Coll 28/18 ‘Persia; Diaries; Meshed intelligence Summaries 1931–’ [‎65r] (129/299)

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% Meshed Intelligence Summary No. 4 for the period ending
^ 7th April 1932.
I. Khorasan.
Persian Affairs.
1. Communications .—Heavy rain during
the past month has caused extensive da
mage to the roads in many parts of Kho
rasan and Kain. The British Consul, Zabul,
reported that the road from Zabul to Bir-
jand is impassable for wheeled traffic and
has requested the British Consul-General,
Meshed, to approach the local authorities
with an urgent request for repairs.
Repairs have been undertaken on road
Meshed, Kuchan, Shirvan, but in view of
the fact that only four days ago a spate
■overturned a car drowning one of the pas
sengers, on this section it seems improbable
that any work can be put in hand until the
weather improves.
2. Soviet Activity. —Three Kurds have
been arrested as spies in the Daragaz dist
rict. They had been supplying the G. P. U.
Kommendatura in Artik with informa
tion concerning the Persian frontier guards
and institutions near Daragaz.
The Soviet Consul-General has been com
plaining to the Governor General and the
Amir Lashkar about the conduct of some of
the frontier Commanders, notably Sultan
Bayuk Khan of Lutfabad, The Amir
Lashkar has taken offence at this and
reported the action of the Soviet Consul-
General to the Shah.
IT. Central Asian Soviet Republics.
Charjui .—An individual who left Charjui
on the 12th March reports as follows :—
3. Garrison .—
Infantry
Cavalry
Artillery
River floatilla
.. 600')
.. 200 f No identifi
.. 200 [ cations.
.. 500J
armed steamers, 4 with guns and
machine guns the remainder with
machine guns only. (Steamers
are fitted with wireless.)
armed motor launches.
In December the river fell so low that
communication was closed. The steamers
were beached and overhauled at this time.
Communication between Charjui and Petro-
Alexandrovsk was resumed in March.
5. Postal Air Service. —This is maintained
twice a week between Charjui and Kerki
and three times a week between Charjui
and Petro-Alexandrovsk.
An extensive aerodrome exists at Charjui
with accommodation, wireless and a search
light. There is a Military guard.
6. Protection of Bridge. —From a des
cription given by the informant it seems
that the bridge may have possibly been
electrified for protection at night. An en
gine and presumably dynamo is located on
the river bank beneath the bridge and a line
has been laid along the bridge from this
plant.
He states that this is for the protection of
the bridge and for working alarm signals.
7. Refugees. —Since the beginning of the
year about 1,000 Turkoman families have
crossed the frontier into Afghanistan from
the Charjui district. In many instances
parties of Turkomans who have already
crossed the frontier return to guide their
familes across and in this manner avoid the
frontier guards and special detachments
who are sent out to intercept them.
It is stated that some of the military
Units in Charjui are due to be relieved in
March by others from Samarkand, and that
Mohammedan troops are being sent out of
Turkistan towards the Sinkiang frontier
being replaced by Russians.
Note. —This may be the case as a precautionary measure
against a recurrence of trouble in Turkistan in the coming
summer.
A large amount of labour is being employ
ed in the repair of the road Charjui-Askha-
bad.
Andijan. —An individual who left Andijan
on the 3rd of March reports as follows :—
8. Garrison .—
Commander .. Farlov.
Infantry .. 1,000
Cavalry .. 220
(1 Battery) "l
Uzbeg Infantry 2 Com- )-Noidentifi-
panies .. 250 J cations.
P. U.—