Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1899-07-27
OTIS HIS lied A LITTLE.
HAS MISREPRESENTED CONDITIONS Al
!. MANlLLA--klAY EXPECT FACTS. -
PRESS AEN MAKE AN APPEAL FOR TRUTH.
They do Not See the Situation as the Cable.
I grams Of Gen. Otis Explained u.

MANILA, July 11.--(via Hong Kong,
July 1S,)-Tho constantly increasing
striotness of the censorship of press dis.
patches from Manila, which has pre-
vented the cabling to tho United States
of anything that did not reflect the Off
cial views on important events aud con
ditions resulted in united effort on the
part Of the correspondents here to secure
an abatement of tho rigor of the censor
ship. . ......
3" The iniativo in this direction was taken
month ago and resulted in tho framing
Of statement which was presented on
Sunday, July 9th, to Major General Otis,
commanding the military forces of the
United States in tho Philippine Islands,
with a request for permission to tele-
graph 1t to the United States. Tho cor
respondents also asked that thoy be
allowed to cable to their respective
papers all facts and the different phases
of events as they transpired hero.
The correspondents had two long in
tcrviows with General Otis in tho Course
of which they complained that tho owl
dent purpose Of the censorship was not
to keep, information from the enemy, but
to keop from tho public knowledge of
tho real condition of affairs horo. 1t was
also asserted by correspondents that
newspapers printed in Manila, which
reach the enemy quickly, arc permitted
to publish statements similar to those
L.,
cable. 1t was made clear to General
Otis that the objection was to tho sys-
tom and not to the Censor
General Otis finally promised only
greater liberality, agreeing to pass all
mattor that ho might consider not detri-
mental to the interests of tho United
States. General Otis appointed Captain
Green of his staff censor.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows.
"Tho undersigned, being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers, sta
toned in Manila, unite in the following
statement:
We belioye that owing to official
dispatches from Manila, made public in
Washington, tho people of the United
States have not received correct i'm
preston of the situation in tho Philip
pines, but that these dispatches have
presented an ultra optimistic view that
is not shared by tho general officers in
the field.
we believe that the dispatches in
hn
tions among the Philippines in respect
to dissonsion and Generalization result
ing from the American campaign and to
tho brigand character of their army.
we believe that tho dispatches OH
in the declaration that the situation is
well in hand and tho assumption that
tho insurrection can be speedily ended
without a greatly increased force.
we think tho tenacity of the Fill
pino purpose has been under estimated
and that tho statements are unfouuded
that volunteers arc willing to engage in
further service.
"The censorahi, ha3 compelled lis tC
participate ir this misrepresentation by
cxoising or altnrinG nncontroverteti
statement of facts, on tho plea, as Como
raj Otis stated, that they would alarm
tho people at home,' havo tho people OF
tho United States by the ears.'
Specifications Prohibition of reports
suppression of full report of field opera
tions in the event Of failure; numbers OF
hoat prostrations in the field systematic
minimization of naval ope.ations and
suppression of complete reports of the
situation.
Signed: John II. McCutcheon, Harry
Armstrong, Chicago Record, Ed. s. Nc
Rean, Scripps-McRao Association; Osca,
Davis, =. G. Mcdonnell, New York Sun
John +. Bass, Will Dinwiddie, Now Yorl
Herald; Robert M. Collins, John p. Dun
ming, l.. Jones, The Associated Press
Richard Little, Chicago Tribune"
o