J. B. van Heutsz (Generaal Van Heutsz) was a Governor of Aceh (May 1898), later Governor-General; ‘the greatest’ of military administrators in Aceh mentioned in Jongejan’s Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu in connection with Aceh. Already appeared on the scene before becoming Governor in the time of General Deyckerhoff and the founding of the marechaussée corps.
Role
Governor of Aceh (May 1898), later Governor-General; ‘the greatest’ of military administrators in Aceh
Account from Jongejans
Already appeared on the scene before becoming Governor in the time of General Deyckerhoff and the founding of the marechaussée corps. The man who saw more sharply than anyone else the mistakes in our Aceh policy, the preacher of the offensive and of force in the struggle against oriental peoples. In 1893 wrote his famous brochure ‘De onderwerping van Atjeh’ with the motto ‘De Atjeh-oorlog knaagt aan ons koloniaal bezit, hij moet eindigen. Laten wij eindelijk aan de beschaafde wereld toonen, dat wij daartoe in staat zijn.’ Already under Governor Van Vliet had performed brave deeds. In May 1898 became Governor with Dr. C. Snouck Hurgronje as advisor. August 1898 led the great Pedir-expeditie personally. Also operated in the Idische; Tangsé tochten. Pursued Teukoe Oemar so hard that he fled to Lageuën - ‘Oemar’s doodentocht’. Personally led the Pasé-expeditie. Samalanga-expeditie, attack on Batèë Ilië, capture of Paja Reubèë fortifications, then the great Gajotocht under Van Daalen. 6 September 1904 left as Governor of Aceh (eervol ontheven) on his appointment as Governor-General. In 1908 (as GG) set the requirements for the future administrator of Aceh (quoted at length, Koloniaal Verslag 1908). As GG authorised arrest and deportation of ex-Pretendent-Sultan.
Significance
J. B. van Heutsz (Generaal Van Heutsz) appears in Jongejan’s account as one of the figures shaping the history of Aceh during the period covered by the book.
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 413.