File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎691r] (1029/1080)

. At Kushk the Bolsheviks recently threw dust in Afghan eyes in charac
teristic Jashion. A military commission arrived from Tashkent and with
co-operation of Afghans sat in judgment on certain Jamshadis accused of
raiding the Afghan border and condemned them to a term of imprisonment.
When the Afghans had departed perfectly satisfied the Jamshadis were released
on undertaking not to wear Bolshevik uniform when engaged in their predatory
avocations. W^kethei true or not the iuhahitants of the ivushk area firmly
believe that this border raiding is carried out at Bolshevik instigation.
(5) As regards Persia speakers rejoice at her realisation that the bogey of
Bolshevik invasion has never existed and was due to the deceitful action of the
British. A great task lies before the Soviet benefactor of Persia but this will
take the form of willing help.
Another note is struck in recent speeches at Tashkent in which Persians
were called upon to unite and overth' ow the regime of the Shah who is at the
back and call of the British minister, and in which they were assured that
Bed troops were at the service of the Persian patriot and hoped soon, in res
ponse fc) universal appeals, to undertake the victorious march to Khorasan—
when if the British were still there so much the worse for them.
_ Khuddu is quite a popular character at Tashkent where he has been busy
equipping himself for future activities if contingencies permit of the Bolsheviks
giving the word. Allah Verdi is said to be enlisting men at Askhabad.
4f. Troop movements —The only movements recently reported from
Artik are the passage westward on the i!4th January of 16 wagons of troops
against 49 eastwards on the 21st and 22nd January.
There appears to have been, however, a considerable despatch of troops
from Tashkent, most of whom had not as yet gone west of Merv.
45. Bolshevik garrisons .—
Tashkent. —21st January, 5,000 troops, mostly Musalmans, with about
300 cavalry, 8 field guns, 2 airplanes, 3 armoured cars seen. Troops except
recruhs are all armed with the 3-line rifle.
Karshi —16th January. 3,000 troops among which were the Bavarian (?)
battalion 800 strong composed of “ Austrian ” ^-prisoners of war, the 5th
Lettish battalion 1,000 strong including 400 mounted men, composition almost
entirely Jewish. Both units armed with 3-line rifle, the first having in addition
6 and the second 8 machine guns. There were also a “ Storozhnyi ”
squadron composed of Young Bokharans wuth 3-line and British rifles, a
Young Bokharan Infantry detachment with obsolete rifles, and a Sapper
detachment—Kirghiz with 3-line rifles, 12 guns, described os heavy but
probably including field guns, 2 airplanes, 4 armoured engines and 3 armoured
cars.
The Karshi-Kerki line under repair is frequently damaged by raids.
Kagan. —17th January. 2,500 troops with 300 at Amirabad in addition^
Drafts had not long before been sent to Karshi. bth Turkistan Cavalry,,
composition Bussians and strength about 500, was the only unit identified
1 airplane and 1 6 -gun field battery seen.
One hundred and fifty Bolshevik wounded arrived from Karshi on the
17th January.
Bokhara:- —19th January. 1,800 troops mostly Young Bokharans but
including some 400 Austrian mounted troops. 3 guns, described as heavy,
seen.
Charjui. — 22 nd January. 3,500 troops including 1,500 mostly Young
Bokharans at Old Charjui. 1 airplane and 6 field guns seen in New Charjui.
Twelve Indians who had enlisted among Young Bokharans were popular
heroes.
Two hundred cavalry with 3 machine guns left for Kerki by road on 18th
January.
A troop-train passed westwards on 20th January.
Takhta Bazar. —20th January. 3,500 troops. (Estimate under paragraph
36 is probably more accurate.) Alusulmans in majority and Turkman, Hazaras,.