"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [و‎‎٨‎٦] (٣١٠/١٧٦)

Memorandum of information received during
the month of May 1905, regarding
a flairs on and beyond the North-West
Frontier of India.
[Notb.—T his memorandum is based upon reports, the accuracy of
which it is not always possible to guarantee.]
TRANS-CASPIA, RUSSIAN TURKESTAN,
AND THE PAMIRS.
It is reported that during April the
Turkomans of the Merv, Tajend, and Yulatan
districts were ordered to supply within twenty-
days 200 horsemen and 100 camels from each
Alehin; as there are said to be 78 Alehins in the
area, the force requisitioned would be 15,600
horsemen and 7,800 camels. The Russians
have frequently issued such orders to the
Turkomans to test their loyalty, but always
countermanded the order before the time of
assembly.
Another report, referring probably to the
foregoing, says that the Russians have aban
doned the proposal to raise a force of Turko
man cavalry, as they cannot trust them.
The strike on the Central Asian and
Orenburg-Tashkend Railway (see last Journal)
came to an end early in March, and the men
have resumed work. The fact that the
military were so readily available was the
principal cause of the speedy termination of the
strike, hut the men appear to have received
substantial concessions in the way of shorter
hours, increase of pay, &c.
At Samarkand all Russian Christian
subjects have been warned to undergo military
training, as their services may he required at
any time to preserve order.
The Russians are fortifying Kerki and
Pata Kesar, in expectation, it is said, of an
Afghan attack, and a general feeling of anxiety
Prevails amongst the inhabitants of those
places.
The people around Pata Kesar decline to
receive Russian money and only accept
Bokhara or Persian coin. This is causing
great inconvenience to contractors.
It is reported that the Russians have
made preparations for bridging the Oxus near
Pata Kesar, and that these preparations have
alarmed the Afghans, who are building a post
opposite the place where the Russians have
collected materials.
There have been some further despatches
of guns and a quantity of ordnance stores from
Tashkend by the Khokand road; their