File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎651v] (950/1080)

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parade the streets by day. Aeroplanes share in these minatory demonstrations.
Arrivals in Persia from this centre mention trouble occurring ini Moscow as
well as in Petrograd.
The promulgation by poster of the latest expression of Persian inter
national policy was the cause of State-aided jubilation in Tashkent.
The railway operatives are hostile to the Communists but are helpless
for want of arms. Their attitude is apparent to the latter who are afraid
to make arrests. On or about the 10th of the current month no train arrived
from the north due, it was said, to raids on the line by Tatars and Cossacks.
Repressive measures seem to have been initiated against members of the
old Adalat party. Sixty of them were arrested and four killed the remainder
being deported to Askhabad for repatriation to Persia. The names of those
killed were given by the observer. He reports moreover that the Afghan
Consul intends to return to Afghanistan, that there has been a tramway strike
and that all but Muslim prisoners of war are put to death by the Sarts
fighting in Ferghana.
Samara .—A casual reports much military activity in Samara which may
be only of a precautionary nature, similar to that obtaining 1 in Tashkent.
Armoured cars patrol the town by day while the two ammunition (munitions f)
factories are working day and night in six hour shifts. Strong defensive works
are reported in the direction of Novospasko and continuing to the bank of
the river (Volga). Guns, wire anid trenches are features of this position. The
railway line at Samara is also protected by entrenchments. Observer was in
Samara up to the 3rd instant. He counted in all eleven troop trains between
Samara and Artik. Such as were not in sidings appeared to be northwards
bound—to Tashkent or beyond.
Sarakhs .—There is some hitch in the trade transactions between Persia
and Russia at this point owing, it is said, to the officials of the Tsentro-
Soyuz wishing to buy more Persian grain than they have received permits for.
The Bolsheviks are raiding Turkmans attempting to drive sheep into
Persian territory to escape the perquisitions now being levied and are said
to have ihstructed Qarim Khan Baluch to the same end.
Babich raiders attacked 9 Turkmans journeying to Merv to sell cloth.
Fight Turkmans were killed, the survivor lodging a complaint in Russian
. Parakhs. The raiders were traced to Persian territory. The Bolsheviks have
demanded their extradition of the Governor of Persian Sarakhs.
97. Garrisons, Askhabad .—Reports from various sources appear to show
an increase to within the neighbourhood of 10,000 while a correspondent calls
attention to the constant arrival and departure of troops at this centre. The
figures are in all probability exaggerated for, if the econ'omic situation is as
the Bolsheviks say “ catastrophic,” they are unlikely to concentrate large
bodies of men where they do not appear to be required strategically. Train
i eports from Artik (q.. v.) show no movement east but some reinforcements
to be proceeding west. It has been observed above that there have been
rumours of risings among the Akkhal Tekke Turkmans and though these are
not confirmed yet an increase in the Askhabad garrison would respond to
an\. real oi expected movement in that direction. Reports from the frontier
indicate an augmentation of garrisons of certain frontier posts though the
i eason therefor is not known at present. There are some thirty of these
posts strung out along the northern Persian frontier, from Solukli on the
ujnuid to Cbaacha on the Kilat border. The Frontier Regiment (also
referred to by the^Bolsheviks as a brigade) has its headquarters at Askhabad
and probably furnishes those posts from Gandan to Solukli.
, The Bolsheviks occasionally publish the proceedings of their Revolutionary
War -tribunal which investigates breaches of militarv discipline Although
the numbers of regiments are suppressed, the Mowing units have been located
m Askhabad by this means :—
An TJzbeg Cavalry regiment, probably the 2nd.
A Turkman Cavalry regiment.
A. Turkestan Infantry (rifle) regiment.
A machine gam detachment attached to the latter.
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