There has been more shipping activity. On 21st a convoy of a biggish tanker, about a 6,000 ton cargo boat and a small liner (shipping people say it was one of the Messageries Maritime Line, about 12,000 tons) were seen. These were convoyed by two destroyers, two submarine chasers. The MM ship was the biggest we have seen, apart from the repatriation ships. This evening the same convoy steamed out again, the tanker looking lighter, as though she had delivered some oil – maybe aviation oil. One of our reconnaissance planes came over on the 21st (it was incredibly high) but there has been no raid yet, though there have been one or two night raids of late.
The news of the big American and British offensive on the Western Front, which came in yesterday’s paper, is exciting. The report in the Chinese paper said it was the second big offensive (the first being the push through France) and that if it was successful the war in Europe might be over before Xmas. Please God it may be so. But the newly appointed American general in China, General Weyedmeir, says that he finds the Japs in China well armed and trained, that he thinks the war in the East will continue for a year after the end of the European war and that many people think the latter will last till the middle of next year. Please God NO! Much more of this life will send me potty!
Eight days ago I received a very welcome letter from Father. It was a very recent one, being dated the 24th March of this year. It was a 25 word printed letter, so, evidently people writing to prisoners of the Japanese have to comply with the same regulations that have been imposed upon us. Apparently censorship in Japan is the bottleneck of POW correspondence. Father said they were well; he acknowledged our letter of 31st May ‘43 (18 months to get a reply!); that Miss Opie had died and that they were spending Easter at Nuwara Eliya. We were glad to hear they were well and it was interesting to know another of our letters had got through. I just wish they would send more news of our friends and of our families. They probably write every month and think most of the letters get through and therefore are afraid of repeating themselves too often: but news of friends, I find, is the most acceptable news – to know that all one’s families are well. A day or two later a letter for Yvonne from Chère arrived from Australia! After a later one from Pop had come saying they were in England! Still, it’s very nice to get them, whatever the order. Maudie hasn’t had a letter for months. We walked her out of hospital last Sunday evening looking much better for her 17 days rest.