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 use of the Aart van Nes was approved for a period of six years and was now fitted out with hew boilers. While there were no boilers on stocks she was lying at least another year in ‘repair’ at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies.(1)
Note
1. Screw steamship 4th class, laid down at the navy yard at Vlissingen, Netherlands 6 April 1861, launched 1863, handed over to the Indies Military Navy 1 January 1868. Decommissioned at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies 31 May 1879, condemned for active service and intended to be converted into a pilot age hulk in the Oostgat off Surabaya. Displacement 586 tons, dimensions 38,00 (between perpendiculars)-40,70 (over all) x 8,16 x 3,20 metres. Horsepower 80 nhp/200 ehp, speed 6-7 knots, a crew numbering 75 men and an armament consisting of 2 medium 30pd guns and 4-30pd carronades.
The use of the Aart van Nes was approved for a period of six years and was now fitted out with hew boilers. While there were no boilers on stocks she was lying at least another year in ‘repair’ at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies.(1)
Note
1. Screw steamship 4th class, laid down at the navy yard at Vlissingen, Netherlands 6 April 1861, launched 1863, handed over to the Indies Military Navy 1 January 1868. Decommissioned at Surabaya, Dutch East Indies 31 May 1879, condemned for active service and intended to be converted into a pilot age hulk in the Oostgat off Surabaya. Displacement 586 tons, dimensions 38,00 (between perpendiculars)-40,70 (over all) x 8,16 x 3,20 metres. Horsepower 80 nhp/200 ehp, speed 6-7 knots, a crew numbering 75 men and an armament consisting of 2 medium 30pd guns and 4-30pd carronades.
