File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎537r] (721/1080)

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An occasional detachment of troops is sent by route march to Shahar-i-
Sabz.
The Bolsheviks are treating their subjects with consideration and leniency,
nevertheless the people are discontented with their rule. Although owners of
gardens retain nominal possession the Bolsheviks take all the produce and hand
it over to food controllers.
There are about 50 sailors left, who work in the offices. All Austrians
with the exception of three employed in the factories, have been repatriated.
The food situation is easier owing to the abundance of fruit.
Kokand .—July 1st. Kokand is the headquarters of all troops in Ferghana*
The troops belong: to the 3rd Moscow Army which came in relief of the 1st
Moscow Army a month ago. The 1st Army has been concentrated towards
Tashkent. (This statement is unsupported up to the present.)
There have been no restrictions on trade with Chinese Turkestan hitherto
but lately Chinese troops have been posted on the frontier and reciprocal
movements of trade and traffic have been prohibited.
Military Komissar is Elenikov. Komissar of the new town is Khuda
Yarov. Chief of the Special Department is Solomonov.
Tashkent .—July 1st. The food situation is easier.
The Farmers’ Conference lasted from the 20th to the 28th June. Among
the resolutions adopted were the following :—
(i) There shall be no currency of any sort in Turkestan (metallic?).
(«i) All articles of silver and gold must be handed over to the Govern-
ment. Anyone found in possession of such will be liable to 25 years’ imprison
ment.
{Hi) The Soviet Government is minting a silver coinage for foreign
transactions which will bear an effigy of Peter the Great on the obverse and a
palace of the ftomanovs on the reverse (?). This coinage will not be used for
internal trade. The Soviet Government will be responsible for its rehabi
litation when necessary.
{iv) The Soviet ^Republic and the Republics under its suzerainty will
remain in an indissoluble alliance against internal and external enemies.
A week before the narrator of the above left Tashkent large numbers
of troops passed through en route to the Far East. Some 7,000 troops have
gone from Tashkent and its environs to the same objective.
A school for instruction in wireless telegraphy is open in Tashkent and
men of all castes and creeds are trained there. The propaganda schools which
had been closed down for some time have been re-opened.
It was rumoured that a party of Usmanli officers is coming to Tashkent
to raise and train a pan-Islamic army.
175. Bolshevik Garrisons.
Kizil Arvat .—July 2nd. About 600 troops, majority Russians. Three
guns, 8 machine guns, 1 armoured car, 1 aeroplane, 1 electric searchlight.
Askhahad .—There is nothing to add to the details given last week except
that the staff of the 30th Cavalry Brigade is part of the garrison and that
Smirnov is Commandant of Askhabad troops. These items are given on the
authority of the Askhabad press.
Artik. —Normal.
Kaakhka .—No change.
Russian Sarakhs .—Seven hundred new troops have arrived in relief (7th
to 13th July). Three hundred and fifty remain in Sarakhs, 50 go to Pul-i-
Khatun, and the remaining 300 are distributed between the posts from
Ghangali to Ak-Robat.
Three motor lorries. Guns not mentioned.