יומנים > יומן - מלא 04/08/1948
Wednesday, August 4, 1948
In the morning I traveled to Netanya to participate in a new joint maneuver: an operation involving infantry, artillery, mortars, Besa [machine gun]s, planes - in a platoon commanders course under [Haim] Laskov's instruction.
- Alon [Yehuda Arazi] came: on August 10, 2 ships will set out. On one: 50 75 mm C. [cannons], 50,000 shells, and another 150,000 shells for Hispano-Suiza. On the second: 25 Italian 20 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank C., two of them naval, with 112,000 rounds for them.
Another 50,000 shells for 65 mm, 12 120 mm mortars, with 4,000 shells; 20 47 mm C. with 20,000 shells were brought. They'll set out in about three weeks.
In Italy they're offering: 12 equipped Spitfires, $ 60,000 each, 6 coastal C. 120 mm x 45, $ 14160 each, each shell $ 87, 6 naval C. 102 mm x 35, $ 6700 each, shell $ 40, 6 naval and anti-aircraft C. 76 mm x 40 $ 3300 each, shell $ 22.
Avni is being offered: 30 used C. 76 mm x 40, $ 1100 each, 1000 shells for each, $ 4.2 each.
They're also offering used tanks, explosive material P£ 70-80 for each ton of TNT (we already bought 600, of which we "ate" 200, they'll buy another 300 tons). TEN can also be bought cheaply, and phosphorous bombs for the Air Force.
According to Shkolnik, Shaul [Avigur] believes there's about $1 million for these purchases. So preference should be given to: the Spitfire, 6 [naval] C., 102 mm x 35, 6 [naval] C. 76 mm x 40.
- A delegation of the parents of prisoners [at the Legion camp in Mafraq]. They hadn't had news from the prisoners in about 2 months. This week postcards began arriving. The law allows sending a postcard every week and a closed letter every two weeks. There's no confirmation that packages were received, and there's concern that they're not arriving. The Red Cross seems to move slowly. They're asking for a meeting with the Red Cross, [and] also asking for a rabbi to be sent to the camp. They'd like to transfer the prisoners' camp from Mafraq, which serves as a transit point for the [Legion and Iraqi] armies. They want to complain to the [Red Cross] headquarters in Geneva about their representatives here.
They raise the question of an exchange of prisoners, especially the non-combatant prisoners (there are elderly people from the Old City); there are also two girls from the Old City in captivity - initially they brought them to Jerusalem, then returned them to Mafraq.
Schneider - from the parents' committee, expresses concern about insecurity.
Yesterday Radio Ramallah broadcasted that supposedly the Jews aren't allowing the Red Cross representatives to approach our Arab prisoners.
They suggested the parents' committee visit the Arab prisoners and bring them gifts - and that this be publicized.
- Hai [Issachar], [Cecil] Margo, and Aharon [Remez]: They demand another 15 Knives [Messerschmitts] (there are 10), P£ 13,000 each, altogether 195,000, 42 Spitfires, P£ 12,000 each - 504,000, 1 squadron of P-47 and P-5, 20 each 10,000, altogether P£ 200,000. 2 Beaufighters each 12,000 = 24,000, 5 Mosquitoes each 13,000 = 65,000; one squadron of B-25 A-20, we have 4 A-20, need another 6 B-25 - 9000 each. 2 - 920 9000 each, altogether P£ 72,000. Heavy bombers, another 5 Hammers [Flying Fortresses] - 15,000 each - P£ 75,000. Dakota squadron (we have 4 of which 1 is a DC-5 [?]), need another 4, each 15,000 = P£ 60,000, in a squadron for reconnaissance and transport, we have 18 planes, need another 4 Rapids P£ 6000 each, 10 Fairchild, Bonanza, P£ 5000 each, altogether P£ 74,000. Ambulances (we have 2 planes) another 2 each 3500 = 7000. Transport Department (we have 7 - C-46, 1 - DC-4) another 3 - C-46 each P£ 15,000, 2 - DC-4 each 50,000 = P£ 145,000.
Training planes: 12 Harvard - 5000 each, 12 for initial training 3000 each, 8 11 (we have 4) 4000 each - P£ 112,000.
Total [for] airplanes P£ 1,629,000, 15% parts = P£ 244,000, altogether P£ 1,873,300.
Airplane armament: 250 [heavy] machine guns - P£ 200 each = P£ 50,000, 160 20 mm cannons = P£ 345 each = 55,200, 40 facilities for bombers P£ 25,000, electrical installation for telescopic sights 10,000 total 140,000.
Maintenance costs 238,000, equipment 29,000, ammunition (2000 tons of explosives per month P£ 300 a ton) 600,000 with rounds and another 225,000, fuel: reserve of 2300 tons (right now only 700 tons) P£ 50 a ton. 81.50 average monthly consumption - 1000 tons = P£ 50,000, additional 25% for a month's actions 16,000; 450 tons of oil - P£ 100 a ton = P£ 45,000[,] pump facilities etc. 5000 - altogether P£ 193,000[.] Service for bases and observation posts P£ 230,000, vehicles - 500 additional cars P£ 800 each = P£ 400,000[.] Various devices P£ 125,800, workshops 42,010[,] warehouses 17,300, training 348,000, services and maintenance etc. Altogether P£ 4,821,000.
- I lunched with Isserzon [Zeev On] and we clarified a few questions about the movement.
- In the afternoon a government meeting. At six a meeting with the [chief] rabbis ([Yitzhak Isaac] Herzog and [Meir Hai] Uziel) and attorneys ([Moshe] Smoira [Zmora] and [Yitzhak] Olshan) about the rabbinical courts.
- Conversation with Ya'akov [Dori] about arrangements [front commanders and General Staff appointments]: He proposes Zvi [Ayalon] for the Jerusalem Front, Dan [Even] for the Central Front (with the title of major-general), Shlomo [Shamir] instead of Zvi [Ayalon]; proposes David [Shaltiel] as inspector general, Yisrael Amir [currently Air Force commander] as Yosef Avidar's deputy, Mishal Schechter [Shacham] as Southern Front commander.
- Report from Slavin on production during July: mortars (which?) 75, 3" shells 21,000, Mills hand grenades 24,800, fuses 22,750, Stens 1417, Sten magazines 38,400, charges 3100, 9 mm rounds 266,000, German loaders 75,000, repair of 2" shells 2000 (provided throughout this time: mortars 225, 3" shells 48,400, Mills 64,150, fuses 68,950, Stens 12,587, magazines 63,300, 9 mm rounds 2,851,500, German loaders 202,650, repair of 2" shells - 11,900).