THE WAR IN ACHEEN.
(From the Straits ’ Times, April 24. ) The principal event of the fortnight has been the failure of the Dutch expedition against Apheen. Accustomed to easy conquests over the native rulers, the Netherlands Indian Government have, in the present instance, greatly underestimated the valor and strength of the A Chinese ; and though they despatched an imposing force, consisting of some half-a-dozen men-of-war, six merchant steamers, and five sailing ships as transports for troops and provisions, conveying a force some 5,000 strong, they have suffered a most disastrous defeat, and have been obliged to beat a retreat, leaving the Achinese masters of the situation. All the circumstances connected with this expedition, from its inception to its close, lead to the suspicion that the policy of the Netherlands Indian Government was premeditatedly aggressive. The greatest possible secrecy was observed with regard to the preparation, the strength of the expedition, and the policy to oe pursued, Mr Niewenhuyzen, vice-president rf the N.X. Council, was sent ia aqvance to present an ultimatum to the £ultah ol Acheen, tfee terror whiolj ftfo not
even yet made public; but which, if we may judge from the manifesto by which the commissioner declared war aeaiust that kingdom, imperatively deman e< ith it the Sultan should maintain peace and order among the rulers of his dependencies. The commission made their first demand on the 22nd Ma ch, and a second one on tbo 24tb. The Sultan made no answer, but, the manifesto says, prepared for war. Possibly the terms of the demand, or news of the coming expedition, which was then well on its way, influenced him to this course. On the 26th March, the commissioner declared war against Acheen, and tne men-of-war threw shells into the fortifications on shore. On the sth April the troops reached Acheen, and on the 6th 400 men landed to reconnoitre, re-embarking the same day. On the Bth, «11 the troops landed, and the Aehinese gave them battle, but after severe fighting retired within their stockades. The Dutch fought hard to drive them out of these stockades, and the ships bombarded them furiously, but they still held out. On the 9th a breach was made in one of the forts by the shells from the ships, and the Dutch troops made a rush to storm, only to find it deserted. The fort had an armament of twelve guns. The Aehinese fought witn great bravery, being it is said, all dressed in white, which with them means preparation for death. The Dutch tro'ps then commenced their march towards the Sultan’s palace—Kraton, as it is called by the natives —and on tbo 14th they attacked this place, which is strongly fortified. The Aehinese fonght with desperation, and though the Dutch succeeded iu gaining standing ground in one part of the fortification, they lost their commander, Major-General Kohler, who was shot through the breast. This was a serious blow to them, and his loss so dispirited the troops that the Aehinese succeeded in driving them back to the beach, and, if we may credit the latest telegrams from Penang, ultimately into their ships and away from the place altogether. Yesterday’s telegram says the expedition is abandoned until autumn, the troops being sent to Deli and Padang to prevent any risings in those places, but the blockade is to be continued by the mcn-of-war. It will, however, probably be only a nominal one, and if not effective, ifc will most likely have to be raised altogether. The Aehinese under arms numbered, it is said, about 10,000 iu the Saltan’s palace alone, while it was believed there were at least 20,000 more iu the jungle. It is asserted that all the rulers in Northern Sumatra will side with the Sultan and aid in his defence. The Netherlands Indian Government, owing to the failure of this expedition, is just now in a most unenviable position ; and unless it perseveres in its determination to overcome the Aehinese, will be likely to experience difficulty in the management of its possessions in Sumatra, if not in Java as well. Meanwhile the rainy sea-on has set in at Acheen, and further operations are said to be impossible at pre sent. The Aehinese will probably avail themselves of the respite to render their position stronger, and being a warlike race, their subjugation will be a difficult and wearisome task, which will cost much blood and treasure.
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Evening Star, Issue 3226, 23 June 1873, Page 3
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736THE WAR IN ACHEEN. Evening Star, Issue 3226, 23 June 1873, Page 3
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