From the same government contacts from which much of this information came, it soon became apparent that there was active planning toward doing something about the Philippines in due course, and the landing in Africa and especially in Italy having demonstrated the vast footage of lumber and timbers required for docks and supply housing, it also became clear that the Army planning groups were aware of the desirability to protect local Philippine lumber producing properties, if possible, in order to save vital shipping space, otherwise (???) used.

     ???? between Army Engineers and Charles Hafner and J. R. P. as to the Fabrica facilities, and tentative plans toward getting Insular Lumber Co. personnel on the ground when possible. 

    In December 1944 or early January 1945 Pacific Intelligence reported that Fabrica had been bombed by our own forces, by mistake, and in spite of instructions to the contrary, but that photographs indicated little damage except destruction of the hospital and one hit on the mill.

     In February and March 1945, the fighting on Luzon had resulted in the freeing of the internees there, and by arrangement with American Red Cross and a number of the Philippine Government in Exile, sent out from Washington, each surviving member of Insular Lumber Company Staff, on liberation, was handed a letter giving news of the welfare of his family, some food, and funds for clothes and return to the United States, and in due course arrivals at West Coast ports began to be reported, including that o Harvey Pope.

    By very early April 1945, United States forces had landed South of Bocolad on Negros and were fighting their way North along the Coastal plain. 

      For some unknown reason, the Army had abandoned the initial plan recommended by O. S. S. for landings below Bacolod and by landing (    ) and up the Himogaan to catch the Japanese between the two forces, and made the on landing South of Bacolod only.   The occupying troops were accompanied by Major A. G. Jacobson and Capt. V. G. Blomgren of 1002^nd Engineers Forestry Batallion, as also by Mr. Ellison, Mr. West, Mr. Stone, of Insular’s staff, and picked up Mr. Sand, Mr. Gysin and Mr Serdenfaden, also of ILCo’s staff, who had neutral citizenship at Bocolad. 

 By around April 10^th, 1945 the Japanese forces had been rolled northward of the Coastal Plain to about fifteen miles of Fabrica.  According to the plan of seeking to save the lumber production there, (the largest in the islands) for the later purpose of invasion of the Chinese mainland and the still later jump to Japan (as was then deemed necessary) orders were issued the 503^rd Parachutists Regiment to prepare to jump on the airfield across the Himogaan River from the mill, to protect the properties, and meantime orders for the advance of the ground forces issued.

     The 503^rd were loading into the planes for the purpose when it developed that the Japanese had blown out the only bridge connecting the Company properties with the airfield, and that the only usable ford at the time of year was nearly two miles up the river.  Accordingly and because of the risk of loss of the forces planning to jump, the order was countermanded and the properties were not occupied prior to the ground force advance.

      Accordingly, as the ground forces and covering planes advanced, the Japanese troops and secret police (??? Tai) placed fire bombs and booby traps in and around the Company’s building, and the area was bitterly fought over for some hours.

      Early in May, thru the War Department, a report copy of which is attached, was received at the Philadelphia offices, and under date of 25^th April, 1945, from Major Jacobson of Army Engineers, indicating the destruction which had resulted, and requesting that representatives of the Company come out.  Later the necessary order was issued by Pacific Headquarters, for the purpose.

     J. R. Peck, M. D. Thompson. Charles Hafner and Edward Keller were designated to go out, according to prior plan and it was also planned that M. D. Thompson of the party return to the United States to report at the earliest time an initial grasp of the situation should permit. 

     Following usual Army delay in assigning transportation space the party shoved off from Philadelphia May 24,1945, and following some waiting at San Francisco, and a couple of days in barracks at Hamilton Field, undergoing instruction in the use of life raft gear and procuring some Army issue equipment, took off about June 5^th by Army Transport Command aircraft with others for Manila.  Total equipment was limited to 65 lbs per person and the chief and important overage carried was one bottle of Ballantine Scotch, donated to the purposes of the party by Stanley Dollar of Robert Dollar Co. and intended  to be used to enlist the good offices of the highest ranking Army officer encountered in the Philippines.  This quart went on the body weight of J. R. P. by varying methods of concealment, and subject to many ‘weighing in” hazards.

     Brief stops for plane servicing and food were made at Hickam Field, Honolulu, Johnson Island, with a total elevation of twelve feet, and Kwajalein Island, where the first real signs of war appeared, and also its odor.

     Guam was reached finally late at night, and motor trouble having developed with the plane, a two day lay over resulted, marked by flashes seen an night occasioned by the burning out of Japanese in mountain caves in the distance, and the often continuous roar before daylight of planes leaving to bomb Japanese held islands.  Here also disaster was encountered in the theft of the quart of Ballantine’s intended for High Command, by plane mechanics.  Sleeping accommodations varied from M. D. Thompson in a grounded life raft with feet in the face of a profane Air Force Officer, to table tops or benches, as also ??? the comfortable cots in Army tents where (sleeping conditions were) good.

     From Guam, Manila was reached in about eight hours by freight plane and that whole city including the air field presented one vast ruin.  Charles Hafner finally reached friends in Army Engineers and quarters were assigned the party in the remains of the Ileana Apartment House, in comparative luxury, i.e. there were lights and water some of the time, and good food.  Others were encountered there brought out by the Army for specialized jobs, who had waited days and weeks for equipment or machines or orders.

Conferences were had with Lieut. Col McCaffrey of 1002^nd Engineers and his Executive Officer, Major Jacobson, developing that Capt Blomgren and about eight or nine men, including ours, were holding down Fabrica alone with no troops nearer than Bocolad, and with unknown numbers of Japanese about.  That troops had been repeatedly requested of headquarters with no result yet.  That operating equipment saved was little but a scrap heap aside from some loaded on cars not yet looked over.  That one very small Corinth Circular mill with a diesel engine and fuel, and one jeep, had been sent to Fabrice, and more sawing equipment supposed to be coming for use in the Philippines generally, but with staffing status unknown.  That army had taken possession of all the Company’s properties and there were no precedent to go on or directives as to the manner of operation by the Army, or the compensation to the Company for such operation, and that having regard to normal Army procedure it would likely be six months to a year before any such procedure or precedent would be available.  That they were seeking orders to take us down there to discover the situation for ourselves.

 Transportation in Manila was nil and the distances between various Army and other agencies in miles.  For our party transportation was limited largely to the hijacking of a jeep and supply Sergeant, while supposedly getting groceries for some General, and engineered by M. D. Thompson, with an occasional hour of staff car use.

   By these means however, some funds were secured and contact made with Company Counsel Mr Lanascoro who had survived, and who was instructed to secure extension of the Company’s cutting rights beyond 1950, the then expiration date, as soon as there was a government office to apply to.

    On June 16^th the party took off by Army truck and Engineer Corps plane (C47) for Fabrica with Major Jacobson.  Landing was made at Bacolod after a flight over Fabrica, and the remaining 35 miles by Army truck, and since all bridges were destroyed by long detours and fords of the rivers.  Fabrica was reached the same day.  En route from Bacolod to Fabrica some three hundred damaged or grounded Japanese planes were seen from the roadway.  The former sugar lands and fields of corn were non existent and grass to the height of a man and wild banana and other growth came to the road edge and stretched as far as one could see, almost no food was being produced.  The natives still yelled and waved at the fairly unusual sight of Americans. 

    At Fabrica, some five days were spent in getting an overall general quick estimate of the destruction, damage and the effect of it on any production, as also the beginnings made by the Army toward some sort of order out of chaos.

    The picture briefly was that during the occupation the Japanese had cut timber to the south and west beyond the ??? Henry bridge to the extent of about 110 million feet, parallel to the Western side of the upper Himogaan River.  They had extended the  railway north along the river also, but had done little cutting because the grade was less to the south.  During this period guerilla raids on the cutting areas had occurred and most if not all steam donkeys disabled by draining the water, firing up, an melting the boiler tubes.  This process was reported to be continuing, but presently by the Japanese now occupying the area.  It had not been possible to get up the railway line yet, but the Japanese had been unable to operate since the first U. S. air attacks in 1944 and meantime the railway line had grown up to grass and weeds four to six feet high.  All logging camps had been destroyed.   The conditions a most log cars was unknown since they were scattered in the woods but it was known that the Japanese had had no proper lubricants and few cars were believed usable.  Most engines were in the ruins of the machine shop or just back of it.  Some had fallen into the repair pits as the timbers burned.  The gears were worn out.  The fire boxes were badly holed by armor piercing 50 cal. fire from planes.  No 7 Baldwin was burned over and rusty and the tires worn paper thin.  The bodega containing spare gears, repair parts, and steel shapes destroyed and a molten heap.  There was no babbit, and the army had none anywhere.  The mill was flat to the ground, the power lines badly shot up, the electrical equipment damaged or destroyed or holed, the electric generators burned over or burned out and transformers holed.  Dry kiln doors were blown outward and lay in the grass, ??? had been stripped from some.  The planing mill building was saved but full of shot holes and leaking and stripped of machines which were piled on kiln cars elsewhere in the open.  One damaged steam donkey was down near the mill pond.  All housing had been stripped, plumbing wrecked, electric wiring pulled out etc.  Four or five staff houses completely destroyed, two or three half blown in or out, and grass waist to shoulder high covered the whole area to the house or building walls.  Booby traps were said to remain as a hazard to looking around.  ??? the side of the useful was the planning mill building, the damaged power house, some ??? a Japanese auditorium being used as a hospital and containing wounded and sick, a Japanese poorly constructed store house, as also a small office, and docks in fairly good shape, one sunken Japanese landing barge with diesel engine, two damaged lumber barges, one usable crane and one crane with a support shot out.  The water system was relatively undamaged, with pumps capable of repair.  Electric and telephone lines were mostly on the ground.  Native housing was in fair condition aside from neglect and some roof holes from gun fire.  All white staff housing undestroyed was leaky from greater or less gunfire.

     All remaining furniture had been collected in Harvey Pope’s house by Army.  There was a dining room table and enough chairs but almost no dishes, ration kits being in use.  An army gasoline stove was in use for cooking and Capt Blomgren and the Insular Staff  members living and eating together. 

    Army was employing and paying 150 to 200 natives, who had some food.  Most of the other native were starving or close to it with the wild sweet potato the only food obtainable.  There was almost no clothing, rice bags with holes for the legs and arms being mostly worn.  Some had nothing to cover themselves and would not leave the houses.  Malaria, tuberculosis, etc evident everywhere.  Almost no woman less than age forty was left in the community.  An organization of Army and Philippine government was being formed to supply food, clothes, and medical supplies, if and when procurable.

     Former native employees were working under the former staff members who were also employed by Army in getting the small portable Corinth mill setup.  This mill was built in the U. S. to cut beech birch and maybe 16 feet long and to about 26 inches maximum diameter, with an estimated maximum capacity of 25 thousand board feet per day  Everything done by hand work and due to malnutrition six hands required for the normal work of two.  The setup in relation to the need compared not too favorably with the slingshot of the young David of the Bible.

     With this general picture in mind, Keller joined the sawmill crew and J. R P., M. D. and Charlie Hafner returned to Manila with Major Jacobson for discussion with Army Engineers, to secure emergency funds, etc.  En route to Bacolod by truck a Japanese foraging party crossed the road ahead but concealed themselves in the grass so there was no shooting to the apparent disgust of Major Jacobson, but quite all right with the rest of us.  One Company of soldiers from the 503 parachutists was met near Bocolad en route to Fabrica.

    At Manila, due to the influx of troops there were no remaining quarters for civilians.  M. D. was taken care of by Col Sangdon of Elmira and J. R. P and Hafner found cots in various places at 1002 Engineers.  Numerous photographs of the destruction at Fabrica were filed with Army censorship, as required for development and printing (and never recovered being lost by the Army).  P10,000 in small bills secured at considerable difficulty for emergency use later at Fabrica and more conferences with Col McCaffrey of Army Engineers and Staff.

      It developed that tools and some more small and medium circular mills supposed to be shipped from U. S. West Coast could not be located, and it was doubtful if located could be assigned to Fabrica.  Machine shop tools capable of machining car axles and the like were non existent in Manila also.  We might get later a couple more jeeps and a few more G. I.’ s from engineers, and better food supplies thru Army.  In the first evening at Manila Major Jacobson and J. R. P were summoned to report to a visiting group of F. E. A. Brass hats as to conditions in the middle Islands, and after speaking to them, directed to file five copies of what had been said with them as soon as possible.  This work took a good hard day, but was accomplished.

     A quiet down to earth discussion was then had by M. D. Thompson and J. R.P. seeking to assess where we stood, and with the basic problem understood as that of survival of Insular Lumber Company.  There was an agreement on tentative conclusions to the effect that having regard to the little equipment owned by Army, the many demands upon it, the mixed up and inadequately planned procurement, and red tape, we could look for little real accomplishment toward repair and rebuilding from that source with any confidence and had better rely on our own efforts supplemented by Army help in priority purchases and shipments where possible;  that having regard to the limited finances remaining available to the Company in the United States we should seek to make our Philippine beginnings finance themselves if possible, excepting to the extent of fifteen thousand dollars and refrain from throwing in any more for some time;  that we should co-operate with Army in anything they might do or suggest but become increasingly and necessarily watchful of our Company self interest, that to carry forward our thoughts we should arrange to press with Army our claim for renumeration for the about $125,000 worth of machines taken over by them in 1941, claim all manufactured lumber and planing mill products left by the Japanese, and claim the timbers and lumber used in construction of the Japanese ship yard, although constructed on Lopez land, and upon the ground that whatever conversion that Japanese had made of our timber, it still remained unlawfully taken by them and belonged to us with no credit for Japanese expense in constructing it;  that having regard to the great ??? terribly high price and great need for timbers and lumber we were in a position to talk to Army authorities on a basis that if they would expedite settlement of these claims and making available the proceeds, we would agree to use the proceeds for more adequate machinery and equipment to be purchased in the United States with the help of Army priority and thus increase the flow of lumber to the Army.  Altogether we could see perhaps $200,000 to be possible to squeeze out of these matters, the $15,000 from U. S. A. to supplement meantime, including the P10000 already in hand, and which was proposed to be doled out carefully. 

 Tentative discussion of these proposals, with some omissions, and more politely, with Col McCaffrey brought to light that all properties in the Islands had been by Army governmental decree; been vested in an Alien Property Custodian, and could not be utilized by former owners until released by that Custodian; that he, McCaffrey, claimed all the lumber and timbers left by the Japanese at Fabrica, including  the shipyard, for the Army as Japanese loot recovered from the enemy by Army, and now owned by it.  Some of his staff did not agree, but without changing his position.

      Accordingly M. D. and J. R. P. determined to take these matters direct to the heads of the Army Department involved.  There were the usual difficulties of distance, no transportation, overcrowded offices, waiting etc etc.  but competent Officers finally dug out in each case and agreeing for Army Claims Department that the claims would be expedited when presented on the blanks given us then for the purpose, and for the reason used by us i.e. more lumber production;  that the properties and lumber would be released by Alien Property Custodian promptly when passed by Army Claims Dept: by Army Purchases and Procurement that when passed by Claims and released by Custodian, the lumber an timbers would be promptly purchased and vouchers for payment issued without delay.

     In our innocence and ignorance of the Army habit of transfer of competent personnel to other areas, we thought we were all set.

      As recalled, this took place on Friday and we parted from M. D. in late afternoon via his leap off a moving truck with a mile or so to walk to Col Sangdon’s quarters, and before any opportunity of again reviewing the tentative conclusion above recited as reached, but with a date for the next morning at 1002^nd headquarters with him for the purpose, (The ride on the truck was just hijacked, and was going in both of our directions) we looked back at M. D.  plodding toward his cot in some General’s house, and recalled that he had said he had been able to sleep little there by reason of incoming and outgoing groups of officers, poker games going on and the like, and it seemed to us that he was getting toward the end of even his astonishing strength.  We recalled our plan that he return as soon as he had the overall picture, and our promise to Louise Thompson in that connection, and wished we knew of some way to get him home.  We did not see him again until October 1945 at Elmira.

      Saturday and Sunday we could get no clue to M. D. who did not appear, and Army telephone exchange was in its usual state of being unable to get thru.  Monday a message came through from Col Sangdon to the effect that cancellation of orders of some officer had made suddenly available a place on a plane to the United States and he had placed M. D. aboard.  He also said he would wrangle a plane for us to Bocolad next day if we could meet him early at the airfield.  Hafner was ill with dysentery, but we had done all we could then at Manila and had a job to do with the Army Claims at Fabrica to get funds to do some more, so we shoved off next morning with the P10,000 in a beer case, a real case of beer for the boys at Fabica, and one small pocket knife for arms, owing to the breaking of a promise by Col. Jacobson to give an order that we be so supplied, before leaving for another saw mill.  During the return trip we flew over a mountain area on Luzon where troops were burning out Japanese with flame throwers and the creeping flames up a deep mountain ravine reminded pf the beginning of forest fires in Potter County Pennsylvania and later ones seen in Canada on Fassett Lumber Company property. 

     That was June 25^th 1945 and I find the following note:  “To Bacolod from M. by plane (Col Sangdon) To Fabrica by 503^rd jeep – tire blow out 11 kilos out-  Charlie sick – started to walk (no arms supplied me by Jake – don’t  forget this) so had no protection – fortunately picked up by truck after ¾ mile through foraging area –spent evening bath – rest”

     Back at Fabrica we found one company of the 503^rd installed in Company homes, as also a half Mortar Company with their snubby 4.2 guns, that we later came to admire.

     We arranger with Hafner to do the co-operating with Army and stick with them while J. R. P. concentrated on getting the claims prepared and filed and money for IlCo.  Some payments were made members of the ILCo staff there to buy needed clothes in black market, to furnish rice to needy families, and help out the small Army pay received by ILCo staff people there.

     There ensued a considerable period of tedious work making out claims on Army, Claims Department blanks, requiring constant repetition and involving the required tracing of every machine taken by them to its ultimate fate, procurement of affidavits etc etc broken by the first 4^th of July celebration at Fabrica since 1941, with ball games, a parade of school children, some speeches and a ride on an army “duck” a vehicle that later rated high in esteem with us all.

      Immediately after July 4^th, railway man West who had  men clearing grass from the railway line out of Fabrica began to report a desertion of farmers from the area above and reports unusual numbers of Japanese around Malapasoc.  Army officers had piles of surrender leaflets in the house basement, and a Japanese civilian, a native friendly with the Japs, a Filipino soldier and West undertook to deliver the leaflets and seek a surrender.  The Japanese civilian and the native were at the appropriate place, sent on ahead, to the about five remaining small houses at Malapasoc (now Camp Griffen).  The result of this was one Japanese civilian shot through the back of the head and one native boy with his heart cut out while still alive and struggling.  West and the Filipino soldier escaped but were visibly shaken that night.

    By July 6^th a considerable body of Japanese was reported as moving down to Bugang toward Fabrica and next day to Dian ay, or maybe seven miles away, and said to number perhaps a thousand.  These reports we thought likely exaggerated coming from the natives, but officers requested that a Cub plane be sent up to see what it could see, with one flight with the regular observer and one with our Mr. West who knew the country. This required a landing to pick up West and on the seventh J. R. P. accompanied Capt. Blomgren across the river to the airfield to seek a place large enough and without shell holes.  Such a place was located and notes of landmarks made by the Captain for the use of the pilot, and return made without incident.

    Next day, Sunday, was spent by J.P. R. discussing with local civilians and others a project that later became the Fabrica co-operative store, there then being no store of any sort or means of exchanging one article for another, such as fruit for corn, or fish boxes for rice, or for indeed grinding the corn itself.

      Monday, July 9^th, about 9:30 a.m. when the cub plane sought to land, the airfield was found to be surrounded by Japanese preventing a landing, West was fired upon and had to high tail it, the shooting caused the native workmen to run  leaving the mill and saw running and the whole population seemed to be running in all directions at once.  Hafner shut down the mill in person and J.R.P the office and taking the most important papers we set out up the hill.  Paratroopers were already taking station quietly, loaded with grenades, beside customary equipment, the mortars were being placed along the top of the river bank back of the staff housing , and ammunition carriers were passing out extra cartridge boxes for M-1’s and M-2’s and grenade containers to a line forming both right and left in front of Harbort’s house.  Some paratroopers who had been swimming in the pool were taking off naked over the square toward pants and arms and one yelling “banzai” which J.R. P. hoped was a joke and not genuine.  In not too long a time we had been furnished with carbines and extra shells, excepting only Mr. Land, who then volunteered to use the house dining room as a sort of hospital and take charge of it.  Hafner was assigned or volunteered to help carry shells to a mortar crew back of the house and J.R. P. to a hole in the grass to see that there no creepers toward the mortar crew from the rear, and to keep and eye on some women and children who by then had come to occupy a bomb shelter dug earlier by Japanese under the front lawn of Harvey Pope’s home.  While the mortars were being set up, paratroopers with wire reels appeared and strung telephone wire to observation points on the water tank and some house roofs and these were occupied by men with glasses who directed fire, and quite soon the mortars were letting go regularly all along, first with high explosive and later with phosphorus shells which also set fires in the brush and grass.

     This firing continued until about 2 pm at which time twelve more duck loads of troops and heavy machine guns arrived and more troops and guns and vehicles streamed in all afternoon and night until by July 10^th all company houses, the storage building, and the planing mill were filled with troops and the whole place cris-crossed with signal wire etc. 

     The soldiers gossip was to the effect that 1200 to 1500 Japanese had the idea of a break thru to the head of river navigation, the seizing of small craft then maybe larger ships and getting to Japan or other Islands.  Whether this was or not true, nor how many Japanese took part, or whether more than a small number were concerned, we never found out.  In any event 18 two motored bombers came over next day and heavily bombed up toward the mountains, apparently disrupting whatever concentration of Japanese that remained.

      This was the only actual shooting seen at Fabrica – there were other later alarms, stand to’s etc. etc. but not involving so much real activity.

     From that date the troop numbers gradually were cut down to about three companies – two continuing to advance up the Railway line and cutting down a few Japanese each day, and one resting alternately at Fabrica and getting cleaned up.

       During the remainder of July progress here and there was made.  Army employed more native clean up labor, around 500 in all, some picking over scrap heaps for usable bolts, nail, parts, some cutting grass and weeds, some working on roads, many clearing up railway line.  Henry Stone had a small machine shop set up- a forge- electric repair shop and some engines under repair.  Army brought in about $20,000 worth of tools and supplies and these were card indexed to separate from salvaged materials.  Ultimately these supplies totaled $50,000.  The sunken barges at the docks were eventually raised – crane repaired and lumber shipments on Army requisition handled.  Water and light supply became steady.   Food supplies were better – a small beginning with the company store was made and a community market.   Partitions were erected in the hospital to separate male and female patients and some medical supplies received.  The small Corinth mill was producing an average of 7000 board feet per day only however, and entirely from logs laying around Fabrica or fished out of the pond.  Much of the material cut was used to repair the downed bridges toward Bocolad. 

 Finally this Capt Blomberg and a Capt O’ Connor of Army Finance Office, ??? co-operative and sympathetic especially to the needs of the native population.

 During this period by using about two thirds time on the Army claims, they were completed and sent on to Army Claims Division at Manila, being about $25,000 for machines, $26,500 for planning mill stock and lumber and a separate amount for lumber sent Army, for Fort Mills about the time of War’s outbreak.  The other one-third of time was spent going around where our staff was working for Army and keeping in touch with developments.

    During the same period also fires had often been observed toward the mountain and reports of Japanese attempts to burn and otherwise destroy the railway and bridges.  Troops had opened up the line to Bugang and were sending patrols out still further.  It seemed that we had to know more about the railway line condition before the possibilities of production except from pick up logs could be determined.

     Accordingly July 23^rd J. R. P accompanied West up the line by track car to Bugang, and from there with a combat patrol of perhaps twenty five men so far as the ??? Henry steel bridge above Maplpasoc, or the present Camp Griffen.  Dead Japanese were to be observed here and there but no live ones encountered and the party was not fired upon.  The line was found in astonishingly good condition with only a few short wooden bridges damaged by fires set for the purpose and no steel bridges blown up or damaged, although there was rust flakes and some rotten approach timbers.  Later some of the troops moved up also to Malapasoc and patrols were sent beyond the Henry bridge but it was still considered unsafe for the men to work in the woods, and repair parts for the steam donkeys like boiler tubes unavailable.

     Later Hafner and Capt Blomgren were able to penetrate still further and look at some of the steam donkeys and found several holed from shrapnel and in poor condition.  Their trip was interrupted by contact with Japanese on the way home, but not seriously.

     Some work was done with Henry Stone and ??? Hafner in measuring up the by now cleaned up mill site and in sketching out construction of a band mill, if we could get one.  The Retriever was also hauled out and repairs begun on it, to finish towing the barges.

     Around August first Capt Blomgren conferred with J.R.P. as to the whole situation and stated that Army’s initial mission at Fabrica had been to build up production to 80,000 board feet per and and then arrange for us to take over.  He wanted to know whether we do so if he could in some way get added equipment from Army to get in decent reach of that figure, and suggested we all think more about it, for a few days as he was minded to go to Manila and have a showdown as to getting more equipment etc.

     No word having come from Manila as to the extension of cutting rights, not as to progress of the claims thru Army Claims, nor action as to the Co’s bank accounts in the Islands etc.  there were also other reasons for a Manila trip piling up.

 

   By August 7^th Capt Blomgren definitely was of the opinion we should have a show down with his superiors as to what they were going to do, arrangements were started for a plane and funds left by J.R. P. with Gysin to carry on as far as Company was concerned.

Keller refused to stay at Fabrica and was discharged from Company employment by JRP.  Capt Blomgren, Hafner, Keller and JRP left Bacolod by Army plane August 9^th.

    At Manila there were now two or maybe three large armies awaiting invasion of Japan, with barracks, supplies etc extending so far as 25 miles out of the city.  There were no quarters for us, but after various difficulties found a place in a small Chinese hotel with rates corresponding to the Waldorf (excepting two poached eggs on toasted P5.00)

 Mr Canasioso, when located stated that by reason of constant changes in persons having the office of Secretary of Agriculture, and the destruction of records, he had not been able to get the Concession extension thru, but now had a promise.

     Army Claims, had totally different personnel, were moving offices, could not even find the claims as filed, and were generally swamped with work and by indifferent and new personnel.  At Mr. Canasioso’s suggestion, copies of the claims were left with him to continue to follow up.

       At National City Bank, business was not being done, and availability of the pre war bank balance as per their ledger arranged, and some debts incurred for food by internees and carrying interest were paid. 

     Capt Blomgren of 1002^nd engineers and Major Jacobson worked out a proposal to IlCO to take over operations by IlCO, when certain production arrived at by Army, and subject to certain conditions.

    This written proposal was worked over at some length and an appointment made with Col McCaffrey for August 15^th at 9 A.M.  at his headquarters.  A written acceptance subject to bi-monthly payments for stock manufactured and delivered to Army in cash was prepared and signed b J. R. P.

   On August 15^th at 1002^nd Headquarters Col McCaffrey, after looking over these paper, stated that word had just come in via Army radio that the Japanese were asking for Peace and that all Army projects and commitments and plans were to be held “as is” , until further directive, which he estimated would be three months.  Accordingly that he would or could do nothing except to hold things at Fabrica as they were.

     Following this, J. R. P. procured $10,000 in pesos to go back to Fabrica by Capt Blomgren for delivery to Gysin for emergency Company purposes, a put in was made for steamer space back to the United States on a boat already boarded by Keller and after considerable difficulty Hafner and JRP boarded the same boat out in harbor by pilots ladder, just as it pulled out.

     The voyage of over a month to San Francisco was used in eating more, resting more, curing jungle sores, and working up from detailed notes on overall estimate of the loss and damage suffered, and the value of remaining Philippine assets, with forward estimates of re-construction planning in three stages.

    October 15^th, 1945, something over eleven thousand Japanese surrendered on Negros Island.