File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎332r] (311/1080)

^ 92. The insurrection in Khorasan of Muhammad Taqi Khan is believed
in Iraq to have been at the instigation of the British.
CIS-FRONTIER,
23. Bandargaz, December 31st. —The Russian Consul at Astarabad has
instructed his agent at Bandargaz to register names and particulars of all
Russian subjects within his jurisdiction. This is in accordance with orders
from the R-ussian Legation at Teheran where a census of all Russian subjects
in Persia is required.
24. Bujnurd, December 31st. —Yomud and Goklan tribesmen have lately
raided a convoy of eleven furgons with goods on the Meshed-Teheran road.
The Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. of Bujnurd was commissioned by the Persian Government to
lead a punitive expedition from his own resources against the raiders.
His total available strength would be in the neighbourhood of—
500 horsemen.
200 followers, shikaris, and similar levies,
2 Lewis guns.
1 mountain gun.
5 Russian deserters from Kohna Kesar as machine gunners.
Sir Oraz Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. writing on the same date from Bujnurd doubts the
Khan will achieve any success.
25. The tribesmen are apparently in a warlike mood for, according to
the regular correspondent from this centre, they have declared war against
the Tekke Turkmen of Transcaspia!
26. A late information from Persian sources in Meshed states that the
Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. of Bujnurd has been assassinated by a man who, presenting a peti- 1
tion shot him with a revolver. Up to the time of closing this Summary no
confirmation of the death of a good friend of British officers has been received
and it is hoped that none will be. It is a bow drawn at a venture but the
downfall of Muhammad Taqi Khan has not been forgotten or forgiven in
certain quarters,
27. Bajgiran, December 30th. —A deserter from the 1st Frontier Regi
ment found his way to Bajgiran and has given certain details which will be
found in Appendix L,
28. Quchan, January 2nd and 5th. —43 Gendarmes who fled from Baj
giran to Russian territory when the Kurds rose against Muhammad Taqi
Khan have been extradited to Persia by the Russian authorities.
29. 51 Indians have arrived from Turkestan via Askhabad. In this
connection please see Intelligence Summary 52, page 4, second and third
paragraphs,
30. Some rumours of secret meetings in Meshed of Bolshevik workers
have reached Quchan whence the name of an inhabitant of the former town,
at whose house these conferences have been held, has been communicated.
31. The sale of wheat to Russia has been officially stopped but pur
chases are still being negotiated by the Vnieshtorg.
32. Lutfabad, January 3rd. —There is little left from frontier reports
to choose from when the reiteration of accounts of famine and of the inade
quacy of the paper currency is eliminated.
33. A traffic had sprung up between Artik and Lutfabad, conducted by
Russian women in search of food for their families. They used to bring
kerosine oil and household objects to barter in Lutfabad and Turkmen
villages for wheat and raisins. The Chief of the Special Department,
Artik, saw reason to interfere with these poor women and on an occasion
confiscated their oil. He was assailed with sticks and stones by his victims,
but succeeded after half an hour’s disturbance in arresting them and send
ing them to Askhabad.