File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎676v] (1000/1080)

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Administrative changes are being introduced in the military system in
Transcaspia. The 1st Army is as far as can be judged being converted into a
division, some of the units for the composition of which were not long ago
transferred from Tashkent, and the organisation is being brought into more
direct control of the Turkistan front headquarters at Tashkent.
Severe measures, widely advertised by the Red press, are being taken with
deserters and absentees, and penalties and punishments are published for
general information.
There is great mortality among cavalry horses in Transcaspia from dearth
of forage. An officer with the 2nd Uzbeg cavalry at Kahka stated that two-
thirds of the horses of this formation had died, and considerable loss among
mounted units at Askhabad is also reported.
Generally speaking the supply question, especially as regards grain is
causing the Bolsheviks the greatest uneasiness, and a campaign against grain
hoarders is widely advertised. As a result the unfortunate native population
of Transcaspia will probably be bled still more white. Wholesale seizures of
Turkman sheep are being made in desert tracts to which the flocks had been
driven. On a recent occasion a batch of 20,000 were seized, and on another
13,000. Some live-stock has been driven across the Persian border to escape
the exaction.
Grain received from Persia is, according to some sources, being sent to
European Russia, and no alleviation of the local situation is as yet apparent.
A quantity of grain purchased near Sarakhs was ruined by rain before it could
be put on the railway. »
Several sources report a recmdeseence of fighting in Bokhara in tho
Karshi, Guzar and Shirabad areas, and a renewal of the Turkman rebellion in
the Kerki region. These reports are borne out by the despatch of Red rein
forcements to the parts in question.
The Ferghana Sarts are also said to be more active, and the chances of
peace—except on the basis of complete Sart independence—to be more remote.
It is, however, considered possible that the Bolsheviks may make sufficient
concessions to lull the suspicions of the Sarts with the idea of dealing with them
afterwards at their leisure.
From latest reports received it is evident that nothing had yet been
beard of the Bolshevik success in Georgia as reported in current Reuters On
the contrary alarmist rumours regarding the situation in the Caucasus are still
prevalent, and apprehensions as to the action of the Kemalists were acute.
The general tone of Bolshevik posters and utterances regarding Persia
continues minatory, although immediate action against her was for the moment
less likely. It remains to be seen what attitude recent events at Tehran will
induce.
As regards Afghanistan more friendly expressions are used, and she is
counted on as a certain ally :n the coming campaign against India.
The British Mission is said to hare left Kabul, the only result of its labours
being exacerbation of the Indo-Afghan situation, and an Afghan invasion the
direct outcome. °
Curiously enough nervousness of British troops in Khorasan still obtains
i n & i. ^ 18 acknowledged that Kuchan and Meshed have been practical
ly vacated a concentration at Turbat-i-Haidari is supposed to have taken place,
and the arrival from India of a large British force in Sistan is also spoken of.
Jhe above is confirmed by a Russian representative of the Central Soyuz here
who recently arrived from Askhabad.
.. ® e r ral 80U ff. re P? r f tbe arrival of Khuda Verdi at Askhabad in
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