncontroverted
statements OF facts on the plea, us Cen
eral Otis stated. that they would alarm
the people at home or have the people
OF the United States by the ears
Specifications: Prohibition Of re.
ports: suppression Of full reports OF
field operations in the event Of failure:
numbers of heat proStratiOns in the
field: systematic intimidation of naval
operations, and suppression of COM
plete reports of the situation.
tslgned) JOHN T. MccUTcHEoN.
HARRY ARMSTRONG. Chicago Rec
ord.
OSCAR X. DAVIS. P. G. McDoN-
NELL. New York Sun.
ROBERT NJ. COLLINS, JOHN P.
DUNN1NG. L. JONES, the AssoeIa-
ted Press.
JOHN F. BASS, WILL DINwIDD1E,
New York Herald.
E. s. KEENE, scrlpps-McRae Assocla-
ton,
RICHARD LITTLE. Chicago Tribune.