File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎647v] (942/1080)

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and administration, whereby the poor; rule the rich, are eulogised. A school
for the inculcation of these principles has been npened in Merv. The Bolsheviks
are still making public speeches wherein they declare their intention of
invading India, Persia and Afghanistan.
Trade operations between Kerki and Afghanistan are noted.
The Afghan Consul is stated to have left for Afghanistan leaving his assistant
to officiate. It is said in Kerki, and repeated by other sources that the Anglo-
Afghan treaty is concluded and that all propagandists are to be evicted.
A river steamer left for Termez on the 25th February but could not reach
its destination owing to insufficiency of water in the river. Motor launches
convey the mails from Kerki to Termez and Charjui.
The Bolsheviks claim to have occupied Guzar, Karshi and Shahar-i-Sabz
though at the time of the report (12th March) the insurgents retained
Yakabagh.
The damage done to the Karshi-Kerki railway line by the insurgents is
being repaired. The work is nearing completion.
The river journey from Kerki to Charjui occupied three days. The
observer notes some amount of anti-Semitic feeling for it is to that race that
the present economic crisis is ascribed popularly.
Charjui .—The bridge over the Amu Darya is garrisoned by 200 men and
two guns. Doors and windows of trains in transit are locked. Some 200
mounted men patrol in reliefs between Old and New Charjui. All tactical
points in the vicinity are consolidated. The garrison includes a naval detach
ment. There are two river gun-boats mounting two small guns and four
machine guns each. There is much war material in stock but not in evidence.
An idea of cleavage having occurred between Bolsheviks and Communists
is prevalent. While the former are more numerous the latter are in possession
of all war material and constitute the Government.
Women of all tribes and religious beliefs are being compulsorily enrolled
as members of the Communist Women’s Association whose headquarters are at
the Club. The lectures last three hours daily. Penalties are enforced on both
sexes for obstruction of these measures. Sixty women in batches of fifteen
were selected for a course at Tashkent. The first batch was marched to the
station wdth bands playing and much pomp.
It was believed in Charjui that fighting with the Yomuds had commenced
in Khiva.
At the time of the report (21st March) wounded were arriving from the
direction of Kerki.
Kagan .—A casual reports that on the 18th March the Bolsheviks announc
ed the occupation of Guzar, Shabar-i-Sabz, and the siege of Karshi. Large
numbers of wounded passed through Kagan en route to Samarkard on
the 18th March. On the 14th a new r Afghan Consul arrived, the relieved
official returning to Afghanistan. The former published a notice inviting Afghan
subjects to notify their losses in the late Bokharan fighting which will be made
good by the Bolsheviks.
The Bolsheviks have commandeered all Karakal skins and are retailing
them at 200 roubles apiece. They have minted a new gold coin equivalent to
100 roubles, also a silver coin equivalent to 10 roubles and about the size of the
Persian kran.
(As a hypothesis, taking this 10 rouble coin as equivalent to one kran or
about six pence, the English analogue would be the five shilling piece while
the gold coin would be the equivalent of £ 2-10-0 sterling. When it is realised
that 1,000 paper roubles have an exchange value of about three Persian krans,
or one shilling and six pence it must be conceded that 1,000 paper roubles
equal 10 new gold coins or 10xl| shillings. In other words 10 of the Russian
gold coins might be purchased for fifteen shillings, a reduction ad absurdum but
one which illustrates the hopeless fiscal chaos prevailing—-supposing the casuaTs
estimate of this new coinage is correct.)
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