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'Central Asia, Persia, Afghanistan, &c. Bolshevik and Pan-Islamic Movements and connected information. Issue No. 3. Supplement. 1st to 31st December 1919' [‎5v] (10/16)

The record is made up of 1 file (8 folios). It was created in Jan 1920. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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IQ
no reinforcements they are incapable of further resistance, and “we can consider
this front as finished.*’’ Speed of further advance simply depends on degree to
which railway has been destroyed.
17234. M.i 22nd December. Intelligence officer, Bajgiran, reports that Bolsheyik
stafE officers have during the last few days visited Gaudan, just oyer frontier, in
order to make arrangements for billeting and supply of up to 1,000 Bolshevik
troops who are shortly to come there. In view of large reinforcements from
centre now undoubtedly beginning to arrive ih Turkestan, this strengthening of
all posts on Persian frontier is probable. It will mean, at least, increased
difficulties in intelligence work, and increased smuggling from Persia, which
latter seems connived at by Persian officials.
17236. M., 24th December. Frontier telegram dated 23rd December states that
Bolsheviks in Askabad have announced that their ^forces are now close to
Krasnovodsk, and that remainder of volunteer army are embarking hastily.
C.G.S. X. 683. M., 28th December, Jebelv (one of Ivrasnovodsk’s water supplies)
captured by Bolsheviks on 22nd December.
34. M., 30th December. Bajgiran report that Bolsheviks have brought two large
twin-turret armoured cars to Askabad.
64120. M., 31st December. Tashkent, 8th December. Red troops from centre now'
coming through regularly. Several thousand already arrived. All fine mateHal
and morale good. Many old army officers and some Germans. There are said
to be 50,000 Red troops in Samara under orders for Turkestan, and these are
coming through as quickly as (? railway) can carry them. About 1,000 daily.
Bolsheviks say that when these troops, who are all Russians, have arrived, they
intend to take up stronger line both with local Mohammedans and with Afghans.
Important officials and innumerable missions continue to arrive in Tashkent
from Moscow. Bolsheviks say Turkestan will become most important, of all
fronts as it is base from which to attack England. Bolsheviks intend sending
troops to Baku after capture of Krasnovodsk;
72. M. (?). Tashkend telegram 31st December states that Reds occupied Yachol
(corrupt group) station 29th December. Reds claim Volunteers, Krasnovodsk
front, have lost all morale and make no serious resistance.
Agent reports Bolshevik garrison, Kushk, was 700 on 20th December.
Repairs to fortress progressing actively.
202, M., 5th January. Information from two Austrian Lieutenants who left Tashkent
12th December. 40,000 Red troops, from Samarkand expected there. (? Mounted
troops) had actually arrived. Consequent on large captures of oil fuel from
Volunteers and access to oil wells in Kizil Arvat area, railway is now working
better, and they came from Tashkent to Askabad in six; days. One troop train
daily comes through from Tashkent to Askabad. New arrivals in Tashkent from
Moscow include, as before, numbers of old Army officers now in Bolshevik service.
The last estimate, 37,000 prisoners of war now in Turkestan, mostly Magyars, all
of whom active Communists.
<B.) •
16287.* M., 2nd December. Capture of Krasnovodsk considered vital by Bolsheviks,
as railways are breaking down for want of lubricants and fuel.
16288, MS 2 nd December. Deputation of Turkman elders saw Bolshevik commissary
in Merv on 23rd November requesting permission to migrate in a body to Persia
or Afghanistan in view of appalling famine now imminent. Commissary tried to -
persuade them that food would soon arrive from centre, but was disbelieved.
16328.. M., 2nd and 3rd December. Unrest in Samarkand increasing owing to
scarcity of food.
C.G.S. X. 602. 0 % T.—M., 9th December. Uncqnfirmed rumour of epidemic of
spotted typhus amongst troops of Amir of Bokhara with 1,000 deaths.
W.N. Message from Samara reporting measures taken to improve railway
communication with Tashkend, to utilise output of crude oil in Ferghana, and coal
in Aibulakski (sic) and Berchfagan (sic) mined for railways, and collection of
firewood. It is proposed to run a regular service of five trains a day to and from
Turkestan.

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Content

The file consists primarily of summaries of letters, memoranda, and reports dated between 26 November 1919 and 5 January 1920; the subject matter concerns Bolshevik and Pan-Islamic movements in Central Asia, Persia, and Afghanistan. These summaries are divided into a series of sections which are as follows:

  • I. Bolshevik Missions to Kabul;
  • II. Afghan Relations with Bokhara and Khiva;
  • III. Intrigues at Tashkend;
  • IV. Afghan Mission to Kushk;
  • V. Movements in Afghan Turkestan;
  • VI. Afghan Mission to Moscow;
  • VII. Movements in Ferghana and Semirechia;
  • VIII. Bolshevik relations with Bokhara, Khiva and Samarkand;
  • IX. Afghan-Bolshevik Commercial Relations;
  • X. Barkatullah;
  • XI. Afghan Aggression into Russian Territory: Afghan political Relations with Bolsheviks in Turkestan;
  • XII. Kasim Beg;
  • XIII. Pan-Islamism and anti-British Schemes;
  • XIV. Bolshevik Designs on Persia;
  • XV. Bolshevik assistance to Afghans in Material, &c.;
  • XVI. Miscellaneous: (a) Movements of Bolshevik troops in Transcaspia. (b) Food and fuel situation in Bolshevik area. (c) Intrigues with Trans-Caucasia;
  • XVII. Appreciations of the General Situation.

Section XVII contains substantial extracts from letters, memoranda, and reports rather than the usual summaries. Sections IV and XII are empty; nil is used to indicate that there are no reports in these sections for the period in question.

The following titles are abbreviated in the file as indicated: Chief of the [Imperial] General Staff (CGS); Director of Military Intelligence (DMI); and Foreign Secretary (FS) — most likely — to the Government of India.

Extent and format
1 file (8 folios)
Arrangement

The file is divided into seventeen sections outlined in a table of contents on the first folio.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Central Asia, Persia, Afghanistan, &c. Bolshevik and Pan-Islamic Movements and connected information. Issue No. 3. Supplement. 1st to 31st December 1919' [‎5v] (10/16), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/A186, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100078909954.0x00000b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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