File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎251r] (149/1080)

skirmish (10th June) before replying to the Afghan request that Panjdeh should
be returned to the Afghans. (Vide Diary No. 19, paragraph 3.) He is of the
opinion that the Russians will make no effort to cede the territory in question, and
that the inevitable result will be war. In the event of this, the Afghan Consul
General thinks that a holding force will be kept at the frontier near Kushk, and
Transcaspia.
2. The Customs Officer at Lutfabad is prohibiting persons from entering
Persia, stating that it is necessary for them to have passports vised by the Persian
Consul at Askhabad. As the Consulate at Askhabad is still closed, this is not
possible, and a number of families from Bokhara were forced to return to Artig.
The Governor-General of Khcrasan has since ordered the Customs Officer to allow
the Bokharan families to proceed to Meshed.
3. KrasnfivodsJc, 1st July. —Half of the local garrison has been sent to Barnakh
(on the Khiva Road, about 40 miles from Krasnavodsk) as the Russians fear an 6
0, attack on Krasnavodsk by the Khivan Yamuts. Workmen are digging trenches
at Barnakh.
4. Supplies are good, as they are openly received or smuggled in from Persia.
Surplus is sent to Tashkent.
5. The railway to the oil wells has been completed, and kerosine arrives daily
to be despatched to Turkistan.
Lutfabad, 13th July. —A hospital train passed from Samarkand for Askhabad
on the 12th July. There were 26 wagons filled with wounded and sick troops.
A cooly on asking a soldier where he had been wounded, was immediately arrested
and imprisoned.
6. Persian SaraJchs, 13th July.—Kaji Quli’s band has returned to within
8 miles of Russian Sarakhs. The Russians have called in all their guards between
Sarakhs and Pul-i-Khatun, and Sarakhs and Tejend.
7. Persians removed the quarantine on the 12th July, but the Russians still
prohibit people from entering their territory.
8. Kusfyh, lih There has been no communication between Russia and
Afghanistan for over a month, and no further hostilities since the attack by
“ Afghan robbers ” on the MarucKak post. (Vide Diary No. 20, paragraph 2.)
9. Afghan troops and guns have been considerably increased at Kara Tappeh,
Chihil' Dukhteran and Maruchak. Trenches have been dug at each place.
10. The Russian garrison at Kushk is estimated at 8,000 and trains arrive twice
a week with more men and military stores. The Russians state that they are
acting in conjunction with the Afghans for a combined move on India, and that
they are only awaiting orders from Moscow to begin the campaign.
H Charjui, 2nd July. —Troops arrive daily from the east, and are sent to
Khiva and Kir ki. Infantry go by river and cavalry use the land route.
12. News comes from Khiva of heavy fighting between the Russians and
Yamuts, where it is stated many Russian troops refused to fight.
S316FD
BATED AUG 17
Iiac!dSEP7.l922.