Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-15
DEFENDS DUTCH ARMY.
Officer Explains Killing of Women and
Children.

New York, Aug. 14.-An interesting
explanation of the killing of large num-
bers of women and children in the re-
cent lighting between the Dutch eXpedi-
tnons and the natives in North Suma-
| ira. is given by Col H. F. c. Van Byle-
welt, retired officer of the Dutch East
Indian army, who has just arrived here.
Col. Bylevelt has had 80 years of active
service in the Dutch East Indies, and
comes to America to place his son i'll
college.
"Im the first place. he said, today,
these fights did not occur at Atjeh. or
! Achin, as it is usually called in Eng
| land, but small expedition of about
| 200 men, under Lieut.. Col. Van Daalen.
was sent to Gajoe and the Alasands.
parts of North Sumatra, but not be-
| longing to Achin. The Alas natives are
well armed but their rifles do not carry
as far as those of our troops, and in or
| der to overcome this disadvantage, their
| leaders. being well aware of the disin-
clnation of our men to harm women
and children, placed them in front of
| their fighting line as a living screen.
THE women and children are some
| times armed and have often fired at our
troops. Sheltered by this screen, the
natives often allow our men to APP
proach within point-blank range Of
| their position. Then they discharge an
overwhelming fire. In almost all en-
gagements, they have followed the same
tactics. though repeatedly warned by
our officers. AS a rule our troops with
| hold their fire as long as possible, but
| they dare not run the risk of being
overwhelmed by a sudden rush of the
natives from behind their living wall.
| and are often forced to fire regardless
of the women and children
1T should be borne in mind" contin-
| ued Col. Van. Bylevelt, THAT our expe-
ditions have nearly always had to fight
against ten times their number, and al
so that they cannot risk being defeated,
being far distant from the main army
and unable 10 properly care for their
wounded. Although their arms are infe-
rior to ours a few of their vOlleys de-
ll"ered at short range and followed by
Il general attack would. soon overpower
our usually small forces and bring
about the failure of the whole expedi-
ton. which is undertaken for the pur-
pose Of bringing about a better condi-
ton OF Tie natives at large, who too Of
ten are mislead by designing ringlead
ers. Col Won Daalen's expedition is ac-
companied by native guides and by
Radja Patiambang, the legal chief of
the Gajoes
"RegrettabIe as it is, experience has
shown that it is utterly impossible to
induce the natives to abandon their
cowardly tactics of hiding behind their
women and children, and it is equally
impossible that we should abandon our
purpose because of this action.
THE explanation which l have made
was recently given in part by Lieut..
Gen. Van Heutz, military commander
and civil governor Of Achin and depen-
denotes, who, summoned by the Queen.
is now in Holland. From personal eX-
periences covering more than 80 years
in our East Indian army l know that no
one regrets more the killing of women
and children than do our officers and
men, but. unfortunately, it has been
absolutely unavoidable"