Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-11-14

Of Celebes recalls the fact, overlooked
In quick succession of more momentous
occurrences, that the Netherlands are
still engaged in a war in the Far East
which was begun thirty-three years
ago. This perpetual war is not con-
nected with the Celebes incident. 1t IS
another story and here it is:
At the upper end of the Island of SUI
matra, called the outpost of the Dutch
East Indies, is an ancient and powerful
warlike people called Achinese, who
bear some resemblance to the Malay
race, but are said to have emigrated
about the seventh century from India.
They are now, and have been since the
| thirteenth century, Mohammeddns.
Marco Polo, the irresponsible, visited
the island toward the end of the thir-
teenth century, but the first foreigners
to attempt the settlement and conquest
Of Sumatra were the Portuguese, about
200 years later Achin Is about the
size of Ireland, and has a population of
100000
For 40 years the Portuguese strug-
gled to overthrow the Sultan of Achin,
but those were the days of splendor
and power Of the Sultanate. The Sui
tan carried the war into Malacca and
although he accompanied an armada Of
500 ships, carrying 10000 warriors, to
| the neighboring state, the Dons were
able to defeat the Moslem chieftain in
Malacca. In his own strOngholds in
Achin, they were not so successful, and
retired after an intermittent warfare
lasting close to a century.
The last of the Portuguese had de
parted 100 years before the advance
post of the Dutch made its appear
ance. For more than fifty years the
] Dutch were contented to occupy more
or less peacefully the lower part of
the island, leaving the Sultan Of Achin
to the enjoyment of his own. In the
meantime it happened that the Hindoo
| dynasty in Achin was followed by an
Arab race of rulers, and the Achinese
! degenerated in their civilization. Its
commerce declined, its government be-
came irresponsible, and gave way to
q disordered state bordering on an
archy.
Having been swallowed up in the
| French Empire by Napoleon, the Isl
ands of Sumatra and Java, after the
conqueror's fall, passed to the posses
sion Of England. When Holland once
more became a State, England traded
the Island of Sumatra for Malacca,
an exchange which was welcomed by
both governments.
During the British occupation of Su-
matra the English had established a
sort of friendship with the Sultan of
Achin. The British winked at the
buccaneering and piracy carried on by
the subjects of his Highness, so long
as they did not make a mistake and
capture a British ship, and in return
| for this moral blindness, their good
| friend the Sultan permitted the English
to reside in Achin and develop trade.
In passing title to Holland in treaties
Of 1919 and 1924, the English specially
| stimulated that the Dutch must not
conquer the Sultanate Of Achin. And
the Dutch, however, unwillingly, have
| kept their word.
Achin, while it was for fifty years
an Ell Dorado for the English, was a
source of much discomfort to the
Dutch. There was no responsible gov
eminent at Achin. The Sultan was a
figurehead, and the people were becom-
| ing yearly more proficient in piracy
and buccaneering. Having worked at
these trades until the prospect Of gain
became insignificant, they turned their
attention TO the Dutch end of the
! island.
The AchineSe crossed the frontier
| in large bands and swarmed over the
country. They captured the Dutch ma
tives and sold them for slaves. Their
pirates ravaged the straits and the
China Sea, attacking and plundering
Europeans. The Dutch Indian Gov
ernment therefore, in spite of the trea-
ties, had to send armed forces against
the marauders. In order to protect
their own end of the islands the Dutch
had to maintain men under arms at
| all times.
The northern part of Sumatra is
probably the worst in the world for a
| foreign army to invade. 1t is full of
pitfalls and there are treacherous riv-
err beds. Only the native knows the
| country, and it is small wonder the
| Dutch have been unsuccessful and
| have made little Roadway in their
campaign. Nearly every general sent
out to take command returns TO Europe
defeated and Inundated. Holland is
compelled to keep in her East Indian
| possess ions an army of about 10000
men Most Of these are mercenaries.