British wanted to protect there interests at Sabang, Dutch East Indies according to the Dutch newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 23 January 1904

An item dated Singapore 23rd January referred to tidings from Penang that [G.B.] Stratton was ordered to depart within 3 hours towards Sabang, Dutch East Indies to protect there the British interests especially to supervise the coal bunkering by Russian warships and prevent more privileges than allowed under the international laws in case of war.(1)

Note
1. Gerald Bryan Stratton? The Russo-Japanese war between 8 February 1904-5 September 1905.