Dutch Hr. Ms. Holland
Spanish Princesa de Asturias
The Dutch protected cruiser Hr. Ms. Holland (1) captain J.H. Zeeman departed on 2 December 1916 at 11.40 o’clock the roads of Nieuwediep, Netherlands towards the Dutch West Indies. On the 13th she arrived at Vigo, continuing her voyage on the 19th towards Las Palmas/La Luz, Gran Canaria where she arrived on the 23rd, after bunkering coal she left the next day arrived at Curacao, Dutch West Indies on 7 January 1917 at 09.00 ‘’clock. At La Luz were warships no longer allowed to enter the inner harbour. There was however made an exception for the Holland under the excuse that the sea in the outer harbour was to heavy for bunkering. The major space in the inner harbour was now by 14 large German and Austrian steamships. Some time ordered the Spanish government those ships were to leave the roads where the major part had been lying since the outbreak of the war. When the Holland was in the outer harbour the Spanish ironclad Princesa de Asturias (2) lying departed in the morning of the 24th and replaced by the shortly afterwards arriving gunboat Laya.(3) With the commander of the Princesa de Asturias captain Francisco de Barredio y Mirandio were visits exchanged. Coal bunkering was by the Dutch commander as follows described. Prows loaded with coal sacks weighing around 100 kilo were lying waiting to be called. Between the prow and the ship to be loaded was a boat fitted out with 2 steam winches lying. This boat was able to lift 8 sacks of coal or about 800 kilo at once. On board was with the help of convenient carts the coal loaded in the bunkers and within 9 hours 554 ton coal bunkered.
Notes
1. Of the Holland-class protected cruisers consisting of the Holland, Zeeland and Friesland as the 1st subclass and the Gelderland, Noord-Brabant and Utrecht of the 2nd subclass. Laid down at the Rijkswerf Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1895, launched on 4 October 1896, commissioned on 1 July 1898 and sold on a public auction at 11.00 o’clock the navy yard at Willemsoord, Netherlands on Wednesday 21 January 1920 .
2. Of the Princesa de Asturias class armoured cruisers consisting of the Princesa de Asturias, Cataluna and Cardenal de Cisneros. Laid down by Arsenal de la Caracca, Spain on 23 September 1889, launched on 17 October 1896, completed on 10 June 1903 and stricken in December 1927.
3. Of the Recalde-class consisting of the Recalde, Laya, Bonifaz and Lauria. Laid down by SECN, Cartagena, Spain in December 1910, launched on 3 April 1912, completed in August 1912 and stricken in May 1940.
Source
Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1916-1917.
