The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-08-30
TUE DUTCH LOSE HEAVILY.
Meet With Defeat From the Raiah's
Forces on Nambok Island.

Meet With Defeat From the Rajah's
Forces on Nambok Island.
THE HAGUE, Aug. 29.-The official
journal to-day publishes dispatch stat
ing that the losses of the Dutch forces
operating against the Rajah OF Nambok,
near Java, were much more serious than
at first supposed. The dispatch says that
General Vetter, the commander of the
expedition, was surprised at IL o'clock
at night near the Tjakara Negara. The
stiring was continuous until morning, and
the Dutch in this engagement lost four
teen killed and fifty-hve wounded. AS
the water supply of the column failed,
and foraging was impossible, the Dutch
troops were compelled to retreat toward
Maram, the Capital of the island. Dur
ing the. retreat the Dutch lost heavily,
being continually harassed by the ma
tives, and at one portion of the route they
found that barriers had been raised.
The distractions were so stoutly defended
by the native warriors that the troops
were unable to force passage, and were
consequently compelled to make a long
detour in order to avoid the blockaded
route. and in so doing they lost more
men. The Dutch succeeded in reaching
Ampaman on August 2lst, with total of
casualties far in excess of the number
first mentioned.
1t now appears that two other columns
of Dutch troops operating upon the same
island have sustained heavy losses and
endured much suffering. These are the
columns commanded by Colonels Van
Pabst and Bylenelt. Steamers carrying
troops and held guns leave Batavia for
Nambok tomorrow, aud every effort
will be made to relieve the disaster to the
Dutch army.
| Later advices from Nambok say the at
tacks upon the different columns of
Dutch troops were the result of pre-
concentrated plan on the part OF the lead
ing native chiefs in Balinez Colonel
Van Pabst's column, after seeing the
promises of the chiefs executed, was re-
turning to the Tjakara, when it was at
tackled while iording the river by
natives from Balinez, whose hostility
| was unexpected. The column only sue
ceeded i'll regaining the road to Tjakara
after sharp fighting andiheavy loss.
After a harassing retreat, the Van
Pabst column was approaching Ijakara
| without seeing any further signs of the
| enemy, when suddenly from the walls of
the place, from every loophole and every
| point of vantage, q hailstorm of bullets
| were poured into the column of Dutch
| troops. The latter was completely taken
| by surprise and began to faIter. 70
make matters worse, the Balinez had no
| sooner ODtucQ upOii tut uCduS vi L16
| column. than its rear was also exposed
| to a terrible fire. Thus the advance and
! retreat of the column We're alike cut off,
| and made escape an impossibility. The
| Dutch troops were completely caught i'll
| a rat-trap ambush, and had it not been
that nightfall came to their assistance
there is little doubt that the entire de-
| tachment would have been massacred.
AS it was, under cover of darkness, the
exhausted soldiers, many of them badly
wounded, succeeded in reaching
Ampaman.
The Balinez captured a quantity of
arms, ammunition and provisions in
these engagements, and also captured the
guns and effects of General Van Pabst's
force, they having been abandoned in
order to save the wounded.
News of the loss sustained by the
Dutch forces has caused great excitement
throughout Holland, and it is believed
when the> losses of the Van Pabst and
ByIevelt columns are added to those sus-
tanned by the Vetter column, the loss in
killed, wounded and missing will be
over 500.
1t is admitted, even in military circles,
that the almost simultaneous defeat OF
the three columns of troops is the most
severe reverse which the Dutch army has
sustained at the hands of savage troops
in all its wars ever fought.
The people are clamoring for the latest
news from Nambok, aud the Government
is urged to promptly dispatch the strong
est endorsements possible TO the island.