File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎391v] (430/1080)

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.BoZsAm&s.— Rumours 0 f the assassination of Lenin have been so prevalent
in Meshed that Protopopov, head of the Vnieshtorg (External Trade Depart-
ment), felt constrained to make inquiries in Askhabad. He has now put about
that there is no truth in the rumour and that with the exception of a few
minor disorders here and there Russia is absolutely tranquil. He added there
had been fighting in Baku but that the Bolsheviks now occupy the town. *
The mixed commission of Persian and Russian officials which has been
examining the question of the distribution of Persian frontier water to Hussain
territory has arrived in Meshed. The Russians composing the commission
are—
Boris Konstantinovich Ladgin. •
Boris Sergeivich Nazirov.
Vassili Gregorivich Durgokupetz (clerk).
Two Turkmen.
250. CIS-FRONTIER.
Bandargaz. —No information.
Bujnurd. —November 1st.
Five deserters who arrived from the frontier post of Qara Qala say they
belonged to the first frontier Battalion of the Revolutionary Extraordinary
Committee.
The Bolsheviks are replacing veterans of frontier units by newly imported
men and sending the former to Tashkent for some other front. About tlie
middle of October 600 infantry were sent to Qara Qala and arrivals from j
Russia say that fresh troops have arrived in Kizil Arvat.
AH posts from Chikishlyar to Kohna Kesar have been re-established with
garrisons of from 15 to 20 each with the exception of Kizil Imam and Chat
where there are 150.
It is said that 12 men have proceeded to the Atrek from ' Kizil Imam for
an inquest on the nine Russain subjects killed by Yomuts. The latter have
withdrawn to the woods and hills leaving their kibitkas in charge of an armed
guard.
A Turkmen “ division ” of 400 men has lately been raised in Transcaspia
for service at Gumbad-i-Qabus as soon as that post is re-established.
Bajgiran. —The men deputed to take up the duties of resident agent at
this place was arrested at Quchan when en route and by order of the Kurd
Governor. He was relieved of all his possessions and then set at liberty but
rendered destitute.
Quchan. —The squabbling among the Kurd khawanin continues. They
are, of course, illiterate people for the most part and their sudden translation
to places of authority has probably unbalanced them. The native Persian
professes the greatest contempt for them as might be gathered from the remark
of a Governor directed in a spirit of tolerant contempt at the men of a Kurd
formation who, he said, “ were after all only ‘ vahush —that is, wild
beasts. STet it was these same ‘ vahush ’ who saved Khorasan for Persia
just recently.”
The khawanin are doing very little apparently to organize the frontier
which is as defenceless as ever. They have placed a Kurd chief of Oghaz with
30 men in Bajgiran. The Russians of the military post opposite, Gaudan,
come in every day to buy bread. On the other hand, the detachment sent by
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 maintains 200 mounted men at Chinaran half way to
Meshed, with connecting posts between the former place and Quchan.
A brother of 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. has been nominated by the Tehran Government
to the Governorship of Quchan. The appointment is opposed by the khawanin
and also, it is reported, by 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. himself. No doubt the khawanin con
sider that for their recent services to the State the Governorship should be
vested in one of themselves. Being now possessed of arms and considerable
ammunition spoiled from Muhammad Taqi Khan’s detachments they wm
doubtless require delicate handling,