File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎355r] (357/1080)

Added to the above sources of trouble in the State is one previously
alluded to, and that is the drain of food products from the country. A phase
of this is the objection of the Bokharans to any of their contributions in aid of
famine relief being devoted to Russian Christian subjects. They attempt to
stipulate that their charity shall be enjoyed by Muslims only. The influx into
the State of Russian and other famine refugees is also greatly resented owing
to the tax upon the resources of the indigenous population.
The inculcation of children in Communist doctrine practised elsewhere in
Russia is extended to Bokhara. A teacher from the Propaganda School in
Bokhara city visits children’s schools twice a week and lectures the pupils
there.
The Yash Bokharan army is, for the most part, under Naoghai officers and
a few Turks. It is composed largely of e^-menials, e^-weavers, ^-shopkeepers,
etc., and is said to have no military value. It has two “ training divisions, ”
the 1st at Charjui, and the 2nd at Shahr-i-Sabz.
_ Ferghana .—The Bolsheviks are not too pre-occupied by their operations
against the BasmachUo carry on their propaganda. An arrival from Kokand
says they are conducting an intensive campaign against capitalists as opposed
to the new form of Leninism, the State as capitalists.
The oil and coal mines near Kokand have been raided recently by rebels
and machinery destroyed. The Bolsheviks are now finding it difficult to induce
workmen to continue operations in these mines owing to the lack of protection
against raids.
Mne rebels were shot in Kokand on the occasion of the celebration of the
fourth anniversary of the Republic.
The principal rebel leaders in this region are Bahr-ud-din, Muhammad
Amin, and Dash Pulad.
The railway personnel are disaffected and are suspected of organizing
secret societies.
There was a raid on the Bolshevik hospital in Andijan in November. A
medical officer, an Austrian, was kidnapped and hospital stores looted. Simi
larly, a party of school-boys was raided while at play and the Russians and
Armenians among them carried off. They are thought to have been killed.
The rebel strength in the Andijan hills is estimated at 8,000 but this is
probably greatly exaggerated. Their leaders are Sher Muhammad Kor, Parpi,
a Sart, and Khalmat, a Sart. They have lost the following leaders in the last
seven months : Muhammad Amin Bek, Khali Khwaja, and Mohakam Haji.
The last two named went over to the Bolsheviks, but deserting again to their
own people, were put to death.
The Bolsheviks have tried to limit the resources in men of the rebels by
enlisting all the young men possible of the Andijan area and sending them to
Tashkent.
The rebels are described as being well off “ dressing in silk and eating
pilaus ”. They purchase rifles and ammunition from needy Bolshevik
soldiers, often paying with metallic currency. They are believed to have
Austrian officers among them.
276. AFGHANISTAN.
Herat. —2nd to 8th December.
The Bolshevik Consul called at the hospital and was shown the room he
might use for his own hospital purposes. He was told that by order of the
Amir none but Yunani medicines was to be used. This had rendered useless
the stock of British remedies existing in the hospital and was dictated partly
owing to the prejudice against foreign remedies which are believed to be com
pounded with spirits and partly to bolster up the native industry in herbs and
simples.
(ii) Five Russians arrived from Russia on the 5th. Two were armourers
and three messengers. They left for Kabul on the 7th.