Princesa de Asturias
The Dutch protected cruiser Hr. Ms. Noord-Brabant (1) departed on 13th April 1916 Den Helder, Netherlands towards the Dutch East Indies. Via La Luz, Gran Canaria (24-26 April) she went on to St. Vincent arriving there on 1 Monday morning 1 May. Her commanding officer captain lieutenant J.W.F.J. de Wal wrote that the harbour was able to supply the enormous number of ships which visited La Luz with victuals, fuel and other needed stores. The victuals delivered by the Santa Catalina Ships Stores Company were of good quality especially the potatoes, unions and pork meat. When supervised was this firm to be recommended. The inner harbour and roads were very suitable for sailing and rowing exercises. For the ships were 854 ton Wels coal for 97.5 shilling a ton bought, 136 ton feeding water, 2.2290 kilo potatoes, meat (248 kilo pork, 515 kilo beef), 491 kilo bread, 300 kilo unions, 120 pieces cabbage 50 eggs and 50 orange. With the Spanish armoured cruiser Princesa de Asturias (2) were visits exchanged.
Notes
1. Laid down at the Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde at Vlissingen, Netherlands on 31 August 1897, launched on 17 January 1899, commissioned on 1 March 1900, disarmed at the navy yard at Willemsoord, Netherlands in 1920 and stricken. It was the intention to fit her out as an accommodation ship for infants of which was taken care by the government (Department of Justice). Lacking enough funds this idea was temporarily stopped in August 1921, definitive in 1922 and she was laid up in conservation. She was transferred back to the navy on 23 December 1923 which fitted her out as a guard ship to serve at Vlissingen to replace the Buffel in October 1926 was she brought to Vlissingen where she was used as guard ship and as training ship for sailors. She was scuttled and set by her own crew in fire on 17 May 1940 when Germany attacked the Netherlands and the wreck was later sold to be broken up.
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.
Source
Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1915-1916.
