Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-30
SEVERE Loss no run puTon.


Driven
The Hague. Aug, 29-rhe oficiul
journal Today published y dispatch
which shows that the disasters TO the
Dutch forces operating ngnirst the
ratah Of the island OF Lambok. near
Java. were much more serious than at
first supposed. The dispatch says that
General Vettsr, the commander OF the
expedition. was surprised at IL O'Clock
at night near Jagra N9gra. The firing
wac continued until morning. and the
Dutch lost IN this engagement tourteen
allied and elghty-hve wounded.
As the water supply OF the column
f?iled and foraging was impossible, the
Dutch troops were compelled to retreat
toward MatRram, the capital OF the
island. During the retreat the Dutch
lost heavily. being continually h4rrA IS
ed by TIKI natives, and at one portion OF
the route they found that barrlcRtles
had been raised. These obstruc.ions
were so stoutly defended by the native
warriors that the troops Were unable
to force q passage and ware conse-
quently compelled TO make long de-
tour in order to avoid 'h9 bloekodtd
route, and In so doing they lost more
men The Dutch succeeded in reach=
ing Ampenah on August 81 with u to-
tai OF casualties far In excess Of the
number at first reported. The killed
included four officers and HiNty-thrcc
men there were twelve ofhcurs and
1863 men wounded. and MS; officers and
iiS men missing, In addition the Vet
ter column lost -four field gunn. But this
is not all. II now appears that two
other columns OF Dutch troops operat-
ing upon the same island nave kus-
tained heavy losses and endured much
suffering. These are the columns COM
mandod by Colonies Van pabst and
Blieyelt. These columns have been
N.ls~ i
ceoded In reaching Ampenan. Their
losses are not stated, but they are admit
ted TO be heavy. Colonel Van pahst
was among the officers killed with his
column. Five steamers carrying troops
and field guns leave Batavia, .,aya, for
Lambok tcmorrcw, and every effort
Will be made to retrieve .he disaHter TO
the Dutch army.
Later advlces received from Lombok
say that the attacks upon the differ
emit columns of Dutch troops was the
result OF a preconcerted plan upon the
part OF the leading native chiefs of the
Balinese. Colonel Van Pabst'G column,
after seeing the promises Of the chiefs
executed, was returning TO the lalua-
negara, when 1t was attacked while
fordlng the river by the Balinese, where
hostility was unexpected. The column
only succeeded In regaining the road
to Iakranegara after sharp fighting
and heavy losses. After a harasslng
retreat the Van Pabst column was
approaching 1alraneRara without any
further signs OF the enemy when sud
denly from the walls Of that place,
from every point Of vantage, hall
storm Of bullets was poured into the
column OF the Dutch troops. They were
completely taken by surprise and be
gan 20 faiter. The BaiincBe now opened
fire in the rear. Thus the advance and
the retreat OF the column was alike
cut OF and impossible. The Dutch
troops were completely caught In
rat trap and had II not been that night
fan came 10 their assistance there is
little doubt that the entire detnch-
ment would have beer massaored. rs
II Was under cover OF darkness the
exhausted soldiers, many Of them badly
wounded. succeeded In reaching Am
phanem. The Balinese captured a guam
tlty OF arms. ammunition and provis-
Ions In these engagements and also
captured the guns and effects OF Gem
efal Van Hunts force. they having
been abandoned in order to save the
wounded.
The news OF the loss sustained by
the Dutch forces has cauHed great
excitement throughout Holland and II
IS believed that when the losses Of the
Van Pabst and the Bylvclt columns
are added to those sustained by the
veiter columns, the loss in killed. ]
wounded and missing Will be over 300
men.
II is admitted. even In military cir
cles, that the almost simultaneous de- |
feat Of the three columns OF troops II
the most severe reverse which the |
Dutch army has susthined a. the hands |
OF savage troops IN all the wars, even
the Aichin campaign.
The people are ciamoring for the
latest news from I.ambok ana the I
government IL urged q promptly dis
patch the strongest reinforcements pos
iAhls 10 that island. The governor or |
fhe Dutch Indies. General Wander 1
wick, has summoned a council OF inc
naval and military commanders, who (
are deier.ninink upon decisive meas
mes 10 he taken in order 70 wipe out /
me defeats OF the Dutch troops