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Japs lost 1 Battleship, 2 cruisers & 12 transports around the Carolines. Russia declares war on Japan?
Received $5 from Pope of Rome.
Thunderstorms.
Elec. off.
Spain & Portugal declare war on Germany? & other wild rumours flying about.
Rain.
Cooking with wood on coal stove very awkward.
Electricity came on again today - we've ((in Married Q)) been off about 4 days, and most of camp about a week.
To French conversation class this afternoon, with Frieda Salmon and Pauline Beck. ((Pauline played piano accompaniment to many of our children's plays.))
I can't imagine us being out of here by Christmas.
Tony (Cole) called and gave me a small empty 1936 diary, and some cumquots ((small Chinese hard fruit which sometimes fruited within camp precincts.))
The Chinese Volunteers are released from Shamshuipo. They spend a few days in St. Teresa's Hopsital, are forced to sign a promise not to fight again, and then they're free.
Maximo Cheng, one of those released, states that no explanation for their release was given to the POWs. It's possible that this was a Japanese attempt to win credibility for their 'Asia for the Asians' claims. According to another Volunteer POW, the Japanese always showed partiality to the Chinese in Shamshuipo: 'they never ill-treated us.'
Stericker ("Cigarettes & Cigarette making" 32,000,000 Bri Isles 5 months. 2,000,000,000 cigt, per yr.)
No news.
A new craze has beset the Camp. It consists of a piece of polished wood at the edges of which numerals, the alphabet, months & the words Yes & No are placed. A port wine glass is placed upside down in the centre of the board & persons asking questions place a finger on the bottom of the glass which then moves and gives the answer.
Finished Chap 3.
Yesterday was Dad's 50th birthday.
I had 5th injection.
We stopped having tea to drink at the hospital, supply has run out at last.
Madame le Bon came.
Mum Mabel and I watched Ball Game in evening.
Canadians met L/C - met in Simon's room
Hot day.
Swim.
Plenty of news, all for us but statistics mostly.
French lesson, between American Blocks 2 and 3, with Dorothy and Frieda Salmon and Pauline Beck. Then went to 'chapel' in American Block and said a Rosary for Peace, rosary given me by one of the Sisters. ((The chapel was curtained-off half of a small room)).
Too hot to go swimming. ((It was a long walk))
ALFS VALUE SIX HUNDRED IN NAVE SOLE ORIENTEM NOCTE TRES OR QUATRE STOP FURTHER VALUE ONE THOUSAND BEING ARANGED FOR MONTH END STOP
Dr. Selwyn-Clarke sends a coded, multi-language telegram to try to alert the Allied authorities to the transfer of POWs to Japan by ship.
Translation:
600 POWs will be sent to the East in ships on the night of the third or fourth. Arrangements are being made to send 1000 more at the end of the month.
In his autobiography Selwyn-Clarke wrote:
Marjorie went into hospital again, about one week ago, with a temperature and suspected flu.
Swim A.M.
Hot day again.
Another trial on the “Weeji” board but all answers were wrong except seeing Marj in 1946 & that the Japs would leave Oct 5th.
Post cards from the Troops etc. are materialising at last. We have to pay 8 cents each ((to get a post card to send)).
Mabel went to Dr Talbot ('Harry') who sent her to hospital. She has got thin again, says she often feels dizzy. It makes me rather frightened to look at her. Dr Erooga said he considered the goitre he'd said Mabel had, was larger.*
Mr. Zindal, I.R.C, visited camp.
Martial law enforced in town. Strict searches being made for arms.
No news.
So worried about Mabel. Dr Yaroogsky-Erooga says Mabel will probably be in hospital for about a month; he will try to get extra food for her, but if she doesn't yield to treatment, they may have to operate. So terrible that we haven't anything extra or tempting to give her. Mum is looking so skinny and drawn too.
Those members of the Maryknoll Order who had turned down the American repatriation in the hope of eventually being allowed to go to their mission stations in China are allowed out of Stanley: