File 1341/1921 Pt 1 'Khorassan Intelligence Summaries 1921-1922' [‎701r] (1049/1080)

Gyzar and Shahr-i-Sads. —14th January. (Hearsay.) Mixed Russian
and Young Bokharan force of 2,000 in each place.
Great efforts are being made to push on the railway to Termez by March.
The line is complete almost up to Shahr-i-Sabz and armoured engines patrol
the Karshi-Kagan and Karshi-Shahr-i-Sabz sections.
Kushk. 16th January. About 8,000 troops. The garrison is reported
to have been somewhat reduced lately and between 10 th and 16th January 4
troop-trains left for Meiw against 1 from that direction.
Among units are the 1 st and 71st Sapper battalions, 2nd Turkistan, a
detachment of a Kazan battalion, and the 1 st Turkistan cavalry.
Several batteries of field artillery but actual number could not be ascer
tained. 1 airplane in flying order, 3 armoured cars and 6 lorries. Provi
sions are plentiful both for troops and civilians.
Takhta Bazar. —18th January. 1,500 to 2,000 troops. 5th Turkistan
infantry was the only unit identified.
Bairam Ali. —14th January. 1,100 troops composed of detachments of
the following units : 13th Turkistan, 5th Cherniaev, 4 Popov squadron, and
about 100 Turkman cavalry of the 3rd Turkman brigade. All troops well
armed, 2 field guns, 1 airplane, 1 armoured car.
Between 10th and 14th January 4 troop-trains passed westwards.
Six hundred Sarts and Kirghis working as labourers on entrenchments.
Alerv. —10th January 3,500. 20th January (another source) 3000. 6
field guns, 2 airplanes, 1 armoured car.
Askhabad. —22nd January. About 6,000 troops. Of these about half
appeared to be armed with 3-line rifles and the remainder had either obsolete
arms or none at all.
Krasnovodsk. —10th January. Estimated at about 1,000 including the
Persian detachment.
37. Baku .—A casual who left on January 8 th estimates the total garrison
at 20,000. Guns and ammunition were plentiful. 3 airplanes, 12 armoured
cars and other motor transport were seen. The majority of the troops were
armed with 3-line rifles and they were fairly well clothed. Moral poor. This
concentration was generally supposed to herald anis( invasion of Persia.
Three transports each with about 500 men arrived from Krasnovodsk be
tween 1st and 8 th January. During the last 2 weeks of December and the 1st
week of January no troops left for Krasnovodsk or Enzeli,
Much materials misery among the population and repression exist. Shops
were permitted to open for a few days after which they were suddenly com
mandeered and their contents confiscated. The food scarcity was somewhat
improved by the receipt of some wheat from Tabriz.
Much oil is being shipped to Enzeli and Krasnovodsk. Women are
employed at the oil-fields.
A reward of 1,000 liras has been offered by proclamation to any person ;
who succeeds in killing Kuchik Khan.
British Military Mission ;
E. A. E. REDD, Lieut.-Colonel,
General Staff.
Meshed.