Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-20
PRESS CENSORSHIP.
Correspondents at Manila Protest
Against Its Strictness.
ACUIyALDONAKES PEACEOyER7URES


Manila, via Hong Kong, July 49,
The constantly increasing strictness of
the censorship of press dispatches from
Manila, which has prevented the ca
bling to the United States Of anything
that did not reflect official views Of i'm
portant events and conditions, results
In united effort on the part Of the cor
respondents here to secure an abate-
ment Of the rigor Of the censorship. The
initiative in this direction was taken
month ago and resulted in the franz
ing of a statement which was presented
on Sunday, July Q, to Maj. Gen. Otis,
commanding the military forces of the
United States in the Philippine islands,
with request for permission to tele-
graph it to the United States. The cor
respondents also asked that they be
allowed to cable to their respective
papers all facts and the different phases
of events as they TRANSFERRED here.
The correspondents had two long in
terviews with Gen. Otis, in the course
of which they complained that the evil
dent purpose of the censorship was not
to keep information from the enemy,
but to keep from the public aknowl-
edge of the real condition Of affairs
here. 1t was already asserted by the
correspondents that newspapers print
ed in Manila, which reach the enemy
quickly, are permitted to publish state
ments similar to those which corre-
spondents are forbidden to cable, 1t
was made clear to Gen. Otis that the
objection was to the system and not to
the censor. Gen. Otis finally promised
greater liberality, agreeing to pass all
matter that he might consider not det-
rimental to the interests Of the United
States. Gen. Otis appointed Capt
Green, Of his staff, censor. The state
ment Of the correspondents is as fol-
lows:
The undersigned, being oil stan correspond
ents Of American newspapers, stationed in Ma
Mia unite In the following statement We
believe that owing TO official dispatches from
Manila made public In Washington the people
Of the United States have not received correct
impression Of the situation in the Philippines,
but that these dispatches have presented an
ultra optimistic view that Is not shared by the
general officers in the field. We believe that
the dispatches Incorrectly represent the exist
ing conditions among the Philippines in respect
to dissension and. decentralization resulting from
the American campaign and to the brigand
character OF their army. We believe the dis
patches err In the declaration that the situation
is well In hand, and the assumption that the
insurrection can be speedily ended without
q greatly increased force. We think the tenac-
ity Of the Filipino purpose has been underesti-
mated and that the statements are unfounded
that volunteers are willing'to engage in further
service. The censorship has compelled us to
participate In this Misrepresentation by ex-
cisng or altering uncontroverted statements Of
facts on the plea, as Gen. Otis stated, that
they would alarm the people at home" or
have the people of the United States by the
ears" Specifications Prohibition of hospital
reports suppression of full reports Of field per-
atoms in the event Of failure, numbers Of heat
in the field systematic minimiza-
ton Of naval operations and suppression of COM
plete reports OF the situation.
1t was signed by representatives of
the Chicago Herald, the New York Sun,
the Associated press, the New York
Herald, the Scripps-McRae association
and the Chicago Tribune
MAKES PEACE ovERTUREs.
Chicago, July ls,-A special to the
Times Herald from Washington says:
Important cablegrams have been re-
ceived at the state department from
the Philippine commission and at the
war department from Gen. Otis, con-
corning new move in the direction of
peace These dispatches have been
in the hands of the president for
several days, but he has declined to
make them public because the ultra
optimistic views heretofore received
from the same source have not been
borne out by subsequent events. The
latest dispatches, however are more
encouraging than the previous ones,
but the president wishes to have some
positive results before making them
public. All that can be learned def
nitely about them is that direct over
lures for peace have been made to Gen.
Otis by Aguinaldo and some of his
principal leaders. 1t was said by a
cabinet official last night that If the
promise1 are. fulfilled the volunteers
nov Nting enl,stJ1 WA nos oe uvvuuu.
CABINET WILL DISCUSS PROTEST.
Washington, July lS.-The Manila
dispatch sent from Hong Kong by the
newspaper men will be taken up by |
The cabinet to-day. So far as can be
earned, nothing has been done or de-
,ided on concerning the communica-
lion. Officials are exceptionally reti-
cent on the subject and it could not
even be ascertained whether the news
paper card has been cabled to Gen. |
Otis, though II is presumed that this
has been done, since otherwise he
would not learn of it in the ordinary
course of things for some weeks, when |
American or European mails reach
him. 1t was said last night by prom
nent army officer that Gen. Otis prob
ably would be left free to act on the
card as he thought best. Nothing, he |
added, has been heard from Gen. Otis
On the subject.
----=
Another Feud In Kentucky.
London, KY, July ls.--A report has