Kokte Mededeelingen.
[Oct. 1913.
mand native troops. Once out, however, they pay greater attention
to studying etiquette and the likes and dislikes of their seniors than
to getting to know their men. This aloofness and indifference towards
the private soldier is rather enhanced by the existence of general
lists for Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry, resulting in officers never
knowing what their next corps will be or for how long they will be
with it. Officers are liable too for duty in out-of-the-way places in
quasi-civil capacities. Promotion in the Army is slow, on the other hand
the leave rules are liberalone year in Europe after five years' service.
With regard to the pay and emoluments, officers appear to be quite
as well off as those of the Indian Army, if one takes into account
various allowances and indulgences, such as free quarters, free pas
sages home, and the absence of mess subscription.
As to the rank and file. All units are mixed in the rough propor
tion of one European (or Eurasian) to three Javanese. The equipment
of the two classes is identically the same except that the Europeans
wear a short sword. The usual uniform is made of blue serge, the
head-gear a brown straw hat; but on the departure of a unit on active
service khaki uniform and helmets are issued. Bayonets are always
carried fixed. If this is, as 1 understand, with a view of impressing
the native population it appears a very unnecessary measure, as the
islanders are quiet and law-abiding. In some parts men, and women
too, carry krises as part of their national costume. The Dutch East
Indian soldier is the wastrel of Holland who only volunteers for ser
vice in the East when all other jobs fail. The Javanese are enlisted
rather for their docile tractable qualities than for auy love of figh
ting. Their term of enlistment is for six years and service is so popu
lar amongst them, in spite of the small pay, which is about half that
of the Indian sepoy, that men generally re-engage to serve for twelve
or even eighteen years. The best native troops come from the
island of Ceram. These receive the pay and are given the status of
European troops, and are allowed to rise to the commissioned ranks.
The distinctive status of the European soldier does not seem to extend
further than living in separate barracks and being permitted to wear
the short sword mentioned above. In the ranks they are mixed with
natives, they travel in third class railway carriages, and are at all times lia
ble to be commanded bij native non-commissioned officers. From what I
saw I cannot think that the Javanese rank and file are as fit, active, and
ready for service as the men of our Indian Army, although they gave me
the impression of being generally more intelligent. Every individual
can read and write on enlistment. The mixed class system seems to
work well. The very strict discipline which is mantained may be the
secret of this being so. At the same time it is questionable whether
the punishment awarded always fit the crime; e.gtwo froms of
punishment for trivial offences arecleaning the latrines and being pro
hibited from looking an officer in the face for a period of three months.
The principal military stations are Batavia, Tjimahi, the military
„Centrum" and sanatorium, Djoekjacarta, Solocarta, and Soerabaya.
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