The trucks came soand fast that it took only five hours to move the 800. The Japanese wanted to move their soldiers right in as we left.
At Camp John Hay the barbed wire was cut and we walked right out the front. When | stepped through to attend to my group, I did not even havetime to realize I was out in the world! We drove out through the back of the Post and all along the way it seemed a ghost city. We passed no cars. only Igorots carrying or pushing loads. We waved to each other, they breaking into delighted grins or looking utterly astounded. Session Road was boarded
up but many Filipinos were out to see us, waving, holding up two fingers into a V. No sound, only waving. Any other time we would have all shouted, cheered. The market was crowded, the street lined to see us go by. It was
good to see many familiar Filipino faces after nothing but Nipponese eyes. Their pressure was there but the Filipinos showed they were glad to see us. Many were crying. All the Igorots looked triendly. We were much moved to be out riding in a bus. Is it a forerunner to Mañana at last?
Lt. Mukibo, who is always in evidence in a crisis, says that mothers and babies cannot have the cottage, after they moved into it, so they all piled out again, worn and threadbare, babies crying. The gardens are dry, full of weeds, covered with filing papers, brown dry piles of pine, file cabinets and drawers strewn about and several iron safes blown open. It is so desolate, this destruction. Pictures in frames, letters, possessions all over the yard, showing quick departure of soldiers and looting afterward by Japanese and Filipinos. There is plenty of space outdoors for us to wander about, down by the hospital building and in several groves overlooking the road. It is a welcome change outdoors, with space for the children to run and play, swings and courts. June with others found precious typing paper on the field. Even I “looted’” a good typewriter ribbon on the dry hot parade ground. It was unwound so I rolled it up to stow away.
A resumé of news somehow came in, about Australian and U.S. planes pounding Timor, New Guinea, New Britain. Destruction of docks and shipping, with several Japanese cruisers sunk. U.S. bombers from Australia using advance base in Mindanao bombed Davao, Cebu, Manila and Batangas. Bataan has fallen but Corregidor still fighting off heavy bombing attacks and shelling from big Japanese guns. Successful raids by our guerrillas in Mindanao and Northern Luzon. Planes from U.S. carrier raided Japanese cities. We continue building up strong force in Australia. Russia still holds initiative. Lubeck in Germany bombed more heavily than Coventry. Future prospects good but it will take time. Burn this when it has been digested! All this seems to have been tossed into someone’s lap in the truck en route to Camp Holmes.