Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-18
War Correspondents Complain Of
System Of Press Censorship.
THE TRUTH WITHHELD
They Charge T"nt tho People of the
Correct Impressions of situation
In tho Philippine Islands md FLO
a RiII of specificatIons-Thcy Call
Upon OILS.
tBy Telegraph to -Pilot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot)
Washington, July 1.-THE publica-
ton of the war correspondents formal
Indictment of General Otis" manage
ment of the Philippine campaign caus-
cd a sensation in the departments here.
Secretary Hay has received advices as
late as to-day from civil. as we'll as
military sources in the Philippines
which led him to declare that the sit
uation was certainly improving mate
rally and that the prospects for the flu
ture had frightened very much. With
these advices the Secretary said Gen
eral Otis had had nothing to do, and
they We're from dis.ntcrested persons
whose opinions must carry weight.
Generally there was strong disincli-
nation exhibited by the officials to dis
cuss the last round robin"
General Miles, who was Acting Sec
rotary of War in the absence of Secre-
tary Alger and Assistant Secretary
MeilSlejohn. would not comment upon
the dispatch and .Adjutant General Cor
bin took the same attitude.
General Otis appointed Captain
Greene, of his staff, censor
THE STATEMENT.
The statement of the correspondents
Is as follows:
The undersigned, being all staff cor
respondents of American newspapers
stationed at Manila unite in the follow
ing statement:
I'VE believe, that owing to official
dispatches from Manila made public i'm
Washington, the people of the United
States have not received II correct i'm
preston of the situation in the Philip
FOL hnx
presented an ultra Optimistic view that
is not shared by the general officers in
the field.
I'VE believe the dispatches incorrect
~ represent the existing conditions
among the Philippines in respect to dis
sensions and decentralization resulting
from tho American campaign, and to
the brisand character of their army.
I'VE believe the dispatches err in the
declaration that the situation Is we'll
In hand and in the assumption that
the insurrection can be speedily ended
without Il greatly increased force.
We think the tenacity of the Filipino
purpose has been underes tlmatcd and
that the statements are unfounded, that
volunteers are willing to engage in fur
Their service.
The censorship has compelled us to
participate in this misreprese- .tation by
excising or altering uncontrovcrted
statements of facts on the plea, as Gen
alarm the people at home or have the
people of the United States by the
ears
Specifications: Prohibition of hospIt-
al 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 suppression of COM
plete reports of the situation.
signed: John t. McCutcheon: Harry
RI IN fEDr
Davis and p. G. Mcdonnell, New York
Sun; Robert NJ. Collins, John p. Shun-
ming and L. Jones the Associated
Press: John T.. Bass and viii Dnwid-
die. New York Herald: T.. S. Keene
Scripps- MacRae Association; Richard
Little. Chicago Tribune.
CORRESPONDENTS SEE OTIS.
Manila July II, via Hong Kong. July
1.-THE constantly increasing strict
ness of the censorship of the press dis
patches from Manila, which has pre-
vented the cabling to the United States
of anything that did not reflect Off
cial views of important events and con-
ditions, resulted in an united effort on
the part of correspondents here to Sc
cure an abatement of the rigor of the
censorship. The initiative in this d-
rection was taken month ago, and
resulted in the framing of n statement
which was presented on Sunday. July
Sth, TO Mayor General Otis, command
Ing the military forces of the United
States in the Philippine islands, with a
request for permission to telegraph it
to the United States.
The correspondents also asked that
they be allowed to cable to their re-
spective papers all facts and the differ
ent phases of events as they TRANSFERRED
here. The correspondents had two long
interviews with General Otis. in the
course of which they explained that the
evident purpose of the censorship was
not to keep information from the en-
envy. but to keep from the public a
knowledge of the real condition of af-
fairs. 1t was also asserted by the cor
respondents that newspapers printed in
Manila, which reach the enemy quickly,
are permitted to publish statements
similar to those which correspondents
are forbidden to cable.
1t was made clear to General Otis
that the objection was to the system,
and not to the censor.
A FINAL PROMISE.
General Otis finally promised greater
lberalty. agreeing to pass all matter
that ne might consider not detrimental
to the interests Of the United States.
CORBIN TO THE RESCUE.
Washington, July 17.-Regarding the
statements that cable dispatches re-
ceived in Washington and others news