File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎187v] (22/1080)

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9. More warm clothing has been issued to the troops, but those in Askabad
are still without.
Oeenbueg.
10. Conscription is in force for Christians between the ages 16—15 and *
for Mohammedans 18—50.
11. Commandeering of horses is being carried out.
12. Two hundred and fifty men are employed in the locomotive sheds at
Orenburg.
13. According to the latest report from Orenburg dated November 3rd
rebels again became active about October 29th, when four versts of the railway
line south of Orenburg were torn up. The damage was repaired in 24 hours.
14. Trains to Samara and Tashkent run every other day, but fuel is very
scarce.
Khiva.
15. The latest report from Khiva dated November 10th, states that Abdur
Rahman Beg (a supporter of Junaid Khan) and Khawja Quli have commenced
their activities.
Nothing definite is given but conflict with Bolshevik troops both on the
Oxus and in the vicinity of Petro Alexandrovsk are mentioned and further
fighting is expected. Apparently Bolshevik troops in Khiva show no desire
to oppose the rebels and there is great difficulty experienced in preventing
desertions on a large scale to the rebels.
Bokhara.
16. Bokharan representatives have been nominated for Aska^ad, Baku
and Meshed. The representative for Askabad is reported to have arrived there;
his name has not yet been ascertained. Representatives for other important
places are being selected. The idea is generally thought to be another ruse of
the Bolsheviks who wish to create the impression that Bokhara has complete
independence.
It is now reported that Faizullah Khawja will proceed to Berlin as
Bokharan representative. (See Diary No. 40, paragraph 13.)
17. Usman Beg, who is now the recognised head of the rebels in the
Baisun-Hissar area, is believed to have a following estimated at 7,500 and with
those he intends to continue the struggle hitherto carried on by Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
According to the peace agreement Bolshevik troops were to have passage
without hinderance to the frontier of Afghanistan; Usman Beg now declares
that he will allow no troops to pass peaceably and has already stopped a
small detachment en route Termez, by road.
18. An arrival, who left Bokhara on November 16th, states that on his
departure fighting was in progress north of Bokhara and confirms previous
reports regarding the concentration of troops at Kagan.
19. An endeavour was made on November 12th by the Bolsheviks to make
peace with the Nur Ata rebels at Nur Ata. The conference, however, failed
and was celebrated the same night by an attack on Bolshevik out-posts;
casualties were heavy on both sides. The rebels captured two of the Bolshevik
peace representatives, Astana Qul and Burhan Khan and carried them off.
They have since been released.
20. All Shias, with the exception of two individuals, have been dismissed
from Bolshevik service in Bokhara.
21. Out of the 16 Afghans who were imprisoned in Bokhara after the
departure of the Afghan Consul, 12 have been deported to Afghanistan; four
are still in custody.