Australian Storm 1876

  Chapter 340 Natives like weeds

  Semuda Port

This is a hilly area along the coast. Because of the high terrain, it can avoid flooding caused by the sea tide pushing the river. The port of Semuda is separate from the town. The port is by the sea and the town is in the interior. The distance between the two is approximately Fifteen to six kilometers, connected by a gravel road with fairly good conditions.

  The Queensland army landed in the Bay of Glory and launched a roundabout attack from the flanks, which was the worst news for the Dutch defenders of Saimuda.

  If it is to attack the port, the Dutch defenders are confident that they can use the fortress fort to disarm the invading enemy, and can concentrate their forces to participate in the port defense, and when the land and sea transfers are changed, they will deal a heavy blow to the enemy who landed on the beachhead.

  Now the Queensland army chooses to attack in a roundabout way, which presents a big problem for the Dutch defenders.

  To defend the port or defend the town, this is a big problem of choosing one out of two.

  More than 2,500 Royal Netherlands Army and more than 3,000 White People’s Soldiers, cooperating with the fortress to defend a town, are more than enough, and they are confident that the invading enemy will be hit and bloodshed.

  However, there are two main points of dividing forces and defending. It is possible to take care of one and lose the other and be taken advantage of by the enemy.

  After experiencing the tragic experience of the Queensland Fleet bombing the Port of Medan, the Dutch army learned a lesson. Generally, fortresses are not built along the coast, and no strong fortresses can withstand naval gun attacks.

  If the shore artillery can't stop it, the fortress is just a dead target.

Therefore, the Royal Netherlands Army focuses on the defense of the town of Semuda. Once it is lost, Sampite, an important plantation town more than 80 kilometers away, can hardly be guaranteed. 550 white Dutch soldiers defended, and the destruction was only overnight.

In the vast wilderness near Semuda and Sampit, there are more than 460 white people planting gardens. It is an important agricultural town and produces a large amount of tobacco, cocoa, rubber and spices every year. It is located in Central Kalimantan. The importance of it is equivalent to that of the twin cities of Red River Valley and Brisbane in Australia.

  Therefore, three Shimu defensive fortresses and a large number of defensive breast walls are built here, and the Royal Netherlands Army is ready to defend the city of Semuda at any cost.

On the east side of   Semuda is a large swampy terrain with unrecessed water, and no military operations can be carried out at all. After the dry season, the water subsided, and the offensive had to make a roundabout landing from the west.

  There are only two sailing warships and a few small fishing boats in the port. The coastal fort is built on the height of the hill, about 70 meters above the sea level.

In order to defend the port of Semuda, the Governor’s Palace of the Dutch East Indies spent a lot of money to build concrete permanent fortifications. The three large fortresses arranged in a zigzag pattern on the top of the hill are equipped with two German-made 280 mm long barrels. Shore artillery, this is the proud work of the German Krupp company, sold well in Europe, America and all over the world.

The Port Moresby Fortress on Shangri-La Island also uses the German Krupp 280mm long barrel gun. First, this 280mm shore gun has high accuracy, long range, and great power. Second, the two sides have a good relationship. The third and most important reason is that it is cheap.

The British Armstrong 281 mm breech-loaded artillery has excellent performance and all indicators exceed Krupp’s similar artillery products. It is one of the top artillery in the world. The disadvantage is that it is too expensive. One artillery can buy two and a half Germans, except Few countries in the British Empire started to equip them. The imperial artillery technology is at the top of the world. The problem is that they are too expensive. Not only are artillery expensive, but ammunition is expensive, artillery training and logistical support are all expensive.

  On the port fort

  A group of Dutch officers were inspecting the fort. Colonel Henry "The Butcher" looked at the empty bay with a gloomy face. In the distance, the ships of the Queensland United Fleet could be seen drifting out of the range of the shore artillery, sealing the open sea tightly.

"Mr. Colonel, we must strengthen the protection of the flank of the port to prevent the Queensland army from raiding and seizing the port, seizing the shore artillery positions that we have built at a high price, and gaining a solid foothold. If that is the case, they can continue to enter through the port. Reinforce the army, import ammunition, and fight an asymmetrical war of attrition with us, putting our army at a disadvantage." Coast Artillery Battalion Commander Hugh Grant said worriedly.

   "I understand your concern, Mr. Colonel, what a damn... The problem is that we lack enough troops to stick to the two main points." Colonel Henry frowned, thinking about how to deal with it.

  The Queensland army has proved its strong strength in the Battle of Shangri-La Island, and it is by no means an army of the Aceh Kingdom that anyone can handle.

  The latest intelligence display;

  The first to land was all the officers and soldiers of the Second Division of Kalimantan, with a total staff of about 6,500, slightly higher than the Dutch defenders (subconsciously ignored by the indigenous servants), and the combat effectiveness should not be underestimated.

In particular, the Queensland Army’s artillery is particularly powerful. Its body is equipped with a hydraulic reclamation 95mm "Miss Australia Artillery", which made it famous in the battle of Shangri-La. The Royal Dutch Navy also suffered a lot. Several naval defeats were due to this advanced technology. The artillery can be said to be the most advanced medium-caliber artillery in the world today.

   "The importance of the port is unparalleled. If it doesn't work, the only thing to do is to get rid of the Sampit guards." Headmaster Henry sighed and made an important decision.

   "Mr. Colonel, there are only half a musket battalion with 550 soldiers in Sampit Town, and if you re-transfer it, it will become an empty city." The entourage officer next to him said worriedly.

"The port must be kept, at least for more than 8 hours. It is hoped that the indigenous people with spears and knives are unreliable, and we must rely on ourselves." Colonel Henry is very aware of the importance of the port, and he thought about it. ；

"The town of Sampit goes deep inland. As long as the port and the city of Semuda are in our hands and stand here like nails, the enemy will occupy it and cannot hold it. As for the losses suffered by the planters, we can only pray to God. Blessed.

I made a decision;

  From the town of Sampit, 400 soldiers, 750 militiamen, and 2,600 indigenous servants rushed to assist the port, focusing on strengthening the port’s defense.

We will leave 300 soldiers and 250 militiamen for the port. Then minus the shore artillery battalion, the total defense force of the port will reach 1,700. I will gather 5,000 indigenous soldiers for you. This defensive force is not weak anymore. .

  Considering unexpected factors, it is enough to hold on to the port for more than 12 hours, and wait until the army comes to help.

  The two sides work together to attack, and they will surely be able to severely damage the enemy in the future.

  Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant, the longer you can hold on, the greater our chances of winning. "

  Speaking of which

  Col. Henry fixed his eyes on Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant. He was not only the shore artillery battalion commander, but also the port defense commander.

   Whether the harbor can be held, most of the burden rests on Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant.

  Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant thought about it and asked; "Mr. Colonel, once the enemy launches a large-scale attack, how long do we need to hold on?"

   "For more than 12 hours, you must be prepared to defend for 18 hours."

"this……"

  Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant hesitated. He understood that Henry the "Butcher" was using the port defender to consume the offensive force of the Queensland army. The port and the town were only 16 kilometers apart, and he had climbed two hours.

  I can completely imagine

After the Queensland army rushed out of the jungle, it would inevitably launch a full onslaught. It was a powerful division. In the port area without decent defensive facilities, it could only rely on houses and hilly terrain to block the enemy. It could last for 6 hours. It's a miracle.

It’s better to die than to live, Colonel Hugh Grant said dryly; “Mr. Colonel, we are not equipped with artillery, and the artillery of the Queenslanders has always been very sharp. According to the current situation, it is not easy for us to last 6 hours. , I am worried that all the troops will be killed without waiting for reinforcements."

  The German-made 280 mm and 239 mm shore guns weighing fifty to sixty tons face the sea, and it is impossible to turn around to launch. The thick concrete fortress has no launch holes in the direction of enemy attacks on the west side.

  The large-caliber shore artillery located on the high mountains has a large shooting dead angle, which can only go down to -3 degrees at most. That is to say, entering within 2.6 kilometers is a shooting dead angle, and it is almost impossible to threaten the incoming enemy.

  Because it is 2 kilometers away from the port, it is a tropical rain forest that hides the sun. Hidden in the rain forest, the target of the enemy soldiers cannot be observed, let alone accurate shelling.

  If the enemy soldiers charge forward, it takes more than ten minutes. Once they rush to the battlefield, everything will be done.

The Dutch garrison of the port was holding a golden rice bowl and begging for food. The shore artillery battalion did not dare to leave the fort for a moment, let alone turn the muzzle to attack the rainforest, and did not dare to move the artillery out of the concrete fortress, in case the Queensland United Fleet attacked from the sea. ?

  That's so bad, it's too late for the big guy with fifty or sixty tons to put it back.

  The Dutch defenders did not have many field artillery. There were only 11 German-made 95mm field artillery and howitzers, all of which remained in the defensive fortress of Semuda, and no artillery could be drawn out.

Colonel Henry gave him a dissatisfied look, and said in a cold tone; "I have left you 5,000 indigenous cannon fodder, and you can collect more from the nearby plantation. Once the enemy is close to the edge of the jungle, you can drive away the indigenous cannon fodder. The samurai went into the jungle to fight and buy time to defend the port.

  If 5,000 is not enough, then 10,000, or 10,000 pigs, is enough for the Queensland army to kill for a period of time. As long as the final victory can be won, any price is worth it. "

  Speaking of which

Colonel Henry happily patted Lieutenant Colonel Grant on the shoulder, and said confidently; "Believe my Lieutenant Colonel, the branches and leaves in the tropical rainforest are so horrible that the indigenous warriors approach the enemy quietly, often at a distance of 20 to 30 meters. Only then can we discover that the cold weapon attack will give the Queenslanders a big surprise. You only need to be ready to supervise the team. Let me tell you a little secret, we can make a big reward, which can greatly inspire those stupid aboriginals. Fighting, anyway, those indigenous warriors can't get it, and... remember not to invest too many people at a time. It is better to invest in batches to attack from all directions."

   "Well, Mr. Colonel, I will do what you say." Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant reluctantly agreed.

  How stupid are the Queenslanders to not set up guard posts, and allow the indigenous people with cold weapons to rush to the side to kill them?

  Well, just listen to it, and believe it.

  What if the Queenslanders are big?

  This possibility also exists, anyway, it is the cannon fodder that consumes the indigenous people, no matter how many deaths, there is no need to feel distressed.

  These aboriginals are like weeds in the wild, cutting crops after crops is nothing.

  As long as it can achieve the purpose of stopping the enemy's attack, everything is worth it.

  Considering that the second division of Kalimantan opens the way, it will take two or three days no matter how fast it is, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant immediately ordered his men;

  "Transmit the command of the Port Defense Command;

  Aboriginal men aged between 16 and 50 in the surrounding plantations are all recruited to participate in the port defense war. They must have their own weapons and must arrive at the port within two days to accept the formation. Any plantation owner who violates the order shall be punished in accordance with the crime of collaborating with the enemy and be executed immediately. "

   "Yes, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel."

  After the murderous order was issued, the officers immediately ran away to execute it.

  Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant is now desperate. No matter how much it costs, he has to hold back the Queenslanders' offensive pace and win the first line of life for the Dutch defenders of the port.

  (End of this chapter)