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NETHERLANDS.
The population of Madura is considered to furnish the best native troops, and the numbers of the Appendix No. 9. Barissans given above is considerable. The garrison of Soerabaia, crossing the harbour, would also oppose the advance. From the configuration of the shore, it is evident that the fleet in the inner waters, which is supposed to be efficient, or this circuitous route need not be adopted, would be able more or less effectively to enfilade any position taken up opposite to Soerabaia. It therefore becomes a question whether a force sufficient to attain any substantial advantage might not as well be landed on the mainland at once.
4. If a landing were effected on the west side, say at some point near Cape Panka, beyond the shoal water, it is plain that until the Dutch fleet was captured or destroyed, the line of communica- tion between the landing place and Soerabaia on the Grissee road would be constantly exposed. Another objection is, that the depôt would be on an open coast, with uncertain facilities for landing. Supplies also would be deficient, the interior being unproductive on this side.
5. It is therefore generally assumed by the Dutch writers that a landing which did not combine with it the forcing a way into the harbour, would be made at Pasoroean or some similar point to the east- ward. Here there is comparatively sheltered water and facilities for supplies. The Soerabaia fleet, sup- posing it confined to the inner waters, could not interfere with the communications or attack the flank of the army, the difficulties remaining being those which would be caused by the inundations and field works which might be thrown up. There are at present no permanent works on the south side of Soerabaia. The new element recently introduced by the formation of the railway renders an attack on this side advantageous when a landing has been effected and the railway captured, but disadvan- tageous for a landing in so far as the assailants would be exposed to an earlier arrival and concentra- tion of Dutch troops.
Some of the proposals for the defence of Soerabaia may be mentioned.
The numerous propositions for the defence of the approaches by water are of little practical interest until the channels themselves are settled by the projected improvements, but generally they may be said to include suggestions to narrow the channels by the erection of stone dams so as to confine even low-draught ships to a contracted entrance, and suggestions for the erection of works at the end of the dams on shore, or on sand banks in mid-channel in strength proportionate to the depth of water under their guns and consequent size of the ships which would there attempt to force the passage, all systems suppose the active support of the fleet, which should include as many low-draught gun-boats as possible.
The proposals for the defence of the land approaches include most of those already mentioned under previous ports, such as the use of light batteries and emplacements to oppose landing. It may be mentioned here that although horse artillery batteries are really suggested, such a force does not at present exist in Java. The taking advantage of the low-lying nature of the country by destroying the causeways, and also by improving the channels and sluices so as to inundate it both by sea and inland water. With a moderate amount of labour it is pointed out both the dock-yard works and even the whole town of Soerabaia might be surrounded by a wet ditch 200 yards wide; the importance of the bridges across the Solo on the west, and the Porrong on the east, is specially emphasized; the creation of a distinct rayon by the destruction of some of the suburban villas is recommended; to these measures it is also proposed to add the collection at points in the interior of so much absolutely necessary warlike stores that the investment and even capture of Soerabaia would, while the main army remained comparatively intact, be productive of no decisive result. The creation of points of strategic importance by the introduction of the railway, which were necessarily left unnoticed by the old writers, is obvious; the Porrong River has become more than ever important on account of its railway bridge; at Banggil the connection with Malang is cut off; on reaching Sidhardjo, on the River Peketingan, the connection by rail with the other hill stations and Samarang, is cut, and at Modjokerto, where the Brantas separates into the Kalimas and Porrong branches, the connection both by rail and road between Soerabaia and the interior would be intercepted, but the maps we at present have access to of this area are not on a sufficiently large scale to justify our entering into details.
Tjilatjap.
Tjilatjap is a place of small commercial importance compared with the three great ports of North Java, but with the neighbouring Tjitandjoy entrance and river carries on a considerable local trade, the combined harbours form, in fact, the only safe places on the whole of the south coast. The population of Tjilatjap is under 20,000, principally natives, and its chief interest is prospective rather than actual. It has been pointed out by Dutch military writers that the greatest fleet in the world could anchor during three months of the west monsoon in still water in Adhiredjo Bay, and the creation of a great fortified harbour and naval depôt has been for many years, and is still, a subject of constant discussion by them, and has also been seriously considered by the Government. It has already, as will be seen, been to a certain extent fortified.
Nearly the whole of the south coast of Java is rock-bound, and the few beaches and ill-protected bays are so exposed to the unbroken swell of the Indian Ocean that, for the greater portion of the year the whole coast may be said to be unapproachable, and, even at the best seasons, the process of landing is precarious and liable to interruption; the solitary exception created by the Island of Tjilatjap is therefore the more remarkable and valuable.
The Island of Tjilatjap is about 15 miles in length, and about 4 miles in breadth; on its southern side rocky and surf-beaten like the rest of the south coast, but affording in its eastern and western bays and inlets a limited, and in the channels which run behind it, complete protection.
The western inlet leads into the Anakan Lagoon, a shallow inland sea into which the River Tjitando (navigable far into the interior by native ships), and other rivers fall after winding for many miles through the great Rawa, marsh; a narrow and winding tiaal channel connects the Anakan Lagoon with the head of the Tjilatjap harbour, on the northern side of which, and opposite the eastern
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