A Soldier’s Diary Entries

18 April 7 pm. News. Amzanak told us that the CO [commanding officer] had asked him how many men we had, what they were doing, and whether many could work with wagons, and Amzanak said that we had about forty men and he wrote that down. As regards this, our men have already decided they’ll be giving us wagons in a few days. Many are pleased: “We’ll be like ‘real Englishmen’ in the ASC” [Army Service Corps]. The morbid desire to be like “real Englishmen” is behind the eternal Jewish suspicion that we aren’t being treated as equals.

Yesterday we celebrated our first seder at the Levontins’. There we recalled our day of departure (the afternoon of 17 April 1915) and being issued buttonless uniforms and black greatcoats on the ship. We headed out on the ship from the [Vardeian] camp on 15 April.

19 April 6 pm. Yesterday we celebrated the seder in camp. There were Mer, [unintelligible], Zlotnik, and about fifteen other soldiers. The other soldiers were out (we now have about sixty men altogether). Zlotnik led the seder. At the end I said a few words in Hebrew and drew a parallel between last year’s Passover and this year’s. Back then not only did they not give us money for matzo and all the rest but even issued bread and ordinary non-Passover food with major shortages; nor did they issue military clothing before Passover. So everyone wore civilian dress. We ourselves were about to celebrate Passover “by the rules” (with the help of the communité and the refugee committee). But the communité was late providing us with matzo and the rest and did so in very small quantities, and the refugee committee didn’t issue enough ten-kopek pieces per soldier. On the third day, to the soldiers’ general grumbling, we switched over to bread and treif food. It hurts to recall our first seder in [Mafruz]. The one thing we had a lot of then was thrashings! And yelling by the English officers. Now it’s completely different. And we can say with pride that we have earned this by our behavior on the field of rebuke. You can earn a lot like this for the nation, too. A few thousand years ago, our forefathers left Egypt and came to Palestine across the desert. Now others are doing it for nothing and among them are detachments like the Zion Mule Corps (ZMC), especially battle ones. After my speech, the soldiers shouted “hurrah!” and sang. The evening didn’t go badly.

20 April 5 pm. Yesterday we learned of the court’s resolution in the case of [illegible] Zalmen Kogan. He was demoted and sent for 28 days to [unintelligible]. When he was told this on parade, he started cursing Amzanak and threatened Mer: “You won’t always be an officer. . . . I’ll get even with you.” He was jailed.

21 April 6:15 pm. Rumors again. They’re saying that all the former Russian subjects in the ZMC will join the detachment again because the consul is threatening to declare them deserters. It’s characteristic that they aren’t angry about this but relate it as a fact. About four months ago they would have been filled with wrath. This shows that a positive attitude toward the detachment is once again maturing. . . . It would be good now to get permission for a battle detachment. [ . . . ]

12 May 8:30 pm. Today I was greeted in [unintelligible]: The ZMC is being disbanded! It turned out that Rolo¹ received a document that talked about disbanding the ZMC and asking where the detachment could be transferred or assigned. Rolo showed up at the camp and questioned all the men to learn what languages and jobs they knew, what their citizenship was, and so on. He said he would recommend them for various jobs in the Arab “labor corps,” [unintelligible], and so on. He told Mer, Zlotnik, and Gulbin: “It’s too bad you don’t know Arabic and English well enough. You could get yourselves good jobs. Here Levi and Katz are going to get in the ‘labor corps’ without military [unintelligible] the first ten, and the second [unintelligible] a month.” Mer and Gulbin stated that they wanted to join the infantry, if only as privates. At first Zlotnik wanted to go into transport, and then “with the Comrades” into the infantry, but in the end he stated: “If there’s not going to be a Jewish detachment, I’ll stay in the army. I want a transfer.” Amzanak said he’s getting a commission and is going to be an officer in the “labor corps.” That’s interesting. The most worthless of our officers, who shirked the front, is being made an officer, while the rest are going to be no one knows what. Actually, Amzanak is an English citizen! I had an interesting conversation [unintelligible]. When he came to the camp, I said to him: “It’ll be too bad if there’s no Jewish detachment.” “Why too bad? All the detachment ranks will find a place in either the Engl. or the Russian army.” “But the Jewish people need a Jewish detachment.” “There is no Jewish people. There’s just a Jewish religion. I’m an Englishmen of Jewish religion. You’re a Russian of Jewish religion. Where is the land of the Jews? Where is the nation of the Jew?” “Palestine is our land.” “I don’t know Palestine. I’ve never been there and don’t want to go.” In short, the philosophy of “Poles of the Mosaic law” and similar gentlemen. Then I asked him what answer he’d had regarding the ZMC, and he gave me a somewhat evasive and rather rude answer. Then he asked me what I wanted. I told him I wanted there to be a Jewish detachment and thought there would be one. I would see to it myself, though not through him, naturally. After a while, [Gulnan] and Mer walked up to Rolo and asked him to write down that if there wasn’t going to be a Jewish detachment, they only wanted to be transferred to the English army. Then a few soldiers came up and said they didn’t want to be transferred as workers to the labor and camel corps but wanted to be soldiers.

13 May 8 pm. Yesterday we held an officer assembly and decided I would make one more attempt to defend the ZMC if it was no longer possible to get a Jewish battle detachment. I wrote a report to General [Boilu] saying that if a new detachment could not be created, then he should allow us to put the old ZMC in order and for this [illegible] the reception of new recruits, of whom I think as many as three hundred are to be found here. I also asked him to give orders about Rolo, who after my return from the Dardanelles declared himself OC of the ZMC and led the detachment to disbandment. It was a little unpleasant to write about Rolo, but the question could not be avoided. For their part, the subalterns gave me (“To Captain J. Trumpeldor. CO ZMC”) a report in which they asked that every effort be made to keep and reorganize the ZMC. The best of the soldiers (Poliak, Grushkovsky, [Pesel], [unintelligible], and others)—about 30 men—had also given me a report for the general in which they noted that they had served loyally and righteously, served quite well, and for this reason were surprised at the decision to put an end to the ZMC and asked that it be preserved.

I headed out in the morning with these reports to see the Commandant General [Boilu]. I was received by his adjutant, a captain. He said that an order had been received from Capri to disband the ZMC and to deal with [unintelligible] detachment. I explained to him that the decision stemmed from a report by Colonel Paterson, who thought there weren’t enough men. That now there were men and, consequently, this was the sole grounds for concern. I myself could worry about myself. I didn’t want anyone to get the idea that I was in the detachment for personal motives. I personally did not need their ranks or their pay. I was still going to fight for a Jewish detachment. I was informed that one of our former soldiers, Vainberg Yulian, wounded on 15 May 1915, by a rifle bullet into the flesh of his leg, had received his discharge and had headed for Australia. There he had worked on a farm for a while and then signed up for the army. Now he was writing to his friend Rapoport that he’d been promoted to captain in the Australian army. Among us, he’d been considered an average soldier [unintelligible], not a coward. [ . . . ]

Yesterday again [unintelligible] with Yudelovich to the [unintelligible] tribunal. They had found someone [unintelligible]. This turned out to be E.E. Laïarby. Interprète à la Cour d’Appel [unintelligible]. Laïarby is a man of 45–50. Yudelovich was only there at the beginning of the conversation. Then he left, saying he was busy and basically couldn’t be involved in [unintelligible] matter. Laïarby told us the following: “We want to organize a committee here [unintelligible] of 7 men—2 Lebanese (Christians), 2 Syrians (Muslims), and 2 Palestinians (i.e., Jews). This high committee will run everything and hold talks with MacMahon (the English) and the French; it will organize separate committees, and so on. The separate committees (Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian) will organize the masses and will be national councils [unintelligible] from the high council. For the Lebanese we’ll ask for French officers, for the Syrians and Jews English. I think we’ll be able to put together 30,000–40,000 for the war in Syria and Palestine. Ask [unintelligible] later for the autonomy of Lebanon under a French protectorate, Syria under the protection of England, and Palestine under the protection of England. For now we aren’t going to tell France that an English protectorate is preferable in Syria. . . .”

I said that I myself, naturally, could not give him an answer, that I had to consult with my friends. At first he asked me to send two to the high committee the day after tomorrow. After my reply, he asked to be told tomorrow the result of my talks with my friends [unintelligible]. In general, this entire story is positive a priori from my point of view. The Arabs have been the first to come to us as equals. They are proposing an Alliance. They already know our right to Palestine. This will be a major trump at a future peace congress, [unintelligible]; it will turn out for them that many stand behind Laïarby. . . . At best, this may be a great cause.

Yesterday evening I was talking with Bograchev. He has taken an interest in our cause and views it positively. Together we found that the cause had to be clarified and for this it was worth sending the two men, but without the right to decide anything there. Most important is that they listen and learn who they are, what they want, and so forth, and tell them that after familiarizing themselves with the matter they must consult with [crossed-out] their group of Jewish friends.

This morning, we (I, M. A. Bograchev, Margolis, Glusky, and Yudelovich) set up a meeting. Bograchev and I were in favor of sending the two; moreover, I thought that one of them should be a local Jew (Jacques [Moseri], [Nadzhar], [Suares Pichoto]), because the locals know both the Arabs and the English better than we do. M. Abr. thought this all nonsense, that Laïarby was some kind of adventurist and that we [unintelligible] and cannot enter into relations with him. If they want, then let their central organs (in Europe) open talks with our central organs (in Europe). Glusky thought it wasn’t worth starting the matter with them for he didn’t believe [the Arabs], that in addition he personally did not want to and could not be involved with this matter. Yudelovich stated that he was against the whole story. I should reply that we don’t want to know anything. . . . In the end we decided to set up another meeting that evening and invite Aronovich. And leave the locals alone for now.

16 August 8 am. Last evening we met at M. Abr.’s. Again we arrived at nothing. We decided to hold another meeting tomorrow morning (i.e., today). [ . . . ]

Yudelovich believes we should set aside all plans. [Glusky] “doesn’t [like] the cause,” he doesn’t trust the Arabs and is busy with other Palestinian matters. M. A. believes this is an idle [unintelligible] on the Arabs’ part. Only Bograchev has a positive attitude, but the body of active members [unintelligible] manifests itself very little. I suggested to M. A. that he go with me instead of Yudelovich. He didn’t agree, although he considers Yudelovich a fool incapable of anything. . . . I had only one other choice—to leave them with their indecision and pointless verbal sparring! I told them I didn’t accept M. A.’s proposals, I couldn’t go any further with them since they nearly all were either opposed to [unintelligible] or indifferent it, and I reserved my freedom to act; in addition, I added that I was thinking of going to the local Jews, who once helped the ZMC, too. We parted at that.

Before my departure, I headed off and arranged a meeting with Pichoto and [Nadzhar] (the rabbi was there only at the beginning of the meeting). There we decided that tomorrow I would go see Laïarby and propose a discussion with the participation of [Nadzhar] and Pichoto for [unintelligible]. This I understand. But then they (M. A. and the others) were all afraid that Laïarby would send another one of us, [unintelligible], and Yudelovich.

Today the cafeteria was closed for a few days since there is no [unintelligible]. The things of the club and cafeteria are in Bograchov’s [unintelligible].

The unemployed have yet to be given work, and tickets to America have not been issued. It’s bad about the work!

16 July. There was a meeting today after the midday meal. [Nadzhar], Pichoto, and Laïarby. It ended with [Nadzhar] promising tomorrow to bring Laïarby together with someone who was up on the matter and who would decide the issue (in [Nadzhar’s] opinion) or whether the cause was to be or not. For now [Nadzhar] is keeping the name of this influential Jewish stranger a secret.

I received a letter from Jabotinsky. He writes that he is not alone now and the chances of success are tremendous.

Today a deputation from the unemployed appeared at Pichoto’s again. They asked him what he has done or will do for the unemployed. Pichoto told them, “Go to the committee for [unintelligible]. I have set aside jobs for 20 men there.” The delegates left very dissatisfied.

19 July. I went to see Pichoto today. He spoke with [Nadzhar] over the phone. He also reported that he’d spoken with [unintelligible] stranger, and the stranger said he wanted three or four days to think about whether it was worth meeting with Laïarby.

28 July. Late this afternoon I suddenly saw an English officer who had come by motorcar. I asked him what he needed; he said he was looking for me on orders from General [Boilu]. General [Boilu] from Izmail (General [Marrei]) had been assigned to find me and report my address for some purpose I was needed Sec.-Lieut. Ades [unintelligible] doesn’t know, but he thinks this has to do with something like the ZMC. . . . I will wait impatiently for clarification.

29 August. Had dinner by invitation at the minister’s. [unintelligible]. He welcomed me very graciously. He said he’d been looking for my apartment but hadn’t found it; he’d wanted to repay the visit I’d made him three or four days ago.

In the evening, Sec.-Lieut. Ades came once again. I wasn’t home. He left his card and asked on order of General [Boilu] that I appear tomorrow at 9:45 in the morning at Haus-Gerard.