The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-07-21
PEOPLE ARE FOOLED.

A dispatch from Manila says: The
constantly increasing strictness of the
censorship of press dispatches from Manila
which has prevented the cabling to the
United States of anything that did not
reflect official views of important events
and conditions, 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 direc-
ton was taken month ago and resulted
in the framing of a statement which was
presented on Sunday, July 8, to Ma jor
General Otis, commanding the military
forces of the Uuited States in the Philip
pine Islands, with a request for permits
sion to telegraph it to the United States.
The correspondents also asked that they
be allowed to cable to their respective
papers 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 evident
purpose of the censorship was not to keep
information from the enemy, hut to keep
from the public a knowledge of the real
conditions of affairs here. 1t was also as
serted by the correspondents that news
papers printed in Manila which reach the
enemy quickly, are permitted to publish
statements similar to those which CORE
spondents are forbidden to cable 1t was
made clear to Gen. Otis that the objec-
ton 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 Gen. Otis
has appointed Capt. Green of his staff
censor.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows; The undersigned, being
all staff correspondents of American
newspapers stationed in Manila, unite
in the following statement. We believe
that owing to official dispatches from
Manila made public in Washington the
people of the United States have not re-
ceived a correct impression of the situa-
ton in the Philippines, but that these dis
patches have presented an utra-o optimistic
view that is not shared by the general
officers in the field
I'VE believe the dispatches incorrectly
represent the existing conditions among
the Philippines in respect to dissension
and decentralization resulting from the
American campaign and to the brigand
character of their army.
I'VE believe the dispatchs err in the
declaration that The situation is we'll in
hand and in the assumption that the in
surrcction can be speedily ended without
a greatly increased force.
We think the tcnacity of the Filipino
purpose has been underestimate and
that the statements are unfounded that
volunteers are willing to engage in further
service.
The censorship has compelled us to
participate in this misrepresentation by
excsing or altering uncontraverted state
ments of facts on the plea, as Gen. Otis
stated, that they would alarm the people
at home O@'havc the people of the nited
States by the ears.
specifications Prohibition of reports;
suppression of full reports of field opera
tons in the event of failure; numbers
heat prostrations in field; systematic mini
IMITATION of naval operations, and suppress
sion of complete reports, of the Situa
ton.