File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎629r] (905/1080)

In Transcaspia there is also acute friction between the Communists and
the more moderate, although so far no open outbreak has occurred. Food con
ditions are very difficult and harsh measures are being taken to force the un
fortunate Turkoman to disgorge the little they have. In the Tejen district small
detachments of troops are quartered on the various villages to compel the inhabi
tants to give up their supplies. The Turkman anticipate that mounted men who
had been released from service would shortly be called up again for assistance
in Bokhara.
Threats of the invasion of Persia continue, but so far there is no indi
cation of any knowledge of the changed condition at Tehran or of the attitude
which this may induce.
Khuddu is from a fairly reliable source credited with the intention of rais
ing 1,000 men for a further venture in Khorasan, and is said to have got together
about 100 of this total at Askhabad. He is in communication with former sup
porters on the Duringar frontier and in the Oghaz valley. In the latter place
30 of his adherents are reported to have been issued with Russian ritles. From
the account of a Kurd Khan local conditions in the Kuchan district are likely to
render a second 1 attempt on his part more formidable than the last as the local
Khans are thought to be out of sympathy with the Governor-General and his
representative at Kuchan. The absence of British troops, though not openly
referred to, is the probable cause of this pessimistic forecast.
Some augmentation of troops—450 men mostly mounted with a field-gun
and 2 machine-guns—has been received at Russian Sarakhs and 150 of these
have been sent to Pul-i-Khatun, but according to various accounts there is no
increase in frontier detachments further to the west. The Bolsheviks have
preferred a complaint of a frontier raid from the Persian village of Zurabad,
and an Afghan raid, not confirmed from Herat and possibly a confusion with the
other alleged raid, may account for the latter move. Karim Khan Baluch has
also been ordered by the Bolsheviks to raise 600 men for duty on the Sarakhs
frontier.
A large number of pupils is under instruction at Tashkent at the Pro
paganda school, the Intelligence school, and the Wireless school. The propa
ganda and intelligence departments are kept distinct and the course at each lasts
about 2 months, when, after a successful examination the candidates are digni
fied with a “ certificate of honour.” The wireless course lasts somewhat longer.
The 4 Afghan cadets are said to have completed their course and to be about to
return to Afghanistan. 78
Fortnightly advertisements are inserted for all 3 institutions, to which a
reply in writing followed by a personal interview is required. At Samarkand
a propaganda department "has been instituted at which persons of various
nationalities are interviewed, engaged for service, alter some instruction in the
duties required of them, despatched to foreign countries.
77. Troop movements .—Westward movements still continue though on the
whole less pronounced than those reported last week. There appears to have
been a considerable exodus from Kushk, and it is probable that tioops thence
have been sent both westwards and to reinlorce the Bokhaian and Feighana
fronts.
78. Bolshevik tjarrisons. Andijan. —2,000 troops on 14th February, lb!
Tnaioritv are Musa]man and include some 250 cavalry. Strength decreased
owing to casualties from the Sart offensive. On 14th February a first batch of
reinforcements from west arrived and is not included m the above total. -
heavy, 6 field-gun 4 armoured cars, 1 airplane. 2 aimoured engines on con
stant patrol work.
Tashkent 17th Februarv. 5,000 troops, mostly Musalman and including
500 cavalry Exact number of guns not known but 20 recently seen. 2 airplanes.
Troops, except Russians, poorly clad and the whole garrison discontented owing
to short rations.
3 ambulance trains with wounded from Ferghana or Bokhara arrived
between the 12th and 17th February. •
21st February. The normal garrison of about 1,000 had been in
creased to 3MOO with 6 field-guns, an armoured car and an airplane by a re
inforcement from Samarkand intended for Tashkent but apparently not required
there in the end.