Coll 28/18 ‘Persia; Diaries; Meshed intelligence Summaries 1931–’ [‎70r] (139/299)

Aimaments .—
Small guns
Big gun (on harbour)
Machine guns ..
Radio sets
3
1
8
3
A new big wireless installation has just
been completed and is situated near the
hospital.
(c) Railway communications, —A daily
combined goods and passenger train service
between Krasnovodsk and Askhabad.
Postal train every other day.
6. Kamar Sarai .—Informant arrived in
Meshed towards the end of May. He had
been a minor G. P. U. official.
(a) Garrison —
9th T. Regiment (transferred “ from Ter-
mez area ” early in May).
2 Squadrons, 79th Cavalry Regiment.
One Battery.
G. P. U. (No. 48) .. 250
0. C. Troops .. .. Balienov.
G. P. U. Commandant .. Zaluski.
(b) Armaments —
3" Guns .. .. 6
Machine guns .. .. 18
Radio sets .. .. 2
(c) Railway Construction. —The informa
tion given in paragraph 2 (c) (ii) above has
been confirmed from independent sources.
Work on the Dushambe-Kulab line has been
begun from both these places ; the sector
allotted to Kulab is further advanced than
the Dushambe sector ; the preparing of the
track and the laying of the sleepers has been
completed, and the necessary lines have
been collected at Kulab.
(d) Bridge Construction. —A wooden
bridge over the Oxus is in process of con
struction ; the bridge was commenced early
in April and the material is being brought
twice a week by barge from Termez.
(e) Town construction. —Informant states
that some three years ago the Russians
started building a town some 25 miles
East of Termez and 10-15 miles North of
the river. The building of this town which
has been given the name TOOS, has pro
gressed considerably and it now consists of
several hundred houses of village type, and
is inhabited by the labourers employed on
an extensive cotton growing project.
Pipe lines supply the town with water
from the river, and an adequate irrigation
scheme, which is being gradually improved,
has been constructed. The last crop of
cotton is said to have been a big one,
though no figures are available.
(/) Conscription. —Conscription is due to
commence on 15th June ; reservists training
will commence on the same date.
(g) Aerodrome. —A good landing ground
equipped with searchlight is situated between
Kamar Sarai and Faizabad ; it has one
hangar. There is no regular air service and
no aeorplanes are actually stationed there.
There is, however, intermittent air com
munication, chiefly with Termez.
7. Termez. —Informants arrived at
Meshed at the end of May. One was a
railway employee, the other a minor G. P. U.
official.
(a) Garrison —
2 Infantry Regiments
2,500 Rifles.
1 Cavalry Regiment
800 Sabres.
2 Batteries Artillery
300
1 Battalion Infantry
400
1 Company Sappers
250
1 Pantoon Company
350
G. P. U.—
Frontier G. P. U. (No. 47)
600
Town G. P. U
200
(b) Armament —
Armoured cars ..
2
3" Guns ..
12
6" Guns ..
6
Aeroplanes
2
Badio sets
3
In addition there is a big wireless station.
One of the aeroplanes mentioned above is
used for passenger service between Termez
and Dushambe. Termez possesses a
good aerodrome with two hangars, search
light and wireless.
(c) Bridge Construction. —A wood and
metal bridge is in progress of construction
near the junction of the rivers Oxus and
Surkhan.
{d) Gas Training. —All troops in Termez
have completed a course of gas training ;
practice is now carried out once a week.
(e) Cotton Growing. —Very extensive
damage was done to the cotton plants in
the Dushambe-Termez area by locusts,
which were finally destroyed by the employ
ment of 6 aeroplanes.
(/) Railway Communication —
Termez-Kelif —
Combined passenger and
goods train.
Postal train
Termez-Dushambe —
Goods train
Combined goods and pas-
Daily.
Twice weekly.
Daily.
Twice weekly.
senger.
The goods trains carry mostly material for
the building of the Dushambe-Kulab
line.