File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎536r] (719/1080)

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of pilgrims. Quarantine posts and other restrictive measures drive travellers
off the main routes and for^e them to have recourse to pathways over the
hilly frontiers. These subsidiary routes are uftea devoid of water at this time
of year, a factor which still further limits any inclination to travel.
An arrival corroborates the arrival of u Centre M troops in Merv to which
reference was made in last week’s Summary. He says they are expensively
dressed and wear good boots. They are employed mostly in the offices.
Kushk .—June 25th. An arrival from this station was a forced labourer in
the fortress and estimates the garrison at 8,000 which, in view of the referenee
in a recent Bolshevik paper to the * low~mimbered Kushk garrison **, cannot
he accepted. He goes on to say: There are five forts round Kushk, each
protected by wire and entrenchments. The telephone exchange is in Fort
Balajini. There is an observation post in Fort Alexandrovski on which two
ilookout men are posted with field glasses.
Takhta Bazar *—July 5th. A former resident who left on the date indicat
ed confirms the previous information given relative to the communication by
trench between Takhta Bazar and Maruchaq. He asserts that the distance to
the Russian post of Maruchaq is not more than six miles which is also
■corroborated by others. According to his statement the garrison has been
greatly reduced. There is great desire among the Turkmen to emigrate from
Russia, Persia being preferred to Afghanistan. The Afghan officials on the
frontier are very strict in the prohibition of export of merchandise to
'Turkestan.
The narrator passed through Tejen which he describes as a city of the
idead and containing a garrison of only twenty troops. The railway rolling
stock is old and nearly unserviceable, a statement borne out by others. He
iis probably correct in his description of Tejen for the appeal of its inhabitants
rto the Soviet-Government and the Bolsheviks’ admission of the failure of
icrops have appeared in a previous Summary.
CJwrjai .—July 3rd. The sailors of the Amu Darya flotilla are on friendly
^terms with Bolshevik troops but uot with Communists. They are kept hard
at work and the noise of iheir hammers is heard all day long (pneumatic
fivettors probably),.
Ammunition and troops are conveved by steamer up-stream. The service
is one vessel every third d;.y both up and down-stream. It is popularly
■believed t! at the ammunition seen conveyed up-stream is intended for present-
jation to the Afghans.
Chief of Special Department is Astipan. Military Komissar is Danielov.
(City Komissar is Asmikhauov.
The Governor of Old Clvrjui is Gha.zanfar Azimov. The chiefs of the
young Bokharans there are Muhammad Riza and Abbas Aliov, Tehrani.
A&m* — June 2 th. Every road leading to Khiva is defended at some
point or other by trenches and sangars. Juneid Khan having been driven
Into the desert again the Bolsheviks are trying to consolidate themselves in his
Khanate, appointing their officials to every town. There is at the present
moment no fighting except with famine for which purpose food controllers
have been nominated. Owing to the difficulty of feeding the populace no
restrictions on movement are in force, people intending to travel being allowed
to o-o where they like. For thore remaining registration and classification
a cording to professions, callings, and trades, are in progress. mei 5
forced to undergo a three months* course of military training at Tashkent, end
people being made to work in the fields.
Xarki —June k&th. A man who was a despatch rider between Karki,
Term, z and intermediate posts used to perform the journey in 48 hours He
visited Xermez iu the middle of June and estimates the garnsion at 7,000
which is 1,000 in excess of the figure usually given. He reports movements
of troops to the Afghan frontier beyond Termez and towards Badakhshan.
Trains can run to ,a point 30 versts short of Karki and the earth-work has
been completed to T9 versts of the same.