The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-30

The Hague, Aug. 29-The official
jodrnal today publishes a dis
patch showing that the disaster to the
Dutch forces operating against the Ra-
jah of the island of Nambok, near
Java, were much more serious than at
first supposed.
The dispatch says that General Vet
ter, the commander of the expedition,
was surprised at IL o'clock at night
near the Tjakra Negara. The firing
was continuous until morning, and the
Dutch, in this engagement, lost four
teen killed and fifty-fivc wounded. AS
the water supply OF the column failed
and foraging was impossible, the Dutch
troops were compelled to retreat to-
ward Mataran, the capital of the
island. During the retreat, the Dutch
lost .heavily, being continually har-
assed by the natives, and at one por-
ton of the route they found that bar
riers had been raised.
The distractions were so stoutly de-
Tended by the native warriors that the
troops were unable to force a passage,
and were consequently compelled to
make long detour in order to avoid
; the blockaded route, and in so doing
they lost more men.
The Dutch succeeded in reaching
Ampenan on August q with a total Of
casualties far in excess of the number
at first reported. The killed numbered
four officers and fifty-three- men; there
were twelve officers and 154 men
wounded and six officers and 14S men
missing.
But this is not all. It 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 Vanpabst and
Blyett.
Five steamers carrying troops and
field guns leave Batavia, Java, for
Lornbok tomorrow, and every effort
will be made to retrieve the disaster to
the Dutch army.
Preconcerted Plan.
Later advices from Lombok say the at
tacks upon the different columns of Dutch
troops were the result Of a preconcerted
plan on the part of the leading native
column. after seeing the promises of the
cbiefs executed, was returning to the
Jakara, when it was attacked while ford
ing the river Bahak by the Balinez, whose
hostility was unexpected. The column only
succeeded in regaining the road toJakara
after sharp fighting ard heavy loss. After
harassing retreat, the Vaupabst column
was approaching the Jakara without see
ing any further signs of the enemy when
suddenly from the walls of the place, from
age a hailstoIm of bullets We're poured
into the column of Dutch troops The
latter were completely taken by surprise,
ard began to falter. To make matters
worse, the Baiinez had no sooner opened
fight upon the head of the column than
its rear was also exposed to a terrible
rifle fire. Thus the advance and retreat
of the column were alike cut off and
made impossible.
In Rat-Trap.
The Dutch troops were completely
caught in a rat-rap arabush and had it
not been that the nightfall came to their
assistance, there is little doubt that the
entire. detachment would have been mas
sacred.
As it was under cover of darkness, the
exhausted soldiers, many Of them badly
wounded. succeeded in reaching Ampenan.
The lSalinez captured a quantity of arms,
ammunition and provisions in these en-
gagementS and also captured the guns
and effects of General Vanpabst's force
they having been abandoned in order to
News Of the loss sustained by the Dutch
forces has caused great excitement
throughout Holland, and it is believed
when the losses of Vanpabst and Byle-
welt columns are added to those sustained
by the Netter columns, the loss in killed.
wounded and missing will be over 800
men.
A Staggering Blow.
Ii 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 sus-
taired at the hands of savage troops in
ali its wars fought.
The people are clamoring for the latest
news from Lombok and the government
is urged to promptly dispatch the strong
est endorsements possible to the island
The govrnor-g general of the Dutch Indians.
General Van Widjk, has summoned a
council of the naval and military COM
Iranders, who are determined upon the
decisive measures to be taken in order
to wipe out the defeats Of the Dutch
tr.oo