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NETHERLANDS.
One writer proposes that to prevent the occupation of the West Hoek of Java as a naval station Appendix No. 9 of the enemy to command the Strait, a strong fort for 500 or 600 men should be placed there. But for a naval station, an advance on Java not being intended, the Sumatra shore seems far more adapted, as the force would not then be exposed to the direct attack of the Java army, which must, to attack it, cross, exposed to the assailant's fleet.
Bantam.--Formerly a flourishing place. 1860 List. The place is a second class haven.
Tanara is only a harbour for coasters. It had formerly a fourth class fort; it has been dis- classed. There is no garrison. The low-lying coast, with marshy interior, between Batavia and Indramajoe, is held unsuitable for many reasons for a landing.
Had long ago a fort, but it is not even contained in the
There is no garrison.
Indramajoe.-A little distance up the river; here there is, in 1860 List, a fourth class fort, on the left bank; disclassed in 1865. It is a second class haven. There is no garrison.
Cheribon has an old fort, long disclassed, close to beach. It is a first class haven; shares a garrison of eighty regulars with the fort at Palimanang, on the main road to Bandong and Batavia. It was here that the English cut off a part of the troops retreating from Batavia, in 1811. There are roads which would enable troops landing here to march by the hills on Bandong and Batavia, and by the coast to Batavia; but neither of these courses are considered so favourable as landing nearer to Batavia. Other roads cross to the head of the Tjitandoy, which falls into the western harbour of Tjilatjap. At this part of Java, which is the narrowest, and also the richest, the country might be most easily cut in two, and the Batavian army of the west cut off from the Samarang and Soerabaia divisions.
We need not detail the various measures proposed for meeting a landing in this district, as on the whole it is considered unlikely to be adopted, either with a view to march on Batavia, or join hands with Tjilatjap.
The principal is a proposed intrenched camp at Bandong, where, as we know, there is a garrison of half the 18th field battalion.
Tagal, formerly a fourth class fort, has since been disclassed. It is a second class haven, and has no garrison. Much that has been said of Cheribon, about the centre of Java, applies to Tagal. The principal measure proposed is to place a fort in the pass leading to Adjibarang and Banjoemas ; but on the whole a landing here is considered unlikely.
Pekalongan has as many as 30,000 inhabitants; has a "good little fort," no longer classed; there is no garrison; it is a second class haven. This district being forest or waste for the most part, is not considered likely to be the scene of operations.
Japara. We mentioned this place as an alternative landing for an attack on the Samarang area. A landing here presents certain advantages; there is some shelter, owing to the islands, and a more secure depôt could be formed than at Kendal, with its open roadstead. The danger of being attacked whilst landing by troops arriving by rail is lessened. But there are corresponding drawbacks; once landed. Samarang and the line of railway are more distant: the Demak district, with its marches and causeways, is easily defended; but at the same time the flank, in a direct advance towards Willem I, leaving Samarang unattacked, is covered by the obstacle. These and many other combinations are discussed at length by Dutch writers. The chief proposals for the defence are: the destruction of the present fort (fourth class, since disclassed); it is close to shore, north of town, on right bank of small stream, so as not to afford a defence for the enemy's depôt; and the breaking-up of the roads from Japara to Kadoe and the interior, as well as from Kadoe across the Demak lowland to Samarang.
Japara is merely a haven for coasters, and has no garrison.
Jawana had formerly a fourth class fort. Although the whole of the Remabang coast is favour- able for landing, being sandy, a peculiar condition in Java, it is considered that the disadvantages of distance from any valuable point, and the difficult country intervening, render a landing here more disadvantageous than at Japara.
The town of Toeban, on this coast, has 20,000 inhabitants.
The Soerabaia stretch has already been discussed.
Pasoroean has also been mentioned. It has a fourth class fort, disclassed. It is a first class haven. Probolingo is a somewhat better landing than Pasoroean, but the roadstead is subject to squalls. There are the advantages and disadvantages of being further from the Dutch troops, railway, and from the points it is intended to attack.
Probolingo is a second class haven. The fourth class fort has been disclassed. There is no garrison.
Bezoeki. A fourth class fort; second class haven. Garrison not traced; very small, if any. Banjoewangi.—A second class haven. Was formerly a third class fort; has recently been reduced to fourth class. There is a small garrison company of 60 men for this district.* The fort lying behind a sandbank and stream parallel to the shore, does not effectively command the roadstead. The remarks made concerning the west end of Java apply, mutatis mutandis, to the east.
The inhospitable nature of the whole south coast of Java has been already referred to. None of the bays or landing-places, such as they are, are defended, with the exception of Tjilatjap, already discussed, and—
Padjitan. This harbour is visited by a steamer once in two months; no other place in the south coast is visited besides Tjilatjap. It is thus described in "Indian Archipelago Directory:" "Padjitan Bay cannot be considered as an agreeable resort, for ships there must submit to continued heavy rolling, sometimes gunwale under. There are but two places in the bay fit for boats to land; one of these, however, is completely landlocked, but the communication with the chief town, Padjitan, is difficult from the intervening mountains." On the whole, Padjitan seems only likely to be used as a
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* Naval guard, three armed cutters.
6 Y
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