יומן - מלא 01/08/1948
Sunday, August 1, 1948
Things are not quiet on the fronts, especially in the south. The Egyptians want to capture ''Isluj. We discussed plans for the resumption of fighting. Yigael supports action against the Syrians, in addition to the Egyptians. I favor action against the Triangle.
- Shaul [Avigur]: Alon [Yehuda Arazi] is handling the "Swiss" procurement (50 75 mm field cannons), in Italy (25 anti-tank and anti-aircraft 2 mm cannons, 21 of these regular, 2 twin cannons, double-barreled, naval), shells for the cannons that we captured and bought from the Arabs and the English. 12 naval cannons of 3 and 4 inches, 4 cannons for coastal batteries. Alon established an important contact with chemical factories in Italy. In Switzerland there's a problem with our lawyer, but we might come out of it okay, and then the cannons will be sent during the second week of August. There's an offer for another 20-30 (anti-aircraft) Hispano-Suiza [cannons]. In France there's ammunition for 65 mm cannons, 12 120 mm mortars, 12 47 mm anti-tank cannons, 12 50 mm anti-tank cannons. If the problem in Switzerland is sorted out - this purchase will proceed. If not - there's cause for concern. In Finland the purchase of 50 120 mm mortars has been completed - they'll arrive by air.
In Czechoslovakia an order was placed for 10,000 rifles, 200 Besa [machine gun]s, 500 MG-34 machine guns with a large quantity of bullets.
This week 400 tons of TNT and 2,000 rifles (from Alon - their quality is doubtful) arrived. About another 1,000 tons of TNT has been ordered.
Negotiations are underway for 22 tanks (12 of 16 tons, 10 of 9½ tons) - the prices are excessive: $90,000 for a large tank. Ehud [Avriel] is bargaining, they lowered it to 75,000. Ehud is still bargaining. There are Sherman tanks without equipment, not worth buying.
Airplanes - so far we've bought 25 "Knives." A government committee examined the machines following the report from here that there are problems, and found that the "Knives" are okay, but that our pilots are not expert enough, and they suggested sending some of them to Czechoslovakia for special training. [We] need to acquire another 15 "Knives." There's also an offer for 50 "Spitfires" - but the offer is far-fetched. Of the "Knives" received - (21) - 8 are completely fine, 3 are in assembly, 2 in long-term repair.
Bombers cannot be acquired in Czechoslovakia.
[Emanuel] Tzur has a serious contact in England, but there were complications: one Mosquito crashed, a Halifax crashed, only one Mosquito was received. [We're] waiting to receive 5 Beaufighters. Still trying to save a few Norsemans, we bought 20, might be able to save another 10. Shaul doesn't think Freddy [Fredkins] should handle purchases. We have a base [for flights] in YS [Yugoslavia] [Podgorica, "Yoram Field" - from which direct flights to Israel were possible]. Geda [Gideon] Shochat is the base commander.
Shaul doesn't think Alon should return to America; he should focus only on Europe.
There are constant complications surrounding the departure of the ship from Mexico. In any case, the 32 tanks won't arrive on this ship. The shipment of airplanes from America fell through. There are excessive organizational costs in America. A few flight experts are about to arrive from America (Al Schwimmer and others).
Zeev Hayam didn't receive help in Italy despite all of Shaul's requests.
There are a few more agencies for purchases in Europe: for fuel: Ferber [sp.], Namir, Meir Greenbaum [sp.] [Gueron], Alkalai [sp.], and Gertz. There's competition and chaos. There are other agencies such as Saul Friedman etc. [We] need a central agency in Switzerland with separate departments headed by experts. Kozlowski [Pinchas Sapir] might be able to coordinate this. Someone needs to be sent in place of Pino [Ginzburg], who's returning to the country; he was Shaul's treasurer [in the Mossad le'-''Aliya Bet]. Kozlowski needs to work for a month with Pino. Regarding air[craft] matters, Shaul believes that Hai Issachar should leave immediately to stay abroad until Eliahu Sacharoff, who's engaged in Mexico, arrives. Shaul himself wants time off.
Recruitment [in Europe] was assigned to Meir Sapir, with Aharon Rutenberg [Sela] coming to his aid. A budget of $ 15,000 per month was authorized. In the coming days Nahum Kremer [Shadmi] will return.
- Moshe Nosovitsky [Netzer, commander of the Palmach's 2nd Battalion] from the Negev: The Negev Battalion has 900 soldiers in practice, 1,500 are registered. They are divided into 4 battalions. Moshe's battalion has 200 fighters. The commanders of the other battalions are: Yisrael Carmi (commander of a mobile battalion [the 9th Battalion] - 150 men with 25 jeeps, 6 armored, 6 caterpillars and half-tracks); Uzi Narkiss [the 7th Battalion] (200 men), Yosef Rivkind [Yariv, 8th Battalion] (150 men). The settlements have supplies for two months, and the army about the same.
- The manpower situation on July 23, 1948: in the staffs of brigades and battalions 1227 o[fficers], 1260 s[ergeants], 1664 sc [squad commanders], 24009 p[rivates], total 28160 (1870 women), standard 36,540 (including reserve unit 4100 and temporary deployment). Shortfall 6503.
Garrison: 281 o, 122 s, 698 sc, 8463 p, total 9564 (WC 482), standard 19,231. Shortfall 8387 (the standard includes 24 battalions, 1 of these in the Negev).
Corps: 313 o, 114 s, 81 sc, 7988 p, total 8500 (WC 581), standard 15000, shortfall 5642.
Services and camps: o 786, s 801, sc 620, 12588 p, total 14795 (WC 73) - standard 18,000, shortfall 3132.
Intake on the day of the report. S. 455, 1991 p, total 2446 (WC 173).
MLB: 69 o., 81 s, 85 sc, 1820 p, total 2055 (WC 25), Grand total 2676 o., 2837 s, 3148 sc, 56,859 p., total 65520 (WC 5965), standard 88771, shortfall 21218.
Aside from available manpower: 1494 hospitalized wounded, 926 deserters, 139 prisoners, 788 POWs, 2038 fallen soldiers, total 70,985.
In the afternoon government meeting. In the evening a party for Air Force personnel.