The condition of the Dutch Zr.Ms. gunboat No. 14 serving in the Dutch East Indies 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 Dutch gunboat Zr.Ms. No. 14 was expected to arrive at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies to be repaired.