The Concentrated Line (Geconcentreerde Linie) was a defensive military strategy introduced by Governor Henry Demmeni in 1884 to reduce colonial expenditures in Aceh.
Strategy and Infrastructure
The strategy abandoned outer military posts, retreating Dutch forces into a compact ring of 16 heavily fortified redoutes around Kota Raja.
The posts were interconnected by an armed steam tramway network (ceintuurbaan), telephone lines, and tactical roads, fronted by a 1,000-meter cleared zone (1000 M. strook) to prevent surprise attacks. The system remained the core Dutch defensive layout until the Treason of Teuku Umar in 1896.
See Also
Source
De expeditiën naar Atjeh 1873-1874, W.W.F. Herfkens, Koninklijke Militaire Academie, 1900, pp. 77-78.