File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎263r] (173/1080)

Meshed Intelligence Diary No. 20 for the period ending 3rd July 1922.
Local.
1. Propaganda similar to that mentioned in last week’s diary continues to
be circulated from the Russian Consulate. The latest report received in this
office is to the effect that the Russians have received the consent of Afghanistan
to proceed through that country to the frontier of India. The Russians have
not yet issued orders for the march as they wish to increase their forces already con
centrated on the Afghan frontier. In the meantime manoeuvres are being
carried out on the frontier.
Afghanistan.
2. An arrival from Takhta Bazar reports that on the 13th June, a party of
Afghan subjects (Turkomans) attacked the Russian post at Maruchak when the
Russian troops were asleep. They killed 20 Russians and carried off arms and
ammunition. One thousand Russian troops were sent to Maruchak with machine
guns, and the matter reported to Merv. (This is probably the fighting reported in
Diary No. 19, at the end of paragraph 6).
3. Persian Sarakhs, 29th June .—An agent just established at this town
reports that he has heard from a reliable source that the Afghai^have sent from
100 to 200 men across the frontier disguised as Turkomans, to create disturbances
in Russian territory. They have Afghan rifles and are paid by the Afghan Gov
ernment.
Trans-Caspia.
4. Lutfabad agent reports on the 27th June that the Persian Consulate at
Askhabad is still closed. Many Persian shops have been sealed by the Russians
and a number of Persians arrested. The Turkistan Government has issued orders
that no one is to leave Turkistan for Persia.
5. Quarantine still exists on the frontier, and stomach sickness (colic) is very
prevalent in Ashkabad amongst the hungry, caused by eating fruit. Cholera
at Baku is reported from Krasnovodsk from which 200—300 are dying daily. A
quarantine station has been established at Afri (3| miles from Krasnovodsk) on
the shores of the Caspian. Arrivals from the west are detained for 8 days, and
if infected are sent back.
6. Five hundred troops (Russians) with 30 carts passed Lutfabad between the
21st and 23rd June. They were from Krasnovodsk and were proceeding to Merv.
7. The Belgium Customs Officer at Bandar-i-gaz writes that there is a Russian
training ship there with 80 students, who are employed in plotting and sketching
the shores of the Caspian in that area.
8. Reference Diary No. 18, paragraph 5. Recruiting has recommenced,
and men between the ages of 16 and 40 are being forcibly enlisted. Those who
were previously exempted have been ordered to enlist.
9. Krasnovodsk, 15th June. —Reference Diary No. 18, paragraph 6. Husain
Zada returned from Gumish Tappeh on the 13th June.
10. Two Warships arrived from Enzeli on the 12th.
11. At a meeting called by the Russians, Syed Agha Rezayoff was chosen by
the Muhammadans to represent them at a conference of workmen to be held in
Baku on the 15th July.
12. Sarakhs, 29th June. —One hundred Russian and 200 Turkoman troops
with 4 guns and 3 machine guns have arrived to protect the town against the
Turkomans under the leadership of Haji Quli.
13. Baluchis, followers of Safar Khan, have been armed by the Russians.
Haji Quli wrote to Safar Khan asking him whether he intended to join the Turkoman
S285FD
ENC. in INDIA FOREIGN
SECRETARY'S NO 54M
DATED AUG S.