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Moluccas.

Appendix No. 9.

NETHERLANDS.

Moluccas had formerly the following forts :-

3rd Class.-Fort Nieuw Victoria.

Redoubt Watter Battery.

Waijnitoe. Batoe-Gantong.

Amboina.

4th Class-Redoubt Fort Duurstede, at Saparoca.

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Hoorn at Pillauw.

Fort Amsterdam, at Hila.

Blockhouse Fort Rotterdam, at Larieke. Redoubt Fort Defensie, at Kayeli.

Fort Overburg, at Loehoe.

Redoubt at Wahaaij.

3rd Class.-Fort Belgica.

Fort Nassau.

Voorzigtigheid Battery.

4th Class.-Fort Concordia, at Waayer.

Banda

3rd Class.-Fort Oranje, at Ternate.

Ternate.

4th Class.-Fort Barneveld, at Banjan.

Small fort, Dodinga.

All the third class, with exception of Nieuw Victoria, Amboina, Fort Orange, at Ternate, and Fort Amsterdam, at Menado, have been disclassed; Fort Belgica reduced to fourth.

Nearly all the fourth class forts have also disappeared from the classification.

This group is garrisoned by local battalion of 900 men, and one company of artillery between Amboina and Banda.

Naval Guard.-Two sea-steamers, six guns each, and six armed cutters.

Amboina is a Government coaling-station.

It should, however, be stated that some of the ships of the military marine are always on duty at these out-stations.

The Makassar group of places would, if strong enough, command the Makassar channels.

Besides the regular troops, these islands possess nearly 3,000 local Scutterij, between the Celebes and Molucca groups; they are classed as Europeans, but are mostly native freemen or half-castes, and nearly half are only pikemen.

Timor Group in 1860 List had--

4th Class.-Fort Concordia, Koepang.

Redoubt at Atapoepoe.

Redoubt at Larentuca.

Timor Group.

All since disclassed. Nothing is known of present garrison.

Naval Guard.-Three armed cutters.

Timor is a Government coaling-station.

There appear to be no posts on the line of islands between Timor and Java.

General Remarks.

In terminating this account of the Dutch East Indies we venture to make a few remarks on the whole situation. Something has already been said of the defensive and aggressive powers of the Dutch at the present moment, to which we may add the following considerations.

There is at present no first class naval station in Java, either as a port, an arsenal, or a fortress; but, by improving upon nature, Soerabaia and Tjilatjap, and, by purely artificial means, Batavia might be made so.

Indeed, there appears to be little or no limit, but expense, to the multiplication of artificial harbours of the Tanjong-Priok class, viz.: a basin scooped out of the low flat coast, the river mouth and silting channel bar being avoided, but at the same time the inner deeper waters of the stream utilised by a connecting canal.

Although Java is not first class as regards fortresses, coast or land, the Dutch East India navy is respectable, and the army, considering the distance from European depôts and reserves, and considering the local difficulties of landing, and nature of the country, would be formidable if the burden of Atchin were removed.

To attack Java in its political centre, we must aim at Batavia; in its chief naval resources, at Soerabaia; in its military strength, at Samarang and the central highlands.

The enterprises against the outer islands must depend greatly upon the motives which time and occasion may produce; but although there are no first or even second class defences anywhere, and the troops, distributed in their small forts, are intended rather for defence against internal than external foes, there is hardly any station of importance where the local garrison, with their artillery, assisted by the marine, all of which carry rifled guns and breech-loaders, would not even now require to be con-

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