The Landing at Kwala Loë on 9 December 1873 was the amphibious operation by which the Dutch forces of the Second Expedition, under Lieutenant-General Van Swieten, came ashore on the east bank of the Atjeh river at the point known as Kwala Loë, beginning the campaign that would culminate in the capture of the Kraton on 24 January 1874. The landing met almost no resistance. Though the troops were received at the beach by some musketry, this did no damage and the enemy soon fled.
Choice of Landing Site
The landing was to take place east of the Atjeh river, not west, for two reasons: first, less resistance was expected on the east bank; and second, the Dutch wished to spare the kampong Maraksa, whose head, Toekoe Nek Radja Moeda Setia, had repeatedly offered his services. The plan of operations had three parts: (1) the landing east of the Atjeh river at a point to be determined by reconnaissance; (2) the taking-possession of the Atjeh river, both inland and at the mouth; and (3) the conquest of the Kraton.
The Landing
On 9 December 1873, the troops were put ashore at Kwala Loë. The operation was supported by the warships of Captain Van Gogh’s squadron. The landing craft — a combination of warship launches and transport boats — carried the troops from the transports lying on the roadstead to the beach.
The landing met with some musketry fire from Acehnese defenders on the beach, but this caused no casualties and the enemy soon withdrew. The Dutch forces established themselves on the east bank of the river and began the advance inland.
The Advance
After the landing, the expeditionary force advanced along the east bank:
- 13 December: Kota Moesapi occupied.
- 14 December: The long line of enemy fortifications south of Kota Moesapi was taken by General Verspyck’s bold storming of Tiban.
- 15 December: The mouth of the Atjeh river was reached.
- 18 December: A column under Lieutenant-Colonel Pel reached the river further south at Penajoeng after fighting, including the engagement at kampong Lamara.
The speed of the advance — from landing to the occupation of Penajoeng in only nine days — demonstrated the effectiveness of the expeditionary force’s planning and the relatively light resistance encountered on the east bank.
See Also
- Second Aceh Expedition (1873-1874)
- Kwala Loë
- Jan van Swieten
- J. van Gogh
- G. M. Verspyck
- J. L. J. H. Pel
- Maraksa
- Toekoe Nek Radja Moeda Setia
- Penajoeng
- Atjeh River
- Aceh War
Source
De waarheid over onze vestiging in Atjeh, door den Luitenant-Generaal J. van Swieten, Zalt-Bommel, Joh. Noman en Zoon, [1879], pp. 87–100 (Hoofdstuk III).