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Appendix No. 9.
Elmoment.›
NETHERLANDS.
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544
Palembang.
Palembang partakes of the character of the rest of the Sumatra East Coast, but there are con- siderable towns on the river banks and more populous Settlements.
The 1860 List had the following forts :-
3rd Class.--1. Fort Dalem or Kraton, at Palembang.
4th Class.-2. Redoubt at Lahat.
3. Defensive camp at Tebing-Tinggi.
4. Redoubt at Moeara-roepit.
5.
6.
"
7.
8.
""
9.
12
Moeara-doea. Batoe-radja-ogan. Mocara-bliti.
Moeara-kompeh. Djambi.
Fort Dalem was reduced to third class in 1879.
Of the fourth class forts only 2, 3, and 9 are now retained.
Garrison. A garrison battalion of 1,000 men distributed between Palembang, head-quarters* Tebbing-Tinggi, Lahat, Djambi, and Bandar.
Artillery. The 19th Company garrison: Palembang, Bandar, Lahat.
There are three havens: Palembang, Moera Kompeh, and Djambi, but their class is not given. The river at Palembang could be easily defended, it is said, and the post of Tebbing-Tinggi, to which it is proposed to retire in case of reverse, is far up the river; it is considered with a garrison of 1,200 men it would require an expedition of 4,000 to successfully master this position.
The Palembang territory is considered to be next in value after West Coast and Banka. Palembang is a Government coaling-station.
Naval Guard-One river steamer, six guns, and one armed cutter.
Dutch writers point out that in the river mouths and islands of the Palembang Coast, with the channels between Banka and Billiton, there are positions from which an enemy might assail Java, and form depôts and a refuge for his fleets; it has therefore been proposed to make an outwork of this line so that if the enemy once became committed to a contest here the scene would be removed from Java itself.
The whole position is very capable of defence, and the Carimata Channel is comparatively narrow for deep draught ships, so that a line could be defended from Sumatra to Borneo covering the inner position.
The 1860 List gives the following forts :- 3rd Class.-Fort Kroonprins at Riow.
4th Class-Redoubt at Siak.
Riow.
Both of these are retained; the Riow Fort is on a hill near the harbour which, however, is useless for large ships of war; still, if this group were seriously fortified, it would be a menace to Singapore.
Garrison. The Riow garrison company 150 men.
Artillery-12th Company garrison, part.
Naval Guard.--One river steamer, four guns, two dispatch-boats.
Riow is a coaling-station, and has one third class haven besides others.
Banka and Billiton.
Banka and Billiton has in the 1860 List the following forts :-
4th Class.-Redoubt at Jeboes.
Blinjoe. Soengieliat.
Ratoe-Roessak.
"}
>>
""
Pangkal Pinang.
""
"
Blockhouse at Toboalij.
Soengeislan.
Koba.
Redoubt at Tandjong Pandang.
Defensive watch-house at Sidjoek.
All but the last still retained; they are, however, only posts for keeping the miners in order. The present garrison of Banka is—
Banka garrison battalion 530 men.
Artillery.-Part of 12th Garrison Company.
Billiton has a local company of sixty men.
On account of the value of the tin mines, Dutch writers recommend the serious defence of these islands by establishing blockhouses at the landing places and more serious defences inland, with posts for 1,300 men; it is believed 4,000 to 5,000 men would then be required to master the islands.
Billiton is a Government coaling-station.
Naval Guard.-Between the islands two dispatch and six armed cutters; four boats are deficient.
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