News: Bamban and Clark Field taken — just forty air miles to Manila. In two weeks MacArthur's losses totaled 657 killed, 187 missing and 2,201 wounded versus 6,449 Japanese killed, 423 captured and 7,000-plus wounded — few enough to surmise that a major battle has yet to be fought. I hope it won't be in this city.

A concrete wall with two firing slits replaced the corner plate glass in the Heacock Building; the pillbox in front is gone. Japanese defenses include the San Miguel Brewery, an anti-tank barrier on General Solano leading to the Ayala spans, plus "heavy" defenses on Taft Avenue. Santa Mesa might still be safe.

Some 30 to 50 Japanese trucks loaded with stuff came into Manila from Marikina way. They must have gone north because they didn't go south through the Jones Bridge. I hope the trucks were meant FOR Manila!

I'm paying Villareal P200 military plus P1 genuine every four hours to fix the radio. Walked to the Escolta to buy 18 magazines at very high prices and get a part for my Elgin radio. So it's off to bed early after a tiring day. A beautiful moon's out that will be full in a few days. Many hoped that MacArthur would arrive on his birthday tomorrow. Maybe by the full moon, they now say.