File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎373r] (393/1080)

V,
13
u.
Appendix V.
The followinsj particulars of Kushk fortress have been afforded by one
who was there in May last:—
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e partment,
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e groups consisiinjofii.
The fortress of Kushk is situated three versts from the Afghan frontier
and occupies a pass which debouches on to the Kushk river. Villages are to
be seen in every direction, the principal being Aleksevski, three versts from the
fortress and Poltavski, half a verst distant and lying between the fortress and
the Afghan frontier.
The fortress is surrounded by an earthen wall with loopholes for riflemen,
who by these means are fully protected from rifle fire. No cover is, however,
afforded them against shrapnel. In addition to the wall, Kushk has two rows
of barbed wire, each , consisting of six strands. Between the first and second
rows of wire there is a ditch, 7 feet deep and 9 feet wide.
Pacing the direction of Aleksevski there are three gates, the railway gate,
the Aleksevski gate, and the Afghanski gate. Pacing the Kushk river is the
Ivanovski gate. . Pacing Poltavski there are two gates, the Poltavski and
Kladbishchenski. On the Bodnikovoi hill there is one gate (meaning not
clear.— Trans.).
Within the enceinte of the fortress are four fortified points which are
known as the Large, the Small, the Verbliuzhiye, and the Bodnikovoi fortifica
tions. Beyond the Kushk river there is another, the Ivanovski.
The armament of the fortress consists of the following, (sc. at, date of
report) : Large fortification, two G^, two 3" q. f., one maxim gun, and one
6"(?) projector. 5
Small fortification, two 4" and one maxim gun.
^ erbliuxhiye fotification, four 4" guns.
ges are entered at b
Bodnikovoi fortification, four 3" q. f.
e is an intelligence *;
ies of such a chief lei:
ss the frontier.
? categories: (i) M
are able to emplej:
ts whose duties are to er.
as links between fief
Ivanovski fortification, two 6", two 3" q. f., one projector.
The Ivanovskoe fortification,is connected with Kushk by a newly cons
tructed wooden bridge. • ***
The reserve of gun ammunition would he sufficient for one day’s intensive
fire, and oLsraall arm ammunition for one week’s. Beserve rations are suffi
cient for three months. There is no reserve of forage.
The clothing supplies are equivalent to a 50 per cent, issue of underclothes
and boots to a 10 per cent.
ivork. Minor inM
ixchange £6 to £1), 1
ih, and members of at
250 to 450 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. (f
A supply of good water is amply guaranteed and is brought from the
Budnikovaya hill where there is a reservoir from which water is distributed to
the whole of Kushk by means of an aqueduct.
Should, provision have to be made for standing a siege there is a sufficiency
of supplies in the villages of Aleksevski and Poltavski which are able to provide
a large number of animals, wheat and forage.
emuneratingtheira^
;ed to couriers ffhoffl^
ence to operations k
rontier makes such fft'
> form of raff silt -
Since the demobilization of men of the older categories was effected only
sufficient battery personnel was retained for the service of one gun per each of
the above enumerated fortifications.
Prom the time the proposal to transfer Kushk to the Afghans in favour of
Tash Kopri was adopted, the evacuation of all military and railway stores com
menced, also of military and departmental elements. At the present moment
thfiTP p-jrisf fnprp nnlw ■Prnnfipr /-Jofoilo nnnr.t< fH'Ti'K'i,, 17
sia and who conM :
insulate or through ic-
luthorities.
jmcifflteniA*
j gnarantob*^ '"
Duoie caisl Lueit; uui^ noiiuer details canea troops or tne Military Lxtra-
ordinary Commission
• SGPI, Delhi—762(S) F&PD-19-1-22-12