Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-17
Correspondents Kick About
Gen. OTIS Action.
THEIR STATEMENT SENT
They Claim that the True Condition of
Affairs in the Philippines is not
Allowed to be Cabled to the Out
side World.

Manila, II, via Hong King. July 17-Con-
stantly increasing strictness of the GEN.
sorshp of press dispatches which has
prevented the cabling to the United States
OF anything that did not reflect official
views of important events and conditions
resulted in a united effort on the part Of
correspondents here to secure an abate-
ment of the rigor of censorship. The ini-
tiatve in this direction was taken a
north ago and resulted in the forming Of
statement which was presented on
Sunday, July 8. to Major General Otis.
commanding the military forces of the
Philippines, with a request for permis-
sion to telegraph it to the United States
The correspondents also asked for per-
mission to cable their papers all facts and
different phases of events they trans
pired here. The correspondents had two
long interviews with Otis, in the course Of
which they claimed the evident purpose
of censorship was not to keep informat ton
from the enemy but to keep from the pub
lie the knowledge of the real condition Of
affairs here. 1t was also asserted by the
cores spondents that the newspapers
printed in Manila which reached the enc
my weekly are permitted to publish state
ments similar to those which the CORES
pondents are forbidden to cable. Otis fin
ally promised greater lberality, agreeing
to pass all matter that he might consider
not detrimental to the interests of the
United States. Gen. Otis appointed Cap
| tain Green of his staff censor.
The statement of the spondents is
as follows:
The undersigned being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers
stationed in Manila unite in the following
statement:
I'VE believe that from official dispatches
made public in Washington the people Of
the United States have not received a
correct impression of 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 existing conditions among the
Philippines in respect to dissension
and Generalization resulting from
the American campaign and to
the brigand character of their
army We believe the dispatches err in
the declaration that the situation Is we'll
in hand, and the assumption that the in
surrection can be speedily ended with
out a greatly increased force. We think
the tenaclty OF the FlllplT-O purpose mas
been underestimated and that the state
ments are unfounded that volunteers are
willing to engage in further service. Cen
sorship has compelled us to participate in
this misrepresentation by exercising or
altering the uncontroverted statement Of
facts on the plea, as General Otis stated,
that they would alarm the people at
home or have the people of the United
States by the ears.
"Specifica tiOns: Prohibition of reports;
suppression of full reports of field opera
tons in event of failure: numbers of
heat prostrations in field; systema tic
minimization of naval operations and
suppression of complete reports of situa-
tion.
(SignedD JOHN T. MCUTCHEON,
"HARRY ARMSTRONG,
"Chicago Record.
OSCAR *. DAVIS,
up. G. NJ M'DONNELL,
New York Sun.
"ROBERT NJ. COLLINS,
JOHN p. DUNNING,
&C. l.. JONES,
Associated Press.
JOHN f. BASS,
will DINWIDDIE.
New York Herald.
ED S. KEENE,
''Scripps- McRae Association.
"RINEHARD LITTLE,
Yrih