The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1899-07-22

Manila, July l9.-The constantly in
cTeAsing stTietness Of censorship VI pres.
dispatches, which has prevented the cab
ling to the United States Of anything thai
did not reflect Official views OF important
events and conditions, resulted in a unitet
effort ON the part Of correspondents hen
to stir an abatement OF the rigoFs .
censorship.
The initiative in this direction was tax
en- month ago and resulted in the form
ing Of statement which was presented
on Sunday, July 3. to Major General Otis
summarizing the military forces Of thS
United States The correspondents ais
asked for permission to cable their paper,
all the facts and different phases Of event.
As they transpired here.
The correspondents had two long inter
views with Otis. in the course Of which
they claimed that the evident purpose o.
the censorship was not to keep informa,
ton from the enemy, but to keep from the
public the knowledge of the real eon.litiou
Of affairs here. II was also asserted BY
the correspondents that newspapers print.
ed in Manila. which reach the enemy week.
", are permitted 10 publish statements
similar to those which the correspondents
are forbidden to cable.
General Otis finally promised greater
hberality, agreeing to pass all matter that
he might consider not detrimental to the
interests OF the United States. He ap-
pointed Captain Green OF his staff as
eenSUT.
The Statement.
The statement OF the correspondents is
IS follows:
The undersigned, being all the staff cor
respondents OF American newspapers sta
toned in Manila, unite in the following
statement:
we believe that from official dispatches
made public in Washington the people OF
the United States have not received a cor
rect impression Of conditions in the Phil
iPPines, but these dispatches have pre-
sented an ultra-optimistie view that is
not shared BY the general officers in the
Geld.
I'VE believe that the dispatches ineor-
reetly represent existing conditions among
the Filipinos in respect to their dissension
and decentralization 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 well IN
hand and the assumption that the insur,
rection can be speedily ended without
greatly increased forces.
~We think the tenaeity of Filipino pun,
pose has been underestimate and that the
statements are Unfounded that volunteers
are unwilling to engage in further service.
The censorship has compelled Us to par
tieipate in this Misrepresentation by sx-
eising or altering uneontrOverted state
ments Of facts on the plea that they would
alarm the people at home.
Specifications; The prohibition Of re-
ports; the suppression OF full reports Of
feld operations in the event of failure; the
number Of heat prostrations in the field
the systematic intimidation of naval op-
erations, and the suppression of complete
reports of the situation.
John T. McCutchean and Harry Arm
strong, Chicago Record.
Oscar X. Davis and p G. Mcdonnell,
New York Sun.
Robert NJ Collins, John P Dunning
and C. L Jones, the Associated Press.
ed Keene, SeriPPs- MeRae Associa-
ton.
~Reinhard Little, Chicago Tribune"