File 52/1912 Pt 3 'Persia Diaries' [‎409v] (829/1128)

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245 Organisation. —On the statement of the Naib Salar that the Herat
garrison is to be organised in three brigades, orders were given for the formation of
three brigade bands from the ten now existent, the change being accompanied by
a considerable reduction in the personnel of the musicians.,
246 Uniforms. —A free issue of one uniform has been made to all officers
who are in addition entitled to two further suits on purchase.
247. Kandahar.;— Recent Russian information places the Kandahar garrison
at— ~ •
Nurzai Battalion. 1,000 strong. Armed Martini-Henry.
Herati
Kotawali „ 200 „ „ 3 -shot ~ English ~ rifles.
Khasadar-i-Jadidi, 1,800 strong. 2 battalions to be formed from them.
Risala Kabuli, 400 strong.. Armed M.-H. carbines. 10 men per squad
ron with lance.
2 batteries with new B.-L. guns (“ side loaders )..
2 batteries M.-L. guns.
3 maxims-
A recent arrival from Kandahar at Herat reports six battalions up to strength
and much activity in enlistment; also that discharged soldiers from Herat, on
arrival at Kandahar, are being re-enlisted there.
248. Zulfiqar .—An agent reports* from Zorabad that the post at Dahna-i-
Zulfiqar has been increased to 160 men and that he is remaining in the neighbour
hood to ascertain the reason.
Russian Turkistan.
249 Current u/airs.—Insecurity as regards property prevails at Tashkent^
thefts both on a large and small scale being of frequent occurrence.
Natives conscripted for work in Russia are deserting freely, steps towards
their early rep Ration having apparently proved a matter of difficulty. Orders
have been issueci for a strick watch to be kept on trains at Kazahnsk on the
Tashkent-Orenburg line, and on steamers reaching Krasnovodsk. Any citizen-
natives” who appear to have deserted their post are to be detained under guard
-p^ rptiirn to nlaces whence thev have fled.
According to Colonel Mamonov complete military disorganisation prevails
at Askhabad. General Narbut is nominally in command but has practically no
authority.. In addition to the difficulty experienced in passing through the arms
for the Cossack Brigade, the most absurd rumours were current. The 14 Cossacks
detailed to bring the arms were magnified into 140, while another 500 Persian
Cossacks were said to be in waiting on the frontier: the two orderlies accompanying
Colonel Mamonov represented a “ detachment.” The object of all this was variously
ascribed to an attempt to smuggle the Tsar into Persia, and a Persian coup de main
on Askhabad.
250. Yomud Turkoman .—An article in the “ Askhabad ” states that in the
course of General Madritov’s operations 100,000 sheep, 4,500 camels, and 1,200
horses in addition to cattle and tents, were taken from the Yomud, whose out
look from this cause and the drought is a black one. Colonel Khan Yomudski
and M Ivanov, the former Russian Consul at Astrabad, have been deputed to
organise measures for the relief of these people, their task including the reconcilia
tion of the Turkoman with the Russian settlers coupled with a sound adminis
trative basis, and material help to the distressed Turkoman.
The rising is attributed to the Turkomans’ fear of the unknown involved by
the edict for the supply of labourers. General Kuropatkin s orders were that the
troops were not to commence hostilities, and an enquiry into the origin of the conflicte
was in progress.