Alert from yesterday lasted until 2:00 PM today when “all clear” sounded. Many minor items of administrative nature to deal with. Main business was pay day – we received 2 mos. back-pay but can buy very little. Currency was in P100.00 and P10.00 which would make distribution and buying difficult. Furthermore, there has been a limit to what officers can spend in Bilibid previously. This has varied usually being around 50% of their pay, the other half going for purchases for non-pay personnel. In addition, there is an indigent fund from Postal Savings which will amount to P56,000.00 this time.The payroll itself is P88,000.00.
I called a meeting at 1:00 PM today composed of Com Portz, USN, (Group I of draft), Lt Col C. T. Beecher, USMC, Group II, Com Maurice Jones, (MC) USN, Group III, Lt Col Brody, 31st Inf., Lt Col Harold Johnson, 57th 1nf.(PS) Major John Niger, Inf., Lt Col Adams, Bldg #1, USMC, Lt Col Bennett, Inf. Bldg. #13.
They all agreed that it was best to turn the entire fund over to the commissary to purchase for everyone in camp. Coconuts at P3.00 are under army control, if obtained, will all be put in the mess, thus no one will be cheated as there are 5% or more certain to be spoiled. Tobacco will be issued individually, also garlic and salt. The welfare fund will be used to buy mongo beans, 7 sacks a P7,600.00 each.
Altho the officers are perhaps entitled to more because of their pay, still all the Americans should stick together and this will be for general use including Dutch and British.