§ 39. Dr. Segalasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what mechanical aids were used in the searches for illegal arms carried out at Yagur, near Haifa; how many trees were uprooted; what other damage to property was caused; and 383 what estimate can be given of the total damage inflicted on this settlement by the searchers for illegal arms.
§ Mr. George HallVarious mechanical implements were used to uncover caches of arms, the presence of which had been indicated by mine detectors. Some 20 vines were damaged by tracked vehicles passing through a section of the vineyard near the settlement buildings, where it was necessary to uncover concealed arms caches. This settlement was literally honeycombed with them. In all 33 such caches were found, some in bogus culverts and dummy sewers, others beneath floors and above ceilings or in secret cupboards behind false panels. Some were in the children's dormitory and school.
The arms discovered included 92 two inch mortars, 5,267 mortar bombs, 5,017 Grenades, to machine guns, 321 rifles, 78 pistols, 1,404 magazines, 425,000 rounds of ammunition, in addition to quantities of demolition explosives and other military stores and equipment.
The damage necessitated by the operation of unearthing these munitions of war was in the circumstances not only insignificant but entirely justified. I am convinced that no other Army in the world would have been capable of carrying out such a difficult task with so much consideration and forbearance.