Russian squadron visiting Sabang, Dutch East Indies according to the Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag 1 March 1902

Russian armoured cruiser Dmitri Donskoi

Dutch screw steamship 1st class Hr.Ms. Tromp in 1884

Oil-painting by Johan Coenraad Leich (1823-1890) made in 1844

An item reported that five large Russian warships were to bunker coal and water and laod fresh supplies at Poeloe Weh, Sabang Bay, Dutch East Indies. The battleships Sissoi Veliky (1) and Navarin (2) and the armoured cruiser Admiral Korniloff (3) commanded by rear admiral Tshonkhuin arrived on 28 January at Sabang with the cruisers Wladimir Monomach (4) and Dimitry Donsky (5) underway [arriving on the 29th].(6) The Russian squadron coming from Manila, Philippines was destined towards the Mediterranean. The Dutch Maatschappij Zeehaven- en Kolenstation Sabang apparently succeeded in getting the Russian navy as client and the newspaper would not be surprised as in the future the French and German navies would prefer Sabang above Singapore as coalbunker station. The Dutch frigate Hr.Ms. Tromp lying at Batavia waiting fro replacement by the protected cruiser Hr.Ms. Zeeland left her heavy guns behind at Sabang. The reason for this was that the infantrymen were to be replaced by artillerists indicating that the Dutch cabinet wanted to strengthen the defence of the Sabang Bay.

Notes
1. Pre dreadnought, preceded by the Tri Sviatitelia and succeeded by the Petropavlovsk-class. Laid down by New Admiralty Shipyard, St. Petersburg, Russia on 25 July/7 August 1891, launched on 20 May/2 June 1894, completed in September 1896, commissioned on 5 October/18 October 1896 and sunk in the battle of Tsushima against the Japanese fleet on 28 May 1905.
2. Pre dreadnought, preceded by the Dvenadsat Apostolov and succeeded by the Tri Sviatitelia, building ordered on 24 April 1889, laid down by Franco-Russian Works, Saint Petersburg, Russia on 31 May 1890, launched on 20 October 1891, commissioned in June 1896 and sunk in the battle of Tsushima against the Japanese fleet on 28 May 1905.
3. Protected cruiser Admiral Kornilov. Laid down by St. Nazaire, France on 12 November 1885, launched on 9 April 1887, commissioned in September 1888, torpedo training ship since October 1907 and stricken in May 1911.
4. Armoured cruiser Vladimir Monomakh, laid down by Baltic Shipyard, Saint Petersburg, Russia on 22 February 1881, launched on 22 October 1882, completed on 13 July 1883, sunk in the battle of Tsushima against the Japanese fleet on 28 May 1905 and stricken on 20 September 1905.
5. Armoured cruiser, laid down at the New Admiralty Shipyard, St. Petersburg, Russia on 21 May 1881, launched on 30 August 1883, completed begin 1885 and scuttled after the battle of Tsushima on 29 May 1905.
6. The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1901-1902.
7. Screw steamship 1st class, call sign GQWN, laid down at the navy yard at Amsterdam, Netherlands on 23 August 1875, launched on 12 December 1877, commissioned on 30 May 1879, decommissioned on 5 June 1902, stricken in 1904 and sold to be broken up on 19 August 1904. Except for smaller guns was she armed with 6-16cm/6.3" and 8-12cm/4.7" guns.