Korte Mededeelingen.
Sept. 1913].
At Tjimahi, which is some six miles from Bandoeng on the rail to
Batavia, is the first mountain battery of the new composition, its
armament being four Krupp guns.
The small wars in New Guinea and Sumatra seem endless and are
not taken very seriously by the authorities, but regarded more in the
light of training for the real thing. A Dutch subaltern of eleven
years' service, the possessor of two medals, told me that though he
had seen „much shooting and shouting" he had spent most of his
service in a fort. This in Sumatra. Manoeuvres in Java seem unknown,
and the splendid terrain for practising warfare is wasted. Occasionally
I met officers in the most unexpected places engaged on what appeared
to be a „staff tour". I cannot help thinking that I was an object of
greater interest to those whom I thus came across than the work on
which they were engaged.
As the nature of the fighting in Sumatra and New-Guinea is all
bush warfare, the transport question is a difficult one. Until lately
this was solved by the employment of convict coolie labour, and the
system worked very satisfactorily. Perhaps it is not so surprising that
there were no desertions from among these convicts when it is remem
bered that the Papuan of New Guinea is a cannibal. The Dutch do
not appear to give much consideration to the possibility of war opera
tions taking place in Java itself, so the necessity of sticking to the
roads and railways does not worry them. The principal roads are
splendid. The railway service on the other hand leaves a good deal to
be remedied, so it is said, next year when one train at least is to run
through from Batavia to Soerabaya in the twenty-four hours. At
present the journey must be broken at Djockjacarta. But for the
railways, and for the good roads and the steam trams which run along
them, coolie transport would be imperative. The whole of the eastern
half of the island consists of impassable morass and paddy fields, and
the western, more mountainous part presents if anything still greater
difficulties to free movement. Yet curiously enough, in spite of two
hundred and twenty days rain in the year, the climate is good, only
the seaports being feverstricken. Off the main road three bamboos
serve anywhere as a bridge, a German building pukka bridges all
over his property caused much amusement as no vehicles or animal
transport ever made use of them.
Kations for the troops are all ready packed in tins containing three
days' food per man. These however are never issued but for active
service. Apart from his arms I never saw a soldier carry anything
additional except his cape and a water-bottle, the latter is frequently
carried when off duty, presumably as a precaution against cholera.
Wireless telegraphy is being established everywhere. On my return
journey I was told they have it at Balikpapan (Dutch Borneo) and
even at Sambilan or Tarakan island, which lies to the South of British
North Borneo. Altogether the authorities are very go-ahead with their
schemes for the beterment of the people.
Heavy export duties provide the money for free education and Go-
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