God’ll save it at the last moment; and the wicked Russians will perish by their own mustard gas, the exact symptoms of which are described in the old Testament. Pathetic and silly. zrl zgk
November
Tuesday 3rd
… I read a very good book by a journalist—’North China Frontier’—about the Chinese Red Army. … I had not realised that a Soviet state had existed in N. China for ten years, despite Chang Kai Shek, under the leadership of Mao Tse Tung—the Chinese Lenin this man calls him. Very interesting anyhow—now there is guerilla warfare there—written actually in ’38. zbf zws
W, S and A wrote a damn silly letter to Picture Post protesting about the interception of letters—so silly a venture really that I did not sign it—and Picture Post’s published it, heading ‘Three love-sick swains give their view on progressive education’, and signing it with their initials, and Newquay—this being the only boys’ school here! Quite funny. … znw zse zop
Wednesday 4th
… In Soc. Soc. there was a talk by Dr. Willoughby (j ) on—billets or hostels for evacuees. She chose the latter, and argued it out very well. … zcb zlu zev
Thursday 5th
Fireworks in Libya and Russia! In Libya, Rommel’s in flight, we’ve captured 9,000, two generals (one killed—the commander of the Afrika Corps). Lots of planes (500-600), 260 tanks, 270 guns etc. We are following up, and are harrying from the air. Good. … zwf zru zlb zwc
Friday 6th
… News, advance and destruction continues, papers as usual terribly over-optimistic, I expect we’ll be rolled back again soon (pessimist!). Actually it seems not too bad. zlb zwf
