January 17, 1942

Saturday, January 17, 1942
What a pity! A lovely luxury liner crashed at Table Mountain, thirty miles from Las Vegas, Nevada last night and today they found the remains of the twenty-two passengers. One of them was Carol Lombard and her mother and there were twelve army pilots. It didn't say in the paper that the men were headed for the Far East, but they must have been since the army has not divulged their names to the public. Sabotage, I wonder. One cannot help but wonder. There are so many spies and enemy aliens, especially here in San Francisco and vicinity. The Japanese population runs into the thousands, besides all of the Wops and Germans.
The USA sank three more Jap ships again today, which brings the total up to twenty-seven to date. I believe the fleet is certainly getting in a few good licks and maybe the stickers which are very much in evidence "See you in Tokio" are quite apropos.
Winston Churchill flew from Bermuda and landed safely in London. Evidently [he] was given a royal welcome. England isn't happy, however, because of the way the Britishers are being pushed around in Malta and one can expect a little shake up somewhere along the line.
McArthur is still holding his own in the Philippines and is really doing a magnificent job.
For the first time since 1940 the Free French stepped in to reinforce the British lines at Halfoya Pass.
The President has stripped the army of production control and will make investigations as to the report of waste and profiteering.
Willie Hearst has so much space in the news concerning his pet project — Buy a Bomber Drive — that he hasn't much space for other important news.
No mail today. A day isn't much of a day when I don't hear from the children.

"Mann predicts Hitler will abandon Russ War" - I wonder just what kind of a prognosticist Mr. Thomas Mann is.