The gevecht waarin kapitein Paris sneuvelde was the engagement on the west coast of Atjeh, during the action of 1925–1927, in which Captain J. Paris of the Korps Maréchaussée lost his life together with his brigade commander, and in which the command of the shattered brigade passed successively down the ranks to a wounded Javanese and then a Menadonese maréchaussée. The 1930 jubilee number recorded the episode at length as proof that “de oude geest van het Korps Maréchaussée was bij zijn manschappen blijven voortleven” — the old spirit of the corps had continued to live on among its men.
The setting
The corps had been reduced in 1925 to 18 officers and 1,072 men, the government having judged after the quiet that set in from 1914 that so large an establishment was no longer needed — a reduction in which, the editorial remarked, the policy of versobering (austerity) must have had a hearty word to say. It was in that year that “het op de Westkust van Atjeh opnieuw begon te spoken” — things began to go wrong again on the west coast of Atjeh — and the Westkust action of 1925–1927 opened. The Maréchaussée thereby demonstrated its indispensability afresh.
The fall of the captain and the brigade commander
In the course of the action Captain J. Paris was killed. On the same occasion the brigade-commandant also fell, leaving the brigade without either of its leaders.
Kromo-di-Koro assumes command
The wounded Javanese maréchaussée Kromo-di-Koro thereupon took the command upon himself. He held it until loss of blood threatened to make him collapse. Before handing over, he first gave the order to fire a number of shots into the surrounding alang-alang (cogon grass), in order to drive out any Atjehnese who might be concealed there. He then transferred the command to the Menadonese maréchaussée-soldier Suwoek.
Sumangkut and the fleeing djahat
As a consequence of that fire, the maréchaussée Sumangkut saw a djahat — an evil-doer, the corps’s term for an armed opponent — flee out of the high alang-alang with a klewang in his hand. Being himself severely wounded, Sumangkut could not pursue him, and instead warned Suwoek. Suwoek took up the pursuit, stayed on the fugitive’s heels and brought him down fifty metres further on.
Leleng at the karabijn
A fourth man is named in the account. The maréchaussée-soldier Leleng, who through a wound had lost the use of his left hand, nevertheless took part in the firing into the alang-alang by placing his karabijn between his knees and discharging it with his right hand.
Casualties and result
Of the brigade only two men remained unhurt. Besides Captain Paris, five other soldiers of lower rank were killed, while twelve were more or less severely wounded. Notwithstanding those losses, some twenty kwaadwilligen (ill-disposed persons) were laid low and twenty-six klewangs were captured.
Snell sent from Java
It was after this that Colonel L. A. Snell — “Old Hand” — was sent from Java to the west coast of Atjeh. The jubilee number described him as “een waardig opvolger van overste Graafland; hij heeft diens sporen gedrukt” — a worthy successor of Lieutenant-Colonel Graafland, who had followed in his footsteps. He was greeted with joy by his old, tried comrades in arms, and “maakte met zijn steeds van een glimlach vergezeld gaande bevelen een eind aan het verzet” — with his orders, always accompanied by a smile, he made an end of the resistance.
When in 1925 it had been decided to send experienced rimboe-officers (jungle officers) from Java to the west coast, attention had fallen at once on Captain Snell, the old Atjeh campaigner who during sixteen years had more than earned his spurs — “een old hand,” as the press called him, a nickname he retained in the army, and the choice was generally applauded.
Aftermath
Towards the end of 1927, the government having recognised that the safety of Atjeh did not permit economies on the Maréchaussée, the corps was again raised to 23 officers and 1,214 men, and a new division was formed with Bakongan as its station.
See Also
- J. Paris
- Kromo-di-Koro
- Suwoek
- Sumangkut
- Leleng
- L. A. Snell
- Westkust Resistance (1925-1927)
- Korps Maréchaussée te voet in Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden
- Brigade (Maréchaussée)
Source
Het Korps Maréchaussée in Atjeh: De Atjehsche Garde, 1890 - 2 April 1930, Extra Jubileum-nummer of Het Nieuws van den Dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië issued for the fortieth anniversary of the corps (1930), pp. 1-16. Offprint DLP-143, Bibliotheek KITLV, accession 621 116 794.