The Expedition to Ketapang Doewa (15 February 1874) was the Dutch attack made on 15 February 1874, three days after the Expedition to Bital (12 February 1874), against the fortified kampong of Ketapang Doewa southwest of the Kraton. The Dutch attacked with a larger force than at Bital, captured the height, and then abandoned it again. Because of that, the event became one of the best-known examples used by critics of Jan van Swieten.
A larger follow-up attack
After the unsatisfying result at Bital, the Dutch mounted another operation. This time the force was much larger. Borel wrote that six half-battalions of infantry, supported by artillery and cavalry, were used. He thought this force was too large for the object and still not used in the best way.
The battle
The Dutch attacked frontally across open ground toward the kampong and its high edge. The Acehnese defenders fired from the tree line and obstacles around the position. The Dutch pressed forward, took losses, and finally carried the height.
This success was important in a purely local sense. The high ground commanded the western side of the approach to the Kraton, and a permanent post there could have eased pressure on the Dutch center.
Abandonment of the gain
That is what made the next step so controversial. Instead of holding the height, the Dutch withdrew again. Borel argued that this gave away one of the main advantages of the success. In his view, the position could and should have been turned into a permanent post.
How Brutus used the event
Brutus also used Ketapang Doewa to criticize Van Swieten. He argued that about half of the entire expeditionary force had been used that day, which showed how much strength the Dutch still possessed. Yet, after the enemy had been driven back, the troops simply came to rest instead of pursuing the retreating defenders.
Brutus also argued that the operation helped Toekoe Nek, but did not solve the larger military problem. The Dutch won the field and then left the enemy space to recover.
Significance
The Expedition to Ketapang Doewa is significant because it turned into a symbol of unfinished victory. The Dutch could attack, carry the ground, and still fail to convert success into lasting control. For critics of the second expedition, Ketapang Doewa stood beside Bital and Battle of Lampoe Oek (16 April 1874) as proof that the campaign had not gone far enough.
See Also
- Second Aceh Expedition (1873-1874)
- Expedition to Bital (12 February 1874)
- Ketapang Doewa
- Kraton of Aceh
- Toekoe Nek Radja Moeda Setia
- Battle of Lampoe Oek (16 April 1874)
- Open Letter by Brutus to General Knoop
- Jan van Swieten
- 15 February
- 1874
Source
Onze vestiging in Atjeh, critisch beschreven, by G. F. W. Borel (The Hague: D. A. Thieme, 1878), pp. 44–47, 54–57.
Open brief aan den Generaal Knoop over de Atjeh-kwestie (naar aanleiding van den brief van Generaal Van Swieten in Het Vaderland), door Brutus (L. van Bakkenes en Co., 1874), pp. 18–19.