Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-30
DUTCH TROOPS SLAIN.
Utter ROut Of the Expedition Against
the Ratah Of LOmbok.

the RatnA Of LOmbOk.
The Ofhcial Journal OF The Hague, Hol-
land. yesterday published a dispatch which
shows that the disasters to the Dutch
forces operating against the Rajah Of the
Island Of Lombok. near Java. were much
more serious than at first supposed. In ad-
dition to the death of Gen. Van Harm and
the defeat OF his column. already reported,
II now appears that two other columns of
Dutch troops operating upon the same
island have sustained heavy Losses and en-
cured much suffering.
These are the columns commanded by
Coils Van Pabst and Bylevet Their losses
are not stated. but they are admitted to be
heavy. Col Van Pabst WIS among the Of
ficers killed with his column. It il thought
that all three columns lost between It's and
30 men killed Five steamers carrying
troops and guns leave Batavia, Java, for
Lombok today, and every effort viii be
made to retrieve the disaster to the Dutch
arms.
Later advices received from Lombok say
that the attacks upon the different columns
of Dutch troops were the result of a precon-
certed plan upon the part Of the leading
native chiefs of the Balinez natives. Col
Van Pabst's column, after seeing the prom
ises of the chiefs executed, was returning to
the Jakra Negara, when 1t was attacked
while fording the river Babak by the Bal
iucZy WnOSe uOStlilty was unexpected. The
column only succeeded in regaining the
road to Tjakara Nekara after sharp fighting
and heavy losses.
After a harrassing retreat. the Van Pabst
without seeing any further signs of the
enemy, when suddenly, from the walls of
that place. from every loophole and every
point OF vantage. hail storm OF bullets
poured into the column Of Dutch troops
The latter were completely taken by sur
prise and began to falter. To make mat
tiers worse, the Balinez had no sooner opeu-
ed fire upon the head Of the column than
fire. Thus the advance and the retreat of
the column were alike cut on and impos-
sible. The Dutch troops were completely
caught In a rat-trap ambush. and, had 1t
not been that nightfau came to their as
sistance, there is little doubt that the entire
detachment would have been massacred
As 1t was, under cover OF the darkness a
few bodies Of exhausted soldiers, many Of
them badly wounded, succeeded In reaching
Ampenan.
The Balinez captured a quantity Of arms,
ammunition and provisions In the engage
ments and also captured the guns and et
fects of Gen. Van Harms force. they having
been abandoned In order to save the
wounded.
The news of the loss sustained by the
Dutch forces has caused great excitement
throughout Holland, and it is believed that
when the losses Of the Van Pabst and Byle-
welt columns are added to those sustained
by the Netter columns the loss in killed,
wounded and missing will be over 500 men.
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 sustain
ed at the hands OF savage troops In all the
wars, even the Atchin campal;us ever
fought.
The people are clamoring for the latest
news from Lombok, and the government is
urged to promptly dispatch the strongest
reinforcements possible 70 that island. The
encouragement of the Dutch Indies Gen
Van der Wijick. has summoned a council Of
the naval and military commanders, who
are determining upon the decisive measures
to be taken In order to wipe out the defeats
Of the Dutch troops.