Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-20
SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Newspaper Correspondents Say They are
Not Permitted to Describe IL.

newspaper correspondents Say Iney are
Not Permitted to Describe IL.
Manila, Philippine Islands, July IL,
via Hongkong, China, July II. The
constantly increasing strictness OF the
censorship of press dispatches from
Manila, which has prevented the Ca
bling to the United States of anything
that did not reflect official views of i'm
portant events and conditions, resulted
in u united effort on the part of the
correspondents here to secure an abate-
ment Of the right of censorship. The
initiative in this direction was taken q
month ago, and resulted in the framing
Of statement, which was presented on
Sunday, July 9th, to Major General
Otis, commanding the military forces
Of the United States in the Philippine
Islands, with 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
l'ent phases of events as they TRANSFERRED
here. The correspondents had two long
interviews with Gen. Otis, in the
course Of which they complained that
| the evident purpose of the censorship
was not to keep information from the
enemy, but to keep from the public a
knowledge of the real condition of
affairs here. IL was also asserted by
| the correspondents that newspapers
printed in Manila, which reach the
enemy quickly, are permitted to pub
| lish statements similar to those which
correspondents 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 Ia
pass all matter that he might consider
not detrimental to the interests of the
United States. Gen. Otis appointed
Capt. Green Of his staff censor.
The statement of the correspondent
is as follows:
1--WE believe that, owing to officia
dispatches from Manila made public il
Washington, the people of the United
States have not received a correct i'm
preston Of the situation in the Philip
pines, but that these dispatches hav,
presented an ultra-optimistic view tina
is not shared by the general officers il
tho field
"We believe the dispatches incor
rectly represent the existing condition
among the Philippines in respect t.
! dissension and decentralization resulting
from the American campaign, and b
, the brigand character of their army.
1--WE believe the dispatches err in tn
declaration that the situation is wei
! in hand, and in the assumption tina
, the insurrection can be speedily ende
: without greatly increased force.
, "We think the tenacity of the Fill
Pine purpose has been underestimate
. and that the statements are unfounde
! that volunteers are willing to engage i
further service.
THE censorship has compelled us t
participate in this misrepresentation
4 by altering uncontroverted statement
D Of facts on the plea, as Gen. Oti
1 stated, that they would alarm tn
/ people at home, or have the people {
9 the United States by the ears.
Specifications Prohibition Of re
Y ports, suppression of full reports {
o field operations in the event of failure
o numbers of heat prostrations in ii
s field; systematic intimidation of nav
n operations and suppression Of con
!. plete reports of the situation.
d The Statement is signed by job
o T. McCutcheon and Harry Armstror
of the Chicago Record, Oscar X. Dav
and p. G. Mcdonnell of the New Yol
Sun, Robert NJ. Collins, John p. Dul
ia ming and L. Jones of the Associate
" Press, John f. Bass and Will Du
n widdie of the New York Herald, L.
n Keene of Scripps McRae Associate
m and Richard Little of the Chical
In Tribune