First The Good News …

The following entries from a Japanese war diary have come into our hands. We cannot vouch for their authenticity:

8 December 1943

Our battalion commander gladly informed us that in an engagement northeast of Guadalcanal our navy has sunk 4 enemy warships, 7 cruisers, 17 aircraft carriers, and countless transports. The American Pacific fleet commander was also killed. At present the death rate of Australians is so high they cannot afford tosend any reinforcements in the future.

9 December 1943

Again troubled by beriberi.