Very cold day. America has withdrawn her Ambassador from Berlin & Count Bernstorff has been handed his papers at Washington. This looks as if America means to act, but I hope she will not come in. There are enough nations fighting.

This submarine menace is the last resort of the enemy. The Zepps have failed & her army on the Western Front can not make any headway. now it comes to this, either Germany is starved out or we are starved out.

A list of food regulations is published to day. 2 ½ lbs of meat per head per week, 4lbs of bread. It is difficult to find out here exactly what we do eat per week. Went over to Marystowe to inquire for Mrs Newman, who is very ill. The doctors now say that she has blood poisoning caused by bad teeth. She was a little better.

Had a lovely walk back, the ground is covered with snow, which is dry & powdery. The sky in the West was red with sunset glow & behind me was the moon almost full. It was very cold & afterwards we heard from Gullick when he came in with the dessert that it was then freezing 17 degrees.