The Express.
London, England, 1848-08-22 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, 1848.

also stated In the Daily Nem that such active preparations
had been made ley the Balinese as to embolden- them to
anticipate success. The result has terminated in a most
signal defeat, attended with great loss. The Rajah of Loa-
bock, to whom the who:. of this variable territory at one
time belonged, had agreed to co operate with the Dutch,
and left Lombock for that purpose on the evening of June
3rd, accompanied by a large force, consisting of a square-
rtgeea barque and a large number of war embus. The Dutch.
confident of success, did not wait the arrival of their ally,
but having received final instructions from Batavia, the
expedition mailed from Beane-Hoe, in the Straits of Bally,
for Bally Bailing. In addition to the blockading (ores
which for two months had remained at Bsl!y, the expedi
Lion consisted of war steamers liekla, having on board his
excellency Mejor-Gen. Jhr..l. C. Van der Wijck, commander
in chief of the lend and naval forces, blenpie, Etas,
Vesuvius, brig &puma, schooner Zeemieuw. maniports
Amboina, with troops, A. R. Fslck, Anna Morgareths,
Pictor Floritz, Staataread Batik Van Galen, Hector, Maxi-
=alias Theudoor and 200 coolies, Nassau and 300 coolie',
Futul Buie. Anna en Elise, and Minerva. The expedition
left Beazoc.Koelbetween May 28 and June 3, accompanied by
gun boats and ether smell craft. The force comprised about
2,700 infantry, 300 cavalry, and the like number of artillery-
men—a force deemed more than sufficient, not only to take
but to retain permanent possession of Bally. The result
turned out otherwise ; the Dutch were forced to retreat
after a loss of 238 killed and wounded, including 14 officers
and 114 European troops. The navel authorities were of
opinion that much larger force was necessary ; the military
were of a contrary opinion. The distance of Djaga Raga
from the seashore was four miles, so that the naval forces
were only enabled to cover the landing end re-embarkation
of the troops. During the absence of the major-
general en shore the naval (ores was under
the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Staercke. The
landing was effected with little difficulty. It was at Djaga
Raga where the issue of the contest depended. So deter-
mined was the attack, that during the space of two-end-a-
half hours, the time taken up in the battle, the Dutch ex-
pended the whole of their ammunition, consisting of 300
grenades 80,000 rounds of ball-cartridge. The Balinese
are ri makable fur their skill in the use of the rifle, but few
of their number were thus armed, or the destruction would
have been greater. Toe fire from the batteries was
ill-
di rected, or it is probable that not &single Dutch subject would
have inesped to tell the tale. It is confidently stated, that
diecour-ged by the fai.ure of the expedition, the war of
subjugation will be abandoned until another and more
favourable opportunity offers for a trial of arms against so
powerful an enemy. The following particular', translated
from the Javoache Courant of June 17, a government paper
published at Batavia, supply many interesting particulars,
and may be consider. d as denti.othcial.
By his Majesty's steamer Etna, which reached Batavia
on the 13th inst., there • d Capt. EC. C Steinmetz of
the Genie, and the captain-adjutant of his excellency the
Governor-General, T. Van Capetian, both officers belonging
to the Bali expedition, and bearers of deipatches concerning
the affairs which have transrired at Dina Raga, on the
island of Bali, of which the following is a correct narrative.
(The above named officers It ft on the afternoon of the 14th
inst. with the steamer Onruat, to return to the place of their
destination.)
The intelligence received is not favourable. It would ap-
pear that in the afternoon of June 7 such activity was ob-
served on the part of the enemy that it was deemed neces-
sary to take possession of a eampong situated on the strand,
which would afford sufficient protection on our landing.
The campong was occupied on the evening of that day with-
out any resistance being offered, with the exception of an
attack made by the enemy at about half-peet seven o'clock,
when they were so well received by the alvance-guard, con
silting of the 4th company of the 13th battalion, that they
retreated with wounds. On the morning of the Bth the
2nd column (Major Sorg) stood in position in front of
Boenkoelan, which was occupied by thousands of the enemy,
of which, however, only few were armed with muskets,
almost all basing very long lances. The landing of the
three remaining columns and of other troops was effected
under the protection of the second column. The first co-
lumn, under Lient-Col. Sutherland, reached the shore at
about six o'clock, and took up a position on the left of the
second column. This was followed shortly after by the 3rd
column, under Lieut.-Col. Le Bron de Vexels, and lastly by
the fourth column, under Major de Vos. These prepare,-
fiats occupied Much time, which was probably construed
into fear by the 'alloy; for they thereupon grew bold and
defied our few skirmishers in front by various cries end
terms of abuse, creeping under shelter of the undulating
ground to a very short distance. At length, when all the
ineintry was landed, the commander-in-chief determined to
attack the Campong Benkoelan at once, without waiting for
the artillery, the manmuvring of which in the heavy
paddy fields would have been found difficult. For this
purpose the second division, as intended, stood fast
and occupied Timor Sangseat so as to prevent any attempt to
turn out position. The 4th column received orders to form
sections in column, with its two flank companies on the
wings of its deployed centre company, in which movement
one half deployed sad the otner kept in close order to protect
the left wing of the line, which could easily be threatened
on aocouet of the great extent and half-moon form of the
Campong Benkoelan, which, so to speak, nearly enveloped
our position, and therefore the nearer we approached the
dew the *re we should be overilanked. His Ida;esty's
steamers Etna and Merapie threw grenades along our right
wing, and thus completely protected us. The Ist sad
nos were now formed in platoon columns, with one
company in front spread out as skirmishers, and attacked
the Campong, which movement was crowned with great
success. At half past tea o'clock the enemy was driven out,
leaving a great number of dead in aid in front of the Cam-
ping. Our loss was estimated at 1 officer, 2 European and
5 native soldiers killed, and the like number of wounded.
Favoured by the conste -nation which must have ensued, the
ornmander-in-chief wished to proceed the same day to
' Djaga Riga, to threaten that strong *rums and to attack it.
The weal• as of the troops and the necessity of maintaining
a communication with the beach, from whence many things
must be brought, prevented this. The Campong Beaker•
fan was occupied as quarters for the night, during 'he whole
of which we were annoyed by ravaging parties of the
enemy.
At six o'clock in the morning of June 9 the troops ad-
vanced towards the fortified position of the Mega Raga, to a
distance from whence it could be bombarded, leaving the
second column to keep the communication open with the
fleet, with two companies at Benkoelan and at TIMM
Sangseat. The first column in front then followed *a
thitd, and atter this the fourth column. At the diseases of
one peal from Diggs Raga there is a holgaeli,
which runs two or three peals and is then
Jolt again. Here they were oblieed to fall out
of flank, and march in Indian defile. The 'ninny
likewise (taking the difficulty of the ground into considers-
don) got through very well. In the centre of a dry paddy-
field, where the paddy bad been already cut, there were twie
large redoubts, with very high beat:-works (about 12 fest),
surrounded by deep ditches of about 30 feet broad, with bam-
boo hedges and chevaux-de-frize. The fleet redoubt
kid
several cannons mounted, so as to flank the other redoubt In
the most perfect manner, with cannon and loop-holes on the
front face. Both redoubts were united by a straight ditch
from 20 to 30 feet deep, in such a way that it was impossible
to peas between them. The second redoubt was protected
by four or five others, which perfectly flanked each other,
the innermostone inclining towards anunapproachable ravine
by which it was supported. The space lying between
these redoubts was protected by rows of bamboo.work,
which notwithstanding their temporary character, were very
difficult to clear away; being supple, they did not
yield to the knife or the sword, from the blows of
which they sunk, but rose again. At the distance of from
400 to 600 yards, the commandevin-chief had eight mor-
tars placed, from which a constant discharge was kept up on
the two redoubts. It was at this moment the enemy opened
their fire. In order to support the artillery, which was very
much exposed, rockets were thrbwn out, and with such suc-
cess that the artillery under command of Capt. Keller.
man, approached the second redoubt to within 60 or
100 paces, with admirable courage, and planted there a
battery of four three.ponaders, two 114-inch howitzers,
and eight hand mortars, which latter were spuially
placed under the direction of Capt. Vout.-Coln Maanen.
The third column, commanded by Lieonel Le
Bron de Vexela, received orders to try and turn
the enemy's right wing, but he met with nneonquer.
able difficulties up to the edge of the ravine, which covered
the enemy's right ming with a chain of strong works, that
rendered the approach most difficalt. The 4th column was
held in reserve. The fire was maintained, and one of the
most obstinate battles fought by a force considerably less in
number, end exposed to the enemy's fire from loop-holes to
which there was little acmes to stuck the enemy's petition ;
the opposing force consisted of three times our strength,
protected by high breastworks. The. tiring_ was kept up for
b
about halt-an-hour, when First ent. Van Smitten, fol-
lowed by about 20 native soldiers, was seen scaling the
breastwork of redoubt No. I. Before this the enemy had
abandoned redoubt No. 2 also; but all the latter could only
be approached by the gate, and the way was barred by the
ditch between the two redoubts, it was anapproschable, and
could not be got possession of quick enough, the coosequence
of which was that ene-half of the retreating enemy from the
redoubt No. I threw themselves immediately into there-
doubt No. 2, and noommenced their fire with renewed '
force. The other half of the garrison of redoubt No. 1
threw th( =elves into a very deep ravine, turned our right
wing completely, and attacked us most furiously in the rear;
they drove in a platoon of infantry which had beenntion placeded
solely for the purpose of observing the abovem•
movement, and rushed in on three platoons of infantry
which Major de Vos had posted to prevent being turned in
the manner which had taken place. A good stand and a
well-directed fire, by which the front ranks of the
enemy fell, forced them to retreat from an attack
which, if followed up, might have been most
s/trona We lost several men by the enemy's lances.
In the meantime Captain Dieters company, sup
ported by Lieutenant-Colonel Le Bron de Veoela, with
a company of Europeans, had taken the firtifications
.in tke
rear. Twice this company was driven back ; three tunes it
renewed the attack ; but fresh enemy:Es **toady de-
fended it; and as it Ins open it was ins ble to get a last
possession of it. Lieut.-Colonel Bath , sediftd by the
engineer, Captain Seine's, and TIM Lieut. Designian,
who, with much bravery, threw a bridge seer the uniting
ditch, and made an attempt to take redoubt No. 2; but this
courageous attempt was fruitless. Captain Boon, with the
African company of the 3rd column, who had made an en-
trance in the front and right face of the redoubt, could not
get rid of the hindrances which stood in the way of soiling.
It was about three o'clock when all our ammunition was
exhausted. Nct a single grenade was left ; the infantry had
not a cartridge remaining ; two wheels of the howitzer be-
longing to Lieut. Netee'der had boon shot away; a car-
riage- of one of the guns was destroyed. The general cadned
the empty ammunition chests to be sent for a fresh supply,
under *e protection of Captain Couple*, with his human,
and ordered the redoubt No. Ito be strongly invested ; the
hoops were desired to rat, mid to renew *0 attack at a kW