File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎411v] (470/1080)

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There has been a number of deaths among the Cossacks arriving in
Meshed and the mortality is popularly ascribed to the bite of an insect
called in the vernacular <£ shabgaz ” and encountered at Shahrud when the
force was there. If the disease is typhus the explanation of the exciting
cause is fairly accurate.
All arms and ammunition lately in the possession of the Gendarmerie '
have been called in and a list of deficiencies is awaited by the Cossack
Commander, Hussein Agha Mir Panj. It is believed the Kurd Khawanin
of Quchan have been similarly notified but this question contains the seeds
of future trouble, as will be seen further on. Officials who were disburs
ing officers during the late revolutionary regime are also under interroga
tion for the amounts expended by them. It is doubtful if full responsi
bility for unaccounted monies will ever be brought home to those culpable
of misappropriation. The rifles issued by Muhammad Taqi Khan to the
Nationalist party are being collected from the houses of those under arrest.
The detachment of gendarmes which was sent by Major Mahmud
Khan Nauzari to the south-east tribal country on the report that Barbaris
and Hazaras, who had lost property at the hands of Muhammad Taqi
Khan’s columns, were recouping themselves by forcible means from the
possessions of others, has returned to Meshed and has been disarmed.
There have been a few instances of men of the Cossack detachment tak
ing sanctuary in the shrine to avoid military service or because of severe
punishment. Their conduct appears otherwise to be exemplary and no
case of public drunkenness has been brought to notice which cannot be said
of members of the Khorasan Gendarmerie.
The Barbari element of the latter has gained a reputation for reli
ability and steadfastness since their action in defeating the attempt of
Major Ismail Khan, Bahadur, to recreate revolution. First one adminis
tration and then its successor has shown an inclination to lean for support
on the companies recruited from this tribe, whether in the pursuit of lawful
or of unlawful occasions. It has now transpired that their leader one, Naih
(lieutenant) Abdulla Khan, himself a Barbari, was approached by one of
the late Muhammad Taqi Khan’s Officers and cautiously asked in the
presence of Major Mahmud Khan Nauzari before whom he was taken “ if
he were willing to take a journey ?” He replied in the negative. He was
pressed but again refused, on which he was asked if his reply was final. He
answered that it was.
Major Mahmud Khan Nauzari paid a visit to the tomb of Muhammad
laqi Khan on the 40th day of mourning for his death. He is described as
weeping copiously on this occasion and saying that if he had never sub
mitted he would never have seen that day.
A responsible authority reported these movements to the Cossack Com
mander Hussein Agha Mir Panj, who said he was keeping an eve on the
o cers Mahmud Khan Nauzari, Ali Reza, Abd-ul-Reza and Ali Ashgar
Khan bipahbud. He was inclined to ask the War Minister to recall them
to Teheran as undesirables, but the first named, who has resigned his vari
ous offices of acting Governor General and Commander of the Khorasan
re ^ mTe i m Meshed to answer for an expenditure bv him-
selt ot 100,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. of public money (£20,000).
- th ® last . named > Ali Ashgar Khan Sipahbud,
Mainr’cj a ^ u ^ ltlv f ^ u s si an officer called Kotin and given him
waTnJ/K k - 11 the F + oanted .. sectl °n of the Gendarmerie. This fugitive
had of K the T . railwa y mdl fia under the Bolsheviks at Askha-
to d tho en } b f zl J, n g so ^ of the ir funds. On arrival, he applied
atelv somethimy 0 ^ 11 ^ 6 General ^ com passionate assistance but fortun-
therefor ^ 18 manner dld not secure him a recommendation
“ taiis t tea.'
with arrest unless the order were compiled with.