I can see that Jerry too has traveled a long journey in here through books, deep experience and mental turbulence. In agonizing worry over the children and me during the last two months of hunger, decline and desperate illness, he has touched some unfathomable moments. He shows change and growth too, and has plumbed some universal feelings as I have. We know what thousands of people have suffered. He says he never could express the relief it is to see me well and in balance again (as if he had despaired more than once).
We heard that Carl had been asked if he would be responsible for any who tried to escape and he said no, he would not.
Jerry gave me back my watch and I was glad to see it.
An aide said that Hayakawa’s father had given us our pork for supper and that Masaki had given us 750 bananas, more than one apiece for breakfast. The first Red Cross funds since August have been allowed to come through—P25,000. This makes all the difference between life and decline for us.
An American now has charge of roll call and bowing. Things are changing fast. Carl as our representative bows, and the Japanese in charge bows to him as symbol of us all.
Some brief Minutes of the 18 of October: “In an effort to put a stop to the increasing amount of food stealing in the camp, the Committee has issued this statement: It is the duty of every internee to report at once to the Chief of Police the name of any other internee whom he may see in the act of stealing. Only by the full cooperation of the personnel of this camp can We protect individual property. The hospital acknowledged receipt of 24 tall cans of Alpine milk from the Japanese, a gift to camp. .. . Dr. Skerl reported that a steady decrease has been noted during the past week in the number of people reporting for garden detail, and in the number of hours worked in the garden. . . . Many were collecting driftwood! . . . Three camp pigs were butchered today. . . . A pen, like a duck pond, has been constructed for the ducklings. . . . A request for the preparation of additional chicken food from camote peelings to overcome a decrease in the camp egg production was referred to Dr. Mather.
“His Excellency, Highest Commander of the Philippine Islands. Your Excellency: We the undersigned, members of Camp Holmes Civilian Internment Camp No. 3, respectfully submit this urgent appeal to you for assistance in obtaining enough food to keep us alive. . . . At present we are not receiving the essential foods in sufficient quantity to sustain life: anemia and other illnesses resulting from malnutrition are increasing at such an alarming rate our doctors state that unless immediate steps are taken to obtain more food the damage to our health will not only be irreparable, but deaths will follow. . . . We submit this personal appeal to you through our Commandant. . . . . We appreciate the difficulties confronting the authorities but we believe it is not the desire of the Japanese people to have such a situation continue and we turn to you gratefully for relief. Respectfully submitted, Civilian Internees of Internment Camp No. 3.”