Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-07-22
HIS PLAN DON'T SUIT.
Protest Against Gen. Cte' Rigiu
Censorship at Manila.
American War Correspondents De-
clare They Are Forced to Misrep-
resent Actual Conditions I'm
the Philippines.

Manila, July II, via Hong-Kong, July
1S.-The constantly increasing strict
ness of the censorship of press dis
patches from Manila, which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
of anything that did not reflect OIL
cial views of important events and
conditions, has resulted in a united
effort on the part of correspondents
here to secure an abatement OF the
rigor of the censorship. The initiative
in this direction was taken a month
ago and resulted in the framing of a
statement which was presented on Sun
day, July 0, to Maj. Gen. Otis, command
ing the military forces os the United
States in the Philippine islands, with
request for permission to telegraph
it to the United States. The CORE
spondents also asked that they be al
lowed to cable to their respective pa
pers all facts and the different phases
of events as they transpired here. The
correspondents had two long inter-
views with Gen. Otis, in the course of
which they complained that the evil
dent purpose of the censorship was
W hCtD lIOll Tic
emy, but to keep from the public a
knowledge of the real condition of af
fairs here. 1t was also 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 detrimental
to the interests of the United States.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows:
THE undersigned, being all staff corre-
spondents of American newspapers sta
toned In Manila, unite in the following
statement: We believe that. owing to
| official dispatches from Manila made pub
| lie in Washington, the people of the United
States have not received a correct impress
| sion of the situation in the Philippines,
| but that these dispatches have presented
an ultra a-optimstic view that is not shared
| by the general officers in the field.
I'VE believe that the dispatches incor-
rectly represent the existing conditions
among the Philippines in respect to dis
sension and Generalization resulting from
the American campaign and to the brigand
character of their army.
| I'VE believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that the situation is we'll in
hand and the assumption that the insur-
| rection can be speedily ended without a
| greatly increased force.
I'VE think the tenacity of the Filipino
purpose has been underestimated and that
| the statements are unfounded that volun-
teers are willing to engage in further serv-
| ice.
THE censorship has compelled us to
participate in this representation by
excislng or altering uncontroverted state
ments 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
operations in the event of failure numbers
of heat prostrations in the field: systematic
intimidation of naval operations and sup
preston of complete reports of the situa-
ton.
| (Stgned) John T M'CITTCHEON