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Tuesday 9 September 2014

The condition of the Dutch guard ship Zr.Ms. Prins Alexander der Nederlanden as described in a letter to the editor published in the Dutch newspaper Java-bode dated 17 April 1873

In a letter published in this newspaper an anonymous  Dutch navy officer described the miserable condition of the Dutch warships serving at that moment in the Dutch East Indies. He was quite cynical in his comment dealing with the condition of the ships ending with the phrase Happy Indies! Happy Navy! Poor Netherlands!

The Prins Alexander der Nederlanden was condemned.(1)

Note
1. Frigate 2nd class, in stocks at Amsterdam, Netherlands 1832 as the Lek, launched 3 September 1844, renamed Prins Alexander der Nederlanden 1844 , guard ship 1871, last mentioned 1874, 1460 tons displacement and an armament of 44 guns.