Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1899 — TRUTH KEPT SECRET. [ARTICLE]

TRUTH KEPT SECRET.

GEN. OTIS IS ACCUSED OF HID» ING FACTS Newspaper Mea at Manila File a Formal Protest Against Distortion of Their Press Telegrams-Dlspatch Via Hong Kong Startle* Washington Washington special: The protest received at Washington by cable via Hong Kong, froni newspaper correspondents in Manila against the censorship established by Gen. Otis has caused a profound sensation in Government Circles. The protest sets forth that news has been suppressed and that the newspaper men have been compelled “to participate to misrepresentation’\by the action df the censor in “excising or altering uncontroverted statements of fact.’.’ The protest is signed by John P. Dunning, Robert M. Collins and L. Jones of the Associated Press; E. 8. Keene of the Scripps-Mcßae Association, Oscar K. Davis and P. G. McDonnell of the New York Sun, John F. Bass and Will Dinwiddie of the New York Herald, John T. McCutcheon and Harry Armstrong of the Chicago Record, and Richard H. Little of the Chicago Tribune. That the telegraphic reports of Gen. Otis were censored at the War Department was well known, but the impression has been that newspaper correspondents were permitted to send* about what they wanted to, provided they avoided mentioning future military movements. The disclosures of the extent to which Gen. Otis Jias deprived the country of proper information have confirmed a quiet belief that the general in command was afraid to have the truth known, and it is believed his official dispatches have been distorted to conceal his mistakes in th* belief that the censorship would prevent the press correspondents from sending the facts. It has been a general maxim among army men that newspaper correspondents are privileged to give actual results of battles in their own language, the censorship being restricted to the prevention of the news of future military movements from reaching the enemy. Otia i ha pcs the New* Gen. Otis has apparently proceeded far beyond this, and has assumed to dictate what shall be sent and how the story shall be told. It seems to be well understood about the department that Gen. Otis has made a serious blunder in attempting to deceive the people of the United States as to the situation in the Philippines, for now even his truthful reports will not be believed, and the people wiH naturally think the conditions on the island much worse than they really are.

It has been painfully felt at the W’ar Department that Gen. Otis made a mistake in not getting out to the firing line now and then, but as the insurgents were north, south and east of Manila it was supposed that he felt he could best direct operations from the city. The failure of one strategical movement after another was plainly evident, and yet the general continued to send in the most optimistic reports. Tta result of the formal protest by the correspondents has been to east suspicion on the official reports of Gen. Otis as to the situation, and it is admitted that now the only course will be for the President to interfere and modify the censorship at Manila, so that the correspondents may be permitted to describe the situation as it is, which will be a salutary check on toe commanding general. It would not be at all surprising if the explosion should result in the recall of Gen. Otis before the rainy season ends. It is recognized that his usefulness will be destroyed as soon as the people learn that he has systematically deceived them as to the situation in Luzon. Army men say the published protest will do a vast amount* of harm, and they thipk the correspondents should have cabled the President direct, and thus have avoided scandal.

Ignore Round Robin. At the regular semi-weekly cabinet meeting Tuesdaf an extraordinary problem of the Philippine war presented itself. The newspaper correspondents’ “round robin” was by far the most perplexing question the President and his cabinet had met in many days. The cabinet was divided as to the manner of dealing with it. The members condemned ft tn a man in private conversation. Two members expressed opinions in favot of deporting the correspondents. But in all these expressions there was a sober admission that public opinion as to the rights and limitations of the press in war have greatly changed since Gen. “Tecumseh” Sherman disciplined Whitelaw Reid and Gen. Jeff C. Davis sent the 'late “Joe” McCullagh out of camp in a raging snowstorm one night. It was stated at the War Department Tuesday that no attention whatever would be paid to the “round robin” of the Manila correspondents. The protest was not sent to Gen. Otis, and it is said will net be, and Gen. Otis will not be called upon for an explanation. In addition to this it was intimated that very encouraging news had been received from the Philippines,