The Sigli expedition of August 1897 was the Dutch military operation against the hostile fortifications (bentengs) in Peukan Baroe and Peukan Sòt near Sigli, the seat of the Dutch administrative post in Pidie. Commanded by overste Van Heutsz under the observation of governor Van Vliet, the expedition resulted in the complete destruction of the hostile positions and represented the first major Dutch success in Pidie since the commencement of active operations beyond Greater Atjeh. It was the first installment of a two-year plan that aimed to advance into Moekim VII of Pidie in 1898.
Background: Peukan Baroe-Peukan Sòt
The moekims Peukan Baroe and Peukan Sòt lay within the territory of uléëbalang Teukoe Béntara Pineung, adjacent to the Dutch post at Sigli. A Habib Oesén had taken the leadership there and had erected numerous fortifications. From a point called Klapa tiga (“the three coconut trees”), shooters fired in the direction of three companies, the benteng, and the administrative establishment at Sigli. After two more coconut trees were shot down, the Dutch military renamed the point pap satoe (“one coconut”).
The Kolonial Verslag of 1897 (Hoofdstuk C53) recorded: “What the Dependencies are concerned, in the surroundings of Segli the indigenous population had not less than our establishment there, annoyance from the evil-willed persons residing in the moekim Pekan baroe-Pekan sòt, as a result of which bloody clashes did not fail to occur.” Repeatedly, very bold cases of sea-robbery near Segli also occurred, for which the moekim was punished with grenade fire from the navy. A warship was specially tasked with guarding the coastal section between that moekim and Segli.
In the Drieeriod-Drieeriod period, negotiations had been attempted with neighbouring heads to attack and expel Habib Oesén; and there had also been thoughts of buying Habib Oesén’s friendship, at least buying off acts of enmity. Now, under the new regime, proper methods were known.
Van Heutsz’s preparations
On 27 October 1896, Van Heutsz had written: “In November […] then we must go to Pedir, because not only must an end finally be forcibly made to the humiliating Peukan baroe-Peukan sòt-Gigiëng-kwestie with the daily shootings of our post Segli, but also the dwelling-places of the youthful Mohamed Daoed and the youthful Polim in Padang Tidjie (Moekim VII) must be attacked.” Stemfoort had wanted to send Van Heutsz to Sigli to prepare the expedition, but had found this difficult vis-à-vis his chief of staff Beeger. Instead, kapitein Van Daalen had been sent.
In May 1897, Van der Wijck transmitted the results of an investigation ordered pursuant to Snouck’s advice of 21 November 1896, conducted by waarnemend assistent-resident Van Rijn van Alkemade. The army commander advised against using the paid services of Habib Hoesin, and until a means was found to obtain a satisfactory result, advised against an expedition to Peukan Baroe-Peukan Sòt.
The press anticipations
De Locomotief of 15 July 1897 cited from an Atjehsche letter to the Java-bode: “Now that I am busy with Pedir anyway, I can tell you how it is certain that the expedition will take place in the first days of August.” The Java-bode of 30 July reported: “On the 3rd or 4th of August the troop force against the fortifications erected around Segli will begin to act. It is not even known here at this moment who will command the expedition; at Koetaradja one generally considers overste Van Heutsz the designated battle leader, but equally one would not want to miss him at the advanced Glieng, where one may stand for a surprise at any moment.”
The expedition: 5-15 August 1897
On 30 July and 1-2-4 August, battalions of infantry, 12 brigades of marechaussee, and detachments of other weapons were transported from Atjeh. Overste Van Heutsz led the operation; governor Van Vliet observed.
On the evening of 5 August, a sergeant-major accidentally shot himself in the head with a revolver instead of his drink glass, ending the festivities. The next day, cholera was raging among the troops. Van Vliet considered postponing; Van Heutsz replied: “Waarom zouden wij hier blijven afwachten, wie cholera zullen krijgen en wie niet? Wie ‘t moeten krijgen, kunnen nu nog even meehelpen, die bentengs te nemen, en hoe langer wij wachten, hoe meer het er zullen.” Van Heutsz’s logic won.
On 6 August, after bombardment by warships and then artillery from Sigli, all the bentengs were stormed and taken. The Atjehers went out and the soldiers went in, exactly as Van Heutsz had dictated the evening before. The uléla’s cleared the field, leaving many dead, rifles, and white weapons. The bentengs were demolished, the terrain cleared, and during further excursions the enemy was engaged to his detriment, ultimately clearing the field for the Company. On 15 August, the expedition returned to Koetaradja.
De Locomotief of 14 August wrote: “Overste van Heutsz heeft […] getoond, dat hij de ware manier om den Atjeher te lijf te gaan nog niet vergeten is. Sedert de expeditie naar Edi in 1890 (which was actually commanded by the then captain of the general staff Van Heutsz) we have not achieved such great success against the enemy with such small losses.”
The two-year plan and Van Heutsz’s promotion
Practically, Van Heutsz would have preferred to stay at Sigli and let the expedition grow into a full Pidië expedition. This was not done for reasons of order and theory. In September 1896, stafkapitein Van Daalen had already been at Sigli preparing the Pidië clean-up. But it had been theorised that it would be nice to advance against Moekim VII from two directions: from Sigli and from Seulimeum, from the Pidië and Atjeh sides simultaneously — which would only be possible when Seulimeum was firmly occupied. So the work was divided over two years: 1897 to cleanse the surroundings of Sigli; 1898 to advance into Moekim VII of Pidie, where Panglima Polém was hoped to be found at Padang Tidji.
On 30 September 1897, Van Heutsz received extraordinary promotion to colonel and appointment as chief of staff of the Indian army. The motivation cited his military deeds at Atjeh from February to July 1897, and in particular his command of the battles of 6-10 August 1897 in the moekims Peukan Baroe and Peukan Sòt.
See Also
- Joannes Benedictus van Heutsz
- J. J. van Vliet
- Sigli
- Peukan Baroe
- Peukan Sòt
- Habib Oesén
- Pidië
- Panglima Polém
- Padang Tidji
- Conquest of Peukan Baroe-Peukan Sòt (August 1897)
- Pidië-expedition (1898)
- G. C. E. van Daalen
- Ch. Polman van den Broek
Source
H. T. Damsté, “Drie Atjeh-Mannen: Snouck Hurgronje — Van Heutsz — Van Daalen,” Kolonial Tijdschrift, No. 4, 26e Jaargang (1937), overdruck, pp. 364–375; Kolonial Verslag 1897, Hoofdstuk C53, p. 11.