Laying water and fuel pipes
Using the Burma Road much equipment was taken to Jerusalem: weapons and ammunition, food, water and fuel. All of these were essential for the continued survival of the city, not to mention that during the above-mentioned period there was no other alternative.
During the second half of June the laying of the fuel pipe to Jerusalem was completed: a full tanker from the plain was attached to one side and fuel flowed into the empty tanker which was attached to the other side and delivered the fuel to Jerusalem. Later, two permanent tankers were positioned for storage and regulation.
At the same time the laying of a water pipe to the city was started. The Jordanians controlled the water whose source was in the Yarkon springs at Rosh HaAyin, an arrangement which could not be relied on. In Jerusalem itself there was a serious shortage of water and it was estimated that the amount of water in the reservoirs would only last two or three months. It was, therefore, decided to lay a new water pipe from Hulda, which would draw water from the bores near Kibbutz Na’an. The enterprise took place in secret and was carried out in record time. On 11 August 1948 the laying of the ‘Shiloah Pipe’ was completed and water flowed through it to the pumps at Sha’ar HaGai.
In conclusion: the Burma Road serviced the besieged Jerusalem for about five months until the ‘Heroism Road’ was laid (from Nahshon Junction to Shimshon Junction) in December 1948. Using the Burma Road much equipment was taken to Jerusalem: weapons and ammunition, food, water and fuel. All of these were essential for the continued survival of the city, not to mention that during the above-mentioned period there was no other alternative.
At the same time the laying of a water pipe to the city was started. The Jordanians controlled the water whose source was in the Yarkon springs at Rosh HaAyin, an arrangement which could not be relied on. In Jerusalem itself there was a serious shortage of water and it was estimated that the amount of water in the reservoirs would only last two or three months. It was, therefore, decided to lay a new water pipe from Hulda, which would draw water from the bores near Kibbutz Na’an. The enterprise took place in secret and was carried out in record time. On 11 August 1948 the laying of the ‘Shiloah Pipe’ was completed and water flowed through it to the pumps at Sha’ar HaGai.
In conclusion: the Burma Road serviced the besieged Jerusalem for about five months until the ‘Heroism Road’ was laid (from Nahshon Junction to Shimshon Junction) in December 1948. Using the Burma Road much equipment was taken to Jerusalem: weapons and ammunition, food, water and fuel. All of these were essential for the continued survival of the city, not to mention that during the above-mentioned period there was no other alternative.