"Nippon Forces Occupy Foochow.... Foe 80th Division crushed following stubborn resistance." The Chinese say it's still in their hands.

The Editorial commends people for taking the Alert calmly yesterday. "Interceptors and fighters are on guard day and night to attack the enemy task forces and air squadrons as soon as they are located by radio detectors."

"Recto urges full respect for Republic" — in last night's 2000 PIAM broadcast — the most ambiguous speech I ever heard:

The shortcomings of the Republic, which are as plain to [Laurel] as they are to his sharpest critics, have given him deep concern; for it has ever been his passionate desire to make the independence of our country and the sovereignty of our Republic complete and inviolate.

If that isn't a slap at the Japanese, what is? Later he argued that the proclamation of a state of war just had to be made because the Republic was honor-bound "to fulfill its obligations."

Yet to have confirmed this fact as the President did ... involved no positive act of the will.... The President simply gave official recognition to a condition previously existing.

Maurice's neighbors are getting notices to leave, and his turn may come too. The Sotelos got their eighth or so visit in a week, taxing the old man's acting ability. The last was from a very uncouth official who posted a reservation on the premises just in case. Meanwhile, our bulging basement now contains the belongings of the Campos, Guttridge, Heinemann (who's in Baguio), Bessmer, Graemiger and two Meyer families.