File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎200v] (48/1080)

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10. A trench-digger, until lately employed at Kushk, confirms the report
mentioned in Diary No. 38, paragraph 12, regarding trench-digging operations
there ; other defences are also being strengthened.
11. Eight men from Kushk garrison deserted towards Afghanistan with
their arms and equipment on October 20th.
Khiva.
12. October 23rd .—Diary No. 38, paragraph 14. Small quantities of
warm clothing have now been issued to some of the troops at Petro-Alex-
androvsk.
13. Diary No. 36, paragraph 11, regarding lying-in hospitals. An institu
tion of this nature has now been opened at Khiva and women are forced to
attend it at time of child-birth.
14. The Oxus near Khiva has fallen and shipping is practically at a
standstill.
15. Seven hundred rifles were despatched from Khiva, in two batches, on
camels towards Merv on October 23rd. Their destination is unknown but the
reporter gives the opinion that the consignment is for Khawja Quli.
Eerghana.
16. October 26th .—Marghilan is reported to have been retaken by the
Bolsheviks on October 23rd after severe fighting in which the rebels lost
heavily. Before quitting the town the rebels succeeded in removing 10,00d
poods of grain. Many buildings were damaged and in some quarters fire
broke out. Many prisoners are reported to have been taken by the Bolsheviks
and these were located in a fort which was subsequently attacked by the rebels
who endeavoured to release the prisoners. The attempt was unsuccessful and
the prisoners (amongst whom are stated to have been four Austrians) were later
despatched to Tashkent.
17. One report to hand states that Sher Muhammad has demanded the
complete evacuation of Eerghana by the Bolsheviks who are reported to have
replied that the matter is already being considered at Moscow in conjunction
with the proposal made by Enver Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. concerning Bokhara. The reporter
adds that “ The Union of Islam ” is strongly supporting both claims.
18. An extract from the Secret Communist Journal “The Siren” is
attached to this Diary.
D. THOMPSON, Major,
Military Attache.
Meshed ;
The 14th November 1922.
Distribution:—
The Chief of the General Staff, Simla.
The Foreign and Political Department, Simla.
The British Military Attache, Tehran.
The British Military Attache, Kabul.
His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General, Meshed.
His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Sistan.
Intelligence Bureau, Quetta.
Intelligence Bureau, Peshawar.