File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎659v] (966/1080)

2'
As early as the end of February the authorities odichilly annouced the
suppression of the Petrograd and Kronstadt insurrection, but the statement
received little credence in view of reports brought by arrivals from Russia'
A recrudescence of disorder at Tashkent at the end of February or beo>innin»
of March involving some suspension of the railway service was reported, and
evidently with some truth as the Bolsheviks were at pains to stigmatise the
rumours as highly exaggerated, and to assert that all was satisfactorv. At the
same time they admitted that until internal security had been fully restored
no forward move as regards foreign countries could be undertaken.
Reports of disorders at Kazan were current at the end of February at 1
Samara wither also Bolshevik wounded from Kazan had arrived. The generally
accepted version was that in the anti-communist movement the Tatars" had at
first sided with the communists but had been persuaded to join their opponents
later. The Tatars are reported to dislike all sections of the Bolsheviks, and
trouble on their part is not unlikely.
A portion of the Samara munitions factory An East India Company trading post. was burnt down on the 23rd
February with some loss of life. As foul play was suspected a number of arrests
were made.
Bolshevik officials in Turkistan are obviously uneasy at internal happen
ings and are taking all possible precautions. Tashkent was under martial law
early in the month, and even at Kagan martial law virtually obtained, and:
all gatherings of more than 3 persons were prohibited.
Orators thus find their activities somewhat circumscribed.
An attitude of mistrust towards Afghanistan has recently been marked
and from several centres speeches.threatening the Afghans with dire penalties
for recalcitrancy are reported.
On the other hand Persia, since the signature of the agreement has been
reported, is. again being flattered. Talk of invasion is characterised as
a deceitful invention of the English, and in the most extreme case, it is
said, such invasion could only be undertaken with the aim of eiectino 1 the
English. °
There is no direct news from Ferghana but reports of fighting are current
in Turkishtan.
It was generally accepted at Kagan that Karshi had been taken by the
Amir of Bokhaia s xorce, out that the Bolsheviks after strong reinforcement
had succeeded in recapturing the place on the 2nd March. In any case re
inforcement was still being sent to Karshi early in the month and wounded were
being evacuated thence.
The supply question is becoming still more acute, and people are being
pacified by hopes of provisions from Persia. At Samarkand, where the
nosition was relatively good, supplies are exhausted and the town is now little
better off than other places. At practically every centre the troops are on short
rations, and according to a recent report from Kizil Arvat the troops there were
practically starving.
A constant stream of fugitives was arriving at Krasnovodsk from Baku
parly in the month enticed by tales of abundant supplies from Persia in
Iranscaspia.
Bolshevik cavalry in the vicinity of the towns quarter the districts and’
rounu up all supplies they can lay hands on.
The personnel of the Bolshevik mission for Tehran
Tashkent 7 ° perS ° nS ’ is from PCTsi!m sources reported to have
estimated
reached
. Troop movements. The tendency eastwards continues. There are
rumours ot the despatch of troops northwards from Tashkent, but these require
f urther confirmation. The probability is that Ferghana and South-East Bokhara
still require reintorcement.. The local situation at Tashkent has also called for
additional troops there.
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