Nuhou, Volume II, Number 8, 8 August 1873 — The War in Sumatra. THE HOLLAND-ATCHINESE STRUGGLE-THE FIELD OF ACTION. [ARTICLE]

The War in Sumatra.

THE HOLLAND-ATCHINESE STRUGGLE-THE FIELD OF ACTION.

A remarkable incident in modern colonial history is reported from the East Indian Archipelago. A considerable force of European has been defeated, and is now held in check by the army of a native State. The island of Sumatra is for the most part in the possession of the Dutch; but there remains at least two native States in the northern and northeastern portions of the island. That in the north is the State of Achen or Atchin. On the 26th of last month the Dutch formally declared war against the Atchinese, and on the 12th of April they were reported to be meeting with some success. They had captured two Atchinese earthworks, and were planning an advance on the Sultan's place. Even then, however, they seem to have found their task more formidable than they had anticipated, as they were said to have telegraphed to Batavia for reinforcements. Five days later it was announced that they had suffered a reverse. After capturing some small earthworks they had attempted to storm the chief citadel of the Atchinese, and they were repuIsed. The fighting was "most desperate," the losses excessive, and the General in command of the Dutch was killed. "Craton," which seems to be the name of this chief citadel, is said to be provided with artillery of large calibre, and to be occupied by a numerous garrison. They made a desperate defense; and it was not with the garrison only that the Dutch had to deal. Outside the fortress they were assailed on all sides by numerous bands, and they had to send for both military and naval reinforcements. They have since been obliged to abandon their enterprise altogether for the pres-

ent. At a council of war held in front of Atchin, it was unanimously agreed that after the losses they had sustained their position was untenable, and it was decided to suspend the expedition till the autumn. The principal reason assigned for this resolution, however, is the approach of the monsoon. This violent wind might interrupt for weeks all communication with the shore, and thus render it impossible to convey supplies to the troops. All that can be done for the present is to maintain the blockade of the coast. The Atchinese, therefore, have for the moment gained a decisive victory. Their enemy is not only defeated, but compelled to withdraw. It must seem very strange that the Dutch should have so signally miscalculated their powers. The State of Atchin, indeed, is not much known in Europe. One of the last and best gazetteers states that it was formerly a powerful kingdom, but is now nearly extinct. When the Portuguese first reached Sumatra, in 1509, they found the territory around Atchin ruled by a powerful king, and were prevented obtaining a footing in the neighborhood. The Dutch were more fortunate a hundred years later; they were received by the King or Sultan, and Atchinese ambassadors accompanied them on their return. This kingdom, in short, has been powerful ever since Sumatra has been known, and the Dutch, one would think, should have been well acquainted with its resources. It has a fair trade, and, according to these accounts, the people have found means to possess themselves of powerful artillery. The natives of Sumatra are chiefly Malays; but those in the northern part of the island, near Atchin, are described as a finer race than the other tribes. They are taller, stouter, and of darker complexion than the rest, and are supposed to have a considerable infusion of Hindoo blood. They are Mohomedans of a somewhat irregular type. It is not a little remarkable that a people thus comparatively uncivilized should have inflicted so severe a check on a European force. The Dutch have gradually extended their territory in the island by taking advantage of the feuds of petty chiefs, and the Atchinese must have conducted their preparations with great cunning to have so completely surprised their adversaries. Of course there can be but one conclusion to the struggle. The Atchinese may enjoy their victory until the autumn, though the blockade of their coasts will destroy their trade, and possibly they may retaliate upon the Dutch settlements in the interior. But when danger from the monsoon is over and autumn arrives, the Dutch Government will not fail to have collected a sufficiently large force to insure success, and resistance must be crushed. It is impossible to witness, without melancholy, these last struggles of native races against the ad-

vancing force of European powers. It is the same story, whatever the particular degree of disproportion, whether natives be semi-civilized Malays or wild Modoc Indians. They inflict their revenge from time to time, but they are sternly overpowered at the last. We are not yet informed what was the cause of the quarrel between the Dutch and their Malay neighbors; but it may easily be supposed that the Malays view the power of the Dutch with standing suspicion, and that occasions of dispute are only too ready to hand. The Dutch, however, have generally dealt with their colonies in a spirit which is not well calculated to allay any such jealousies. Atchin, indeed, was not a dependency of theirs; but its relation toward them is likely to be materially affected by the general feeling respecting them in the island, and they have not hitherto shown much disposition to adopt the only policy which can disarm native opposition. The Dutch colonies have not, in one sense of the world, been colonies at all. They been established and maintained almost wholly for the sake of the profit which could be derived from them for the mother country.-London Times. Later information confirms the report that the Government of Holland has retired from the contest; has recognized the independence of Atchin and has agreed to defray the expenses of the war. Never before in the history of Asiatic warfare was a European Power so humiliated. EDITOR NUHOU