diff --git a/include/lost.h b/include/lost.h
index b3ceb5a2..98c67acd 100644
--- a/include/lost.h
+++ b/include/lost.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ struct loststr {
     short ef_type;
     natid lost_owner;		/* Who lost it */
     /* end of part matching struct genitem */
-    int lost_uid;		/* lost ID */
+    int lost_uid;		/* lost ID (assigned, otherwise unused) */
     char lost_type;		/* Type of thing (ship, plane, nuke, land, sector) */
     short lost_id;		/* ID of lost thing */
     coord lost_x;
diff --git a/include/news.h b/include/news.h
index 545eca50..3be7c91b 100644
--- a/include/news.h
+++ b/include/news.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 struct nwsstr {
     short ef_type;
     natid nws_ano;		/* "actor" country # */
-    short nws_uid;
+    short nws_uid;		/* unused */
     s_char nws_vrb;		/* action (verb) */
     natid nws_vno;		/* "victim" country # */
     s_char nws_ntm;		/* number of times */