Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-07-19
THAT PRESS CENSOR.
Washington Officials Worked Up to
Il High fitch Over it.
SOME ONE MUST &C.
Whether II win BE Otis or Newspaper
Correspondents an Investigation
VIII Only Reveal-Sensa-
tien Bound 10 Come.

Washington. July ls.-The protests OF .
the press censor Of affairs in the Philip |
pines j. the talk Of the town. At the !
various departments nothing else can /
be heard There Is no doubt but that |
active steps viii be taken in this matter
and that too az once.
Either Major General Otis or the
newspaper correspondents must 90. To
deport the correspondents VIII probably
b. accepted at home and abroad a. a
return to the old Spanish method Of
muzzling the press. To relieve Major
General Otis will mean an official ac-
knowledgement Of his failure and de-
moralization Of military discipline.
The above statement was made by a
cabinet Official when asked 10 discuss
the problem which confronts the admin
isiration ~ a result Of the publication
Of newspaper correspondents Round
Robin. protesting against the course Of
General Otis in preventing the real
facts regarding the Philippine situation
from becoming known
The revelations now made about the
censorship astound the leading officials
here. When complaints were recently
made about the way dispatches. .,were
being stopped and mangled at Manila
the war department was satisfied with
an explanation from General Otis that
great liberty was being allowed with
only such restrictions a. prevented ad-
vance information Of military operations
from becoming known 20 the enemy.
The president has frequently remarked
20 visitors who broached the subject
that he was anxious 10 have the fullest
consideration Of the Philippine Affairs
disseminated and he was disposed 10
have the widest latitude commensurate
with military necessity given 10 Ameri'
can correspondents throughout the Is
lands When the latest disclosures re
garding the petty annoyances that cor
respondents have met are officially sub
stantiated orders from Washington
will undoubtedly cause their abatement
Il is the impression that the gist. Il
not the entire subject matter Of The
correspondents complaint, will BE- sem
by cable to General Otis by the war de
partment and that he will be asked fol
his version Of the specification the!
charge. should the reioinder simpl!
deny the very serious charges in gener
al. 10 which such partiality has beei
shown in the past there Is no doub
that the general officers in the held il
Luzon will he calledon directly for brie
reports on the condition Of affairs. /
! is significant fact that none Of then
have had an opportunity to present an
statement regarding the campaign sine
their accounts Of the opening Of hostil
ties early last February, and that Ger
OTIS has permitted four months TO pas
without sending single mail report I
the war department, preferring 10 cot
fine himself to brief and generally IL
definite cable dispatches
Z What every army officer inWashingio
! has long feared, but for obvious reason
!. declined 10 discuss In public and whl
\ civilians were beginning unwilliugly
! most instances IL believe. Is precisel
confirmed by the rems-kable cable al
patch from Hong Kong which will tai
! rank as a war paper with the celebrat,
\ Santiago Round Robin'of last summe
At the war department for more thi
= a month. the feeling among the high
officials that General Otis was mi
placed in command at Manila. has be.
growing irrepressible Ills consocuti'
official reports were said 10 be noncc
roborativc, and even the president W
no longer aware Of the distrustful 80
timent affecting soldiers in Manila
on duty here, or passing through Was
ington 10 Join commands elsewhere.
The government was compelled TO Z
pend for later news Of the Phiippi
situation wholly on the brief cabled !
ports from the general IL having be-
noticeable that the press dispatch
which had been 30 full and satisfacto
90 the authorities eailier In the ca
paign had practically ceased 10 col
since the early part Of June the inf
ence being that the correspondents h
been driven from the field by the raj
season
The anxiety was increased by the
parent reluctance Of General Otis
give desired information his grudgl
replies TO queries about the men
would need In the fail and his stubbC
reiteration that $1,000 men would
enough for all purposes.
That was his estimate six months %
yet for the succeeding four months
forea nVt,rassnta1 nVpr lU uu1 auI hur