The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-18
CENSORSHIP DEFENDED.

Vl1lNNVltOllll ULl ulNUIlU
Washington Denies Blackness
of the Philippine Situation.
CORBIN ON HONGKONG ROUND ROBIN
The Adjutant General Says Nothing Has
Been Unluly Held Back OF Censored
Contrary to Custom-Funston for Peace
fal Measures.
WASHINGTON, July 1S.-The publica-
tlon OF the war correspondents formal
Indictment of General Otis manage
ment of the Philippine campaign caused
sensation in the departments here.
Secretary Hay had received advices as
late as yesterday from civil as well as
military sources in the Philippines
which led him to declare that the situa-
tion there was certainly improved ma
terially and the prospects for the future
had frightened very much. With these
advices the secretary said General Otis
had had nothing to do, and they were
from disinterested persons whose opin-
Ions must carry weight.
There was some disinclination by Of
icials to discuss this last round robin. {"
General Miles, who was acting as secre-
tary of war in the absence of Secretary
Alger and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
john, would not comment ON the dis
patch.
Regarding the statements that cable
other news regarding the war had been
censored contrary to the usual custom,
Adjutant General Corbin today said:
Yes, these complaints have been
brought to my notice, so word of ex-
PLANTATION is due the country, not less
than the department.. The enormous
amount Of work the Office has been called
upon to perform has taxed to the limit
the endurance of the clerks, who, by
the way, are as competent as any that
can be found anywhere. Complaints
We're made by several of the assistants
and clerks that our clerks We're being
annoyed and their time taken from
legitimate work by direct application
for information from people in no way
connected with the Office or the public
service. As a matter of protection Of
the public interest and good administra-
tion, the order Of June 20 was issued.
The censure of the so-called censored
press is without just cause and evil
IDENTIFY made under misapprehe ehension.
There has been no information received
from General Otis that has not been
given to the press promptly on the bull
letin board in the hall of this Office;
every fair minded representative OF the
press will bear witness to this state
ment. What would the manager of
any one of the complaining papers say
ifinformation concerning their business
was inquired for of the printers rather
than at the business head of the paper?
This is a case exactly in point.
1.-The standing instructions of the
president and secretary Of war are that
the public shall be given all information
we receive; this has been done and will
continue to be done. OF course, plans
of campaigns that would be of help to
.Aguinaldo and other rebels have not
! and will not be promulgated, but all
facts of events transpired have been
given in fullness.
The Manila Round Robin.
The so called formal Indictment of
General Otis was telegraphed from
Hong Kong yesterday in the form of a
round robin signed by all the staff cor
respondents OF American newspapers in
Manila. Among other charges We're
the following:
We believe that, owing to official dis
patches from Manila made public in
Washington, the people of the United
States have not received correct impress
sion Of the situation in the Philippines
but that these dispatches have presented
an ultra-optilnistic view that is not shared
by the general of..cers in the field.
We believe that tho dispatches incor-
rectly represent the existing conditions
among the Philippines in respect to dis
sension and decentralization resulting from
the American campaign and to the brig
and character of the army.
We believe the dispatches err in the dec
laration that the situation is we'll
in hand" and the assumption that
the insurrection can be speedily
ended without a greatly increased: army
We think the tenacity of the Filipino
purpose has been underestimated and that
the statements are unfounded that yolun-
teers are willing to engage in further
service.
The censorship has compelled us to par
ticipate in this misrepresentation by ex-
cising on altering uncontroverted state
ments of facts on thep plea, as General Otis
stated, that they would alarm the people
at home" or have the people Of the
United States by the ears"
Specifications: Prohibition of reports:
suppression of full reports of field opera
tions in the event of failure: number of
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