Dutch neutrality in Dutch East Indies protected by Royal Netherlands Navy according to the Dutch newspaper Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 30 December 1904

Hr. Ms. Hertog Hendrik

An item dated London, England 30th reported that the Dutch government stated that the neutrality (1) of Sabang, Dutch East Indies was to be protected by 2 battleships (2), 2 protected cruisers, a flotilla vessel and 3 destroyers [torpedo boats] lying there and that elsewhere in the archipelago another 3 battleships were available. Further more departed two warships the Netherlands to join the Dutch naval force in the Dutch East Indies.

Notes
1. The Russo-Japanese war between 8 February 1904-5 September 1905.
2. The Netherlands never had battleships, the battleships mentioned in the text were in fact coastal defence ships like the Hertog Hendrik, laid down on 8 March 1901, with a displacement of 5.002 tons and an armament consisting of 2x1-23cm/9.4” guns, 4x1-15cm/5.9” guns, 8x1-8,cm/3” guns, 4x1-1pd guns and 3-45cm/18” torpedo tubes. She departed in 9 November 1904 the Netherlands towards the Dutch East Indies. The protected cruisers like the Noord-Brabant had a displacement of 4.033 tons and an  armament of 2x1-15cm /5.9”guns, 6x1-12cm/4.7” guns, 4x1-7,5cm/3” guns, 4x1-1pd guns and 2-45cm/18” torpedo guns.