File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎463r] (573/1080)

The Bolsheviks are insisting on the abolition of the veil. They argue that all
Bolsheviks are brothers and the religious law of Islam dees not seclude women from
their brothers.
Foreign subjects have been notified they are at liberty to leave Russian territory
on provision of a passport. The latter are obtainable in Bokhara.
Mohiuddin Mahsum, a Bokharan official, having wearied of Bolshevik ad
ministration, collected 500 men and two machine guns and made his way towards
the rebels—some say to Afghanistan. A column was sent in pursuit but failed to
apprehend him and his commando.
Samarkand. September 3rd .—The general situation is the same as elsewhere.
Persians are now allowed to return to their own country.
Khojent. August 30th. —The rebels are supposed to have 20,000 troops.
They lie up in the hills, raid Bolshevik posts and settlements, and then disperse,
never giving opportunity for a general engagement. They are causing the Bolshe
viks much trouble but the country people are not molested.
Men are being enlisted for the army. The Military Komissar is Udnisov
(Denisov |), the Town Komissar, Shamsdinov.
Kagan. September 2nd. —The personnel of the Special Department consists
of 16 people under Boris Profiski. The city police number 35 under Mussa Khalilov.
There are six detectives in it, among whom are Khudl Karimov, Mulla Momii^
Afghani, and Shamar, a Turk.
About the last week of August it was believed that Faizulla Khawaja with 100
horsemen had escaped to Afghanistan. He was one of the Amir’s men and feared
arrest. About the 23rd August Sher Muhammad Kor’s men raided near Karshi,
inflicted much loss on the Bolsheviks and departed with much booty.
Meetings are held when people are exhorted to come to the help of the famine
stricken areas. Sometimes the orators dilate on the conquest of the world by the
Bolsheviks. Persia, India, and Afghanistan are referred to as the immediate
objectives. The Bolsheviks are in great fear of the British and say that if the latter
were not so strong the whole world would have been Bolshevik long ago.
Famine refugees are being distributed throughout the frontier town of Turkes
tan. The tea shops of Kagan are full of Russian women who offer themselves in
lieu of maintenance only.
The railway line is now beyond Imam Jafar Teppe towards Karki.
All foreigners in Bokhara are at liberty to leave the country but are not allowed
to remove their property.
Tashkent. September 1st.—Food and clothing are very scarce. Old uniforms
are now being renovated and reissued. Troops are getting half a pound and
manual labourers, three quarters of a pound of bread a day. The economic
conditions in Russia are causing a constant stream of refugees to set towards the
Turkestan southern frontier and the movement is bound to force its way into
Persia. The hospitals are overcrowded with these people. No medicines are
available except Epsom salts and this is administered indiscriminately to all
patients. There is no epidemic except hunger. Dry fish prepared in the time
of the Tsar Nicholas is dealt out to troops, from eating which they often fall ill.
Communists and Bolsheviks are at variance but meetings are held and their
differences patched up. The working classes are very discontented. Anti-Japanese
speeches are often given in public meetings.
Troops at various stations and cantonments are constantly changed about in
order that the frequent movement of forces shall impress the public with the number
of men at the disposal of the Bolsheviks. Soldiers and civilians are alike discon
tented. Corruption and bribery are rife. Purchasing officers charge the Govern
ment ten times what they pay in the villages for produce. There is no trade
except that in shops opened by the authorities for the purpose.