The Expedition against Simpang Olim and Tandjong Semantoh of November-December 1876 was the Dutch military expedition against the two hostile coast-states of Simpang Olim and Tandjong Semantoh on the east coast of Atjeh, led by Major-general A. J. E. Diemont, who had succeeded Wiggers van Kerchem on 6 November 6 November 1876. The expedition culminated in the storming of the chief place of Tandjong Semantoh on 14 November 14 November, in the carrying of the impregnable hill-benting of Toekoe Paja by a single officer, A. G. Popelier, and six Ambonese soldiers, and in the deposition and banishment of the radja of Simpang Olim on 12 December 12 December.
Background
The Dutch government wished in this period to act vigorously against two states on the east coast that had remained hostile — Simpang Olim and Tandjong Semantoh. A favourable opportunity presented itself to do damage to those states, because another prince in that region, Toekoe Moeda Angkasa, had been driven from his country, Merbau, by these two, and wished nothing more than to take revenge and, with Dutch help, to recover what he had lost. The government held that he should be strongly supported, and gave the commander in Atjeh to understand “that the government as little wished that Toekoe Moeda Angkasa should be defeated, as that he should conquer without our assistance; if possible, troops should therefore be sent to the Arakoendoer-rivier.”
The commander, General Wiggers van Kerchem, was little inclined to reduce further the troop strength at Atjeh, and on a new application, in November, for 350 to 400 men he made objection. This disagreement led to his resignation; his successor, General Diemont, at once took up the expedition with vigour.
The Storming of Tandjong Semantoh, 14 November 1876
On 7 November 7 November [1876] Diemont sent the necessary troops to combine with the navy, which had already taken an active part in the operations, to conquer the two hostile states. As usual the Dutch troops, advancing over all obstacles and receiving “only little real service from the native auxiliary troops,” reached on 14 November 14 November the chief place of Tandjong Semantoh, protected by the hill-benting regarded as impregnable. While the gedei was being stormed by the Dutch, Lieutenant-adjudant A. G. Popelier was ordered to approach the benting with a section. Climbing the south-eastern slope of the hill with only six Ambonese soldiers, he and his men entered the bastion unobserved, and the impregnable benting of Toekoe Paja was carried without loss on the Dutch side — “undeniably a brilliant feat of arms!” The radja of Simpang Olim thereupon offered his submission.
The Conditions and the Radja’s Flight
Diemont imposed the conditions that Dutch troops should be admitted into the gedei of Simpang Olim, that a post should be established there or in the neighbourhood, and that the radja should present himself personally at Kota Radja to offer his submission. The conditions were accepted; the troops, reinforced by a new dispatch from Java, sailed to the mouth of the Simpang-Olim river, to ascend it to the chief place. The strict execution of the radja’s promises, however, left much to be desired. Continually difficulties were put in the way and reasons for delay sought. At last, on 25 November 25 November, the Dutch reached the gedei, where the radja was absent. While a fortification was being erected there, the radja, who continually made difficulties about going to Kota Radja, was granted a last grace period.
At last, when he continued to withdraw from his obligations, on 10 December 10 December an ultimatum was issued, leaving him the choice of going to Atjeh within twenty-four hours or of being declared deprived of his authority. When on 12 December 12 December the chiefs reported that the radja had fled to the interior, a proclamation declared him deprived of his authority and excluded for ever, together with his lineage, from the government of Simpang Olim.
The Treason
That the radja had remained hostile to the Dutch appeared from the fact that on 11 December 11 December the Dutch ally Toekoe Moeda Angkasa was treacherously murdered by one of his handlangers, and that on 13 December 13 December in the evening he had invited his adherents and allies to a feast at Teping Sirin, in order to devise plans for an attack on the Dutch positions.
The Regulation
Before the Dutch troops returned, the affairs were first regulated. The son of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa was appointed radja of Merbau and Tandjong Semantho; by the chiefs a new radja of Simpang Olim was chosen, who on 5 February 5 February 1877 solemnly swore the conditions imposed by the government, whereupon the Dutch flag was given to him. In various places further garrison was laid, and thereupon the other troops returned under Major Burgers to Atjeh on 17 January 17 January [1877]. “The submission of Simpang Olim made a great impression everywhere and confirmed our authority also in the other Onderhoorigheden.”
See Also
- A. J. E. Diemont
- G. B. T. Wiggers van Kerchem
- A. G. Popelier
- Toekoe Moeda Angkasa
- Simpang Olim
- Tandjong Semantoh
- Toekoe Paja
- Merbau
- Arakoendoer
- Teping Sirin
- Murder of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa
- Aceh War
Source
De geschiedenis van Nederland in onzen tijd, by J. A. de Bruyne, Directeur der Hoogere Burgerschool te Zierikzee. Deel IV. 1872-1883. Nieuwe uitgave. Schiedam: J. F. Dupont, 1912, Hoofdstuk I, pp. 79-85.