Diary pages from this date

Food is getting in desperately short supply as American planes and submarines take their toll. Today the Japanese authorities end subsidised rice sales to the public - only special categories like government workers will continue to get this form of help. Embattled Red Cross delegate Rudolf Zindel manages to get the Rosary Hill home exempted from the new scheme - but only until November 15.

The question for everyone now - in town and in the camps - is simple: will the war end before the food runs out?

Source:

Rice, Zindel: Archives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, BG17 07-074.

(cigs, 4 pkts, Y1.80)

Classical concert (Talbot, Drown, Bicheno, Goodban, Heaseman) (Club)

((Following text not dated:))

Jimmy Kitchen and family taken..... ((Probably Jimmy Landau and family)). Rosary Hill excited by yarn me and family all in. Barma said in with Doc Arculli. Part of Dragon Terrace mob.....Dragon Terrace Indians mostly out and permitted leave.....Peter Abesser says applying permission go. George Lee (Dorothy's brother) applied fortnight ago. Perry ((not sure who this is)) said succeeded getting permit. Rose Peters and John Shea's wife also. Story anyone allowed to leave now. Masters and wife Morgie said going though he was P.O.W. and in gaol.

Still pondering whether go away. If no more flour ration might as well abandon Eurasian pass become enemy national eligible Red Cross relief perhaps. Waiting see how prices going. March cost us over Y1,400 including extra rice. Budget for April looks like Y1,000. Lot of people say feel must go but will give it another month before deciding.

Wolkenlich aber kein regen. Holz partei. Schwere arbeit und essen nicht genug. Um die Abendszeit mit Steve. Russe und Romania den Frieden abkommen schleissen? Japanosiche leute furchten den Burgerkrieg Ihre Damen und Kinder nach Kowloon kommen haben Sie.

(( Jill Fell writes:

"Cloudy but no rain. Wood party. Hard work and not enough to eat. With Steve around evening time. Russia and Romania make peace pact? The Japanese people fear civil war. Their women and children have come to Kowloon."

I can't make sense of Jones's last sentence without putting a full stop between "Burgerkrieg" and "Ihre." There seem to be two separate statements. Could someone with knowledge of the historical background confirm whether the Japanese were bringing their families to Kowloon in 1944?))