File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎288r] (223/1080)

CONFIDENTIAL.
Meshed Intelligence Diary No. 11 for the period ending the 1st May 1922.
Transcaspia.
1. Kizil Arvat, April 18th. —The Propaganda School established in March
has 50 students, who after completing the course are sent to Astarabad and
Shahrud. They are for work amongst the Turkomans, and as many as 50 are
’ said to have been sent into Persia during the last month. Propagandists are well
i supplied with leaflets and pamphlets before leaving.
2. Many Turkomans have gone to Persia and Khiva to avoid forcible enlist
ment. An order from Askabad was received on the 16th April saying no further
recruits were required. Persians were not enlisted. Recruits have all been sent
to Askhabad.
3. Food is very scarce and most of it comes from Kara Kala, smuggled in by
the Turkomans.
4. Askhabad, April 22nd.—The commander of the Turkoman Brigade,
Qurhan Quli Khan Quli Niazoff has been dismissed for refusing to go to the front.
5. Kaakha—April 18th. A large number of horses, camels and donkeys
were collected by the Bolsheviks and loaded with supplies, machine guns and
ammunition for Khiva. They were despatched under escort secured from the post
at Kaakha.
6. Kushk, April 10th. —Military trains with stores arrive once a week, but
there are no passenger trains. Troops are badly clothed and fed.
7. Merv, April 23rd.—k band] of rebels fought the Bolsheviks for three days
near Merv, but were then forced to retire owing to the superiority of the Bolsheviks.
Many of the rebels are Turkomans, who take part in the plundering of the villages.
Troops do not want to fight, and many desert to join the rebels.
8. Bairam Ali, April 23rd.—k meeting was held by troops travelling to
Bokhara, at which one made a speech saying that thousands of them had been
killed for the Tsar, and now thousands were being killed for the Bolsheviks, it
the Bolsheviks had given self-government to the States of the Russian Empire,
why should they now go to fight the Bokharans,—-their only duty should be to
guard the railway. The speech met with the approval of all present.
9 An order was received at Bairam Ali on the 13th April, stating that all
surplus troops at Bairam Ali, Merv, Askhabad and Kizil Arvat should be sent to
Khiva. One hundred and fifty were sent from Bairam Ah with supplies.
10. April 28th. —No trains have been running east from Merv for several days.
Bokhara.
11. Reports say that the ex-Amir of Bokhara is in the Province. • One report
says that he is at Guzar.
12. Charjui, April 12th.—One thousand troops with 3 guns and 2 machine
guns were sent by steamer to Petro Alexandrovsk.
13. April 22nd. —Bolshevik papers admit 300 killed, and state they killed
700 rebels in an attack on Charjui.
14 April 25th. —Near Uch Agi, between Merv and Charjui, a goods tram
carrying prisoners under escort for Tashkent was attacked by the rebels, who had
removed the line. All the escort were killed and the prisoners set free Contents
of the train were taken by the rebels. (See paragraph 10,—this probably accounts
for the hold-up of trains.)
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