File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎457r] (561/1080)

possible repair and the rebels set fire to it whenever they get the opportunity. These
last are split up into small commands and narrator was in one of these numbering
250 men under a Jafar Quli. They lived in the hills about six miles from Namen-
ghan. The villagers who are in sympathy with them, keep them in food. They are
well provided with rifles which they have captured from the Bolsheviks, also a few
machine guns. They are no longer accepting deserters but shoot them on suspicion!
of being spies. They will hot accept an engagement but hope to tire out the Bolshe
viks by harassing tactics and are sanguine of forcing them to leave Ferghana.
The rebels get no pay and live by looting the Bolsheviks. They do not loot
the countryside and are therefore held in friendly esteem by the villagers. Most
of their recruits come from the direction of Kashgar and the majority of the Kash-
garis are Hajis who are exempted from military service by the Chinese.
Tashkent. August 27th.- —The Turmashka Iron and Steel Works are in
operation. Ordnance, rifles, ammunition, and rails are manufactured. There
are 3,000 hands on the pay rolls. They receive rations and clothing from the State.
There are some 300 officers of all races undergoing instruction in the War School.
There are three supply depots but there is nothing in them at present, all
supplies coming in from outside.
Meetings are held in which young men of 18 to 25 are exhorted to enlist in the
Bolshevik forces. They are warned that in default of voluntary enlistment, com
pulsion will have to be resorted to. The Bolshevik Bepublic is depicted as perform
ing prodigies of progress in the future when its citizens will enjoy an abundance of
food and luxury. The conquest of the world by the Bolshevik arms is predicted.
The Bolsheviks are bringing pressure to bear on Muslims to unveil their women.
Those who object and’are able to do so, emigrate to Afghanistan via Patte Kesar.
The condition of the famine refugees is deplorable. They are practically
naked and many die in the streets. Many are taken to hospital, of which there
are three in Tashkent, but few emerge alive.
Tsarist officers join the rebels if possible. Troops are known to leave Tashkent
for operations against them, while wounded men arrive from Ferghana.
214. Bolshevik Garrisons.
Krasnovodsk. 28th August 1921. —600, of which about 50 are mounted.
Majority Muslims of 2nd and 4th Tashkent Kegiments. 4 guns seen including
two coast defence. 2 projectors. 1 armoured train of 5 wagons.
Kizil Arvat. 22nd August 7927.—400, including 50 mounted. 3 guns.
4 machine guns. Projector sent to Tashkent a month ago.
Qara Qala. 3rd September 1921. —I infanry, 1 cavalry regiment, 1 battery,
plus about 200 details.
Bujnurd Frontier. 3rd September 1921. — 1,000 with 9 machine guns from
Kohna Kesar to Qara Qala.
Ashkabad. 23rd August 7927.-1,000, of which 400 are cavalry. About 20th
August 500 troops, with mtor cars, 2 aeroplanes, and about 1,000 personnel went to
Samarkand, leaving one regiment. {Vide last week’s report.)
Russian Sarakhs. 9th September 7927.—500, 250 of which are due to leave.
Merv. 18th August 1921. 1,500,400 of which are mounted, majority Muslims.
Unit, 6th Tashkent Regiment, 1, battery. 2 very heavy guns on trucks. An
armoured train.
Kushk. 29th August 1921. —4,500, majority’Muslims and including 500
cavalry of 4th Kashirski Cavalry Brigade. Units, 1st Samara and 3rd Kazan
Regiments. A battalion of 16th Turkestan Rifle Regiment. A battalion of 13th
Tashkent Regiment. A battalion of 2nd Chernyaevo Regiment. 1st and 2nd
Kazan Batteries. 4th Semiriechian Cossack Battery, Fortress armament 16 guns.
4 armoured cars, 6 lorries, 1 aeroplane on rails, 1 projector, 80 transport
carts.