File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎507v] (662/1080)

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Archangan. On the conclusion of this duty, they drove and entrained for Askhabad
taking their car with them.
Khakistar, August 20th, 28th, 30th. — The story of the mobilization of reservists
comes also from this correspondent. He also repeats the legend, prevalent some ^
months, of a kind of Russian Joan of Arc who is operating, some say in the Ukraine
others in the Caucasus, and others again in the Saratov government.
Sarakhs. August 26th to September 2nd.—(i) There has been an affray
between a Russian patrol and some Turkmen smugglers conveying tea from Persia
close to the Russian post of Kandakli. One Turkman was wounded and a horse
killed.
(ii) Jalil Jakkan, the Commandant t)f Russian Sarakhs, sa.ys on his return
from Merv that war has broken out between Russia and Poland. He adds that
both officers and men of the Bolshevik armies are refusing to fight because they are
starving and naked. He inquired of the correspondent that were he and others to
desert, the Persian Government would give them shelter. He is of opinion that if
Bolshevik troops on the frontier are forced to go to the new theatre of war they will
desert to Afghanistan or to Persia in a body and that any attempt at coercion to
fight will result in a widespread revolution.
(in) A Russian has recently arrived in Persian Sarakhs from Merv. He is
dressed in Turkmen clothes and is living secretly in the house of the Governor. He
is desirous of going to Meshed. More information of the stranger is promised.
(iv) Karim Khan Baloch is in strict confinement. Churi Ali, Chief of the
Sarakhs Turkmen, has been arrested by the Special Department and sent to Merv
for alleged collusion with brigands. Tarantov, head detective of Russian Sarakhs
has gone to Askhabad.
(v) The present situation in Khorasan is being discussed in Persian and
Bolshevik official circles. It is unanimously believed that the British Government
is intriguing with Muhammad Taqi Khan and inciting him to his present acts.
(vi) On August 28th, 25 Russian cavalry with two machine guns and 13
boxes of ammunition arrived from Tejen. These men, all of whom are Russians
remained in Sarakhs while a similar number of the Sarakhs garrison, taking the
mach ne guns and ammunition, has gone to Pul-i-Khatun.
(vii) On the 29th August orders were received from Tashkent that all Russians
of Russian Sarakhs between the ages of 15 and 45 years were to be registered and
if required, they will be called up for military service. Various explanations are
current that the situation m Siberia has changed or the worst, that there is a war
with I oland, that France and Roumama have declared war on the Soviet Govern
ment.
(mn) TJe Russian cavalry above mentioned say they belong to the 214th
Turkestan Regiment. They say a company of 250 men will be arriving shortly
to take the place of the present Sarakhs garrison. (No such number as 214 has been
encountered before and it is possible the correspondent is making a mistake or has
(ix) Parties are collecting charitable gifts of wheat and barley for the famine
stricken areas on the Volga and the flooded population of Karki, etc.
(;■) The Special Department of Sarakhs has alone 27 agents working in various
ZU8—IRANS-P RONTIER.
Krasnovodsh August M.-Cholera has disappeared but precautions are
continued, there being a disinfecting station five versts from Krasnovodsk and on
a result of hunger ^ BakU are -
there^I t anvdk( b i 1 imhi.ft;on Ued rt 0 em P lo y & ,itis of the worst description. If
the e .s ai y disciimmation m the quality of that issued, it is the troops who benefit.