Tandjong Semantoh (also written Tandjong Semantho) was a coast-state on the east coast of Atjeh, together with Simpang Olim one of the two states that had remained hostile to the Dutch throughout the first years of the Atjeh-oorlog. The state was the object of the expedition of November-December 1876 under General Diemont, in which its chief place was stormed on 14 November 14 November 1876 and the impregnable hill-benting of Toekoe Paja was carried by a single officer, A. G. Popelier, and six Ambonese soldiers. After the murder of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa on 11 December 1876, the son of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa was appointed radja of Merbau and Tandjong Semantho.
The Expedition of November-December 1876
After the resignation of General Wiggers van Kerchem over his refusal to detach troops for operations against the hostile east-coast states, his successor General Diemont at once took up the expedition with vigour. On 7 November 7 November 1876 he sent the necessary troops to combine with the navy to conquer the two hostile states. As usual the Dutch troops, advancing over all obstacles and receiving “only little real service from the native auxiliary troops,” reached on 14 November 14 November the chief place of Tandjong Semantoh, protected by the hill-benting regarded as impregnable. While the gedei was being stormed by the Dutch, Lieutenant-adjudant A. G. Popelier was ordered to approach the benting with a section. Climbing the south-eastern slope of the hill with only six Ambonese soldiers, he and his men entered the bastion unobserved, and the impregnable benting of Toekoe Paja was carried without loss on the Dutch side — “undeniably a brilliant feat of arms.”
The Aftermath
After the treacherous murder of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa on 11 December 1876 the affairs were regulated before the Dutch troops returned. The son of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa was appointed radja of Merbau and Tandjong Semantho; by the chiefs a new radja of Simpang Olim was chosen, who on 5 February 5 February 1877 solemnly swore the conditions imposed by the government. In various places further garrison was laid, and thereupon the other troops returned under Major Burgers to Atjeh on 17 January 17 January [1877]. “The submission of Simpang Olim made a great impression everywhere and confirmed our authority also in the other Onderhoorigheden.”
See Also
- A. J. E. Diemont
- G. B. T. Wiggers van Kerchem
- A. G. Popelier
- Toekoe Moeda Angkasa
- Toekoe Paja
- Simpang Olim
- Merbau
- Arakoendoer
- Expedition against Simpang Olim and Tandjong Semantoh (November-December 1876)
- Murder of Toekoe Moeda Angkasa
- Aceh War
Source
De geschiedenis van Nederland in onzen tijd, by J. A. de Bruyne, Directeur der Hoogere Burgerschool te Zierikzee. Deel IV. 1872-1883. Nieuwe uitgave. Schiedam: J. F. Dupont, 1912, Hoofdstuk I, pp. 79-83.