File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎685r] (1017/1080)

64. Troop movements—The tendency again appears to be westwards and
Artik reports between the 26th and 30th January the passage of 46 wagons ot
Russian troops in that direction against nil eastwards.
Reports from Merv give between the 21st and 27th January the passage of
2 troop-trains westwards, on the 29th January 3 trains with troops and on
the 30th January 1 train with mounted troops—all in the same direction.
Latest reports state that both Askhabad and Kizil Arvat garrisons have
increased, and that movements to Krasnovodsk have occurred.
55. Bolshevik garrisons. Skohelev.—^ January. 2,000 troops mostly
Russians. About 200 cavalry included. Troops armed with 3-lme rifles
and fairly well-clothed. One heavy, 6 field guns, 3 armoured cars, and 2
airplanes believed to be present.
Beyond an occasional small raid or damage to the railway no fighting was
taking place. . , . . , ,
Merv. —1st February. 4,000 troops, about 1,000 having been despatched
westwards a few days before. The 500 cavalry were practical y all Turkomaii
armed with obsolete rifles, the remamaer of the garrison having 3-lme rifles.
Two field batteries (6-gun) and probably 1 heavy and 5 field guns m addition.
Two airplanes. „ „
Four hundred troops were said to he under orders for Khira where
apparently the “ autonomy ” scheme was not working quite satisfactor.ly.
Two (rains from east to Kusbk and one from Kushk to east had passed
through in few previous days. . ^ , , , ,,
Kalika. 3rd February. The “ 2nd Uzbek battalion, Sarts and strength
about 500.* (The 3rd and 4th battalions of this regiment are reported to e
at Teien, and the 1st battalion at Askhabad.) AnA ^
Askhabad. —2nd and 3rd February. Two reports S IV1 “S fr0 “
10 000 troops. Taking last week’s maximum of 7,000 to be approximately
’ f nrobable that about 8,000 would be the nearest figure. 4-00 to
600 mounted t^oopf Two heavy, 15 field, and many machine guns were seen
and ammunition is reported to be abundant. 5 or 6 airplanes.
Although many of the troops, especially Sarts, are recruits there is at
present no particular activity in drilling them. . .
AmoJ subsidiary units noted were ; search-light detachment, machine
gun corps for company ?). a scouting, and an armoured car detachment.
The wireless station is now installed at the Grand Hoe.
j . 9 q f i 1 Tinuarv 2 500 troops, mostly Musulmans with some
S00 T"o7tiy Led witV 3 -Une Les and fairly clothed.
6 field suns, 3 armoured cars, and 2 airplanes.
' A draft of about 1,000 men left towards Krosnovodsk on the 27th January,
their destination being rumoured to be Bandar baz .
Transport animals w T ere being collected.
„^csr > - "s - ““
trnoos renorted to be present at Qara Qala . , *
^Kramovodsk.-™ January. 2 000 troops
»Z?Z “1st pSk'trarKmiordsrandlhe “ 2nd Persulskis”
stat^ that ^ } 1 young Bokharans and Persians have obsolete rifles. 8
fiAld^luns'Valrplane and 3 armoured cars believed present. .
‘ | r0 m the 20th to 27th January only some 300 troops are believed to have
' lef ‘ “'cases of "loo
LopTemrrSnfto Baku “ere marehld back from the pier on this account
and despatched to Rizil Arvat.
A troop-train for Krasnovodsk passed through Kizil Arvat on January
29th.