German unprotected cruiser SMS Bussard visiting the Dutch East Indies in 1899

Sister ship SMS Falke

An item reported that the German cruiser 3rd class SMS Bussard (1) visited Koepang and Batavia, Dutch East Indies in January 1899.(2)

Notes

1. Laid down by Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig as Kreuzer IV Classe C in Augst 1888, launched on 23 January 1890, commissioned on 7 October 1890, decommissioned on 25 October 1912 and broken up in 1913. Unprotected cruiser of the Bussard-class consisting of the Bussard, Falke, Seeadler, Condor and Cormoran, preceded y the Schwalbe-class and succeeded by the Gefion.

2. Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1898-1899

The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 16 January 1899 reported her arrival (1) coming from Timor Koepang bound for Kiel, Germany. Crew numbered 168 men (including 8 officers) and she was armed with 8 guns. The Soerabaijsch handelsblad dated 30 January reported her departure towards Padang. The Dutch newspaper De Locomotief dated Thursday 19 January reported her arrival at Batavia coming from Timor and described her as a 4th class cruiser commanded by captain lieutenant Mandt. With a tonnage of 1.857 tons were her dimensions 76 x 10 metres. Her armament consisted of 8-105cm quick firing guns, 2 revolver guns and 2 surfaced torpedo launchers. The edition dated Monday 6^th February referred to the Sumatrasche Courant of 30 January reported her arrival a day earlier in the Emmahaven and after her mooring alongside the buoys firing a salute of 21 gun shots. Her commanding officer captain lieutenant Mandt paid on the 30th accompanied by the German consul Mr. J. Schild his respect by several Dutch government officials. She was described as a 5th class cruiser met around 180 men on board. She was to depart on Wednesday for Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The edition dated 13 February referred to the Sum. Courant of 31st January reporting her lying in the Emmahaven and was visited by the region secretary representing the temporarily governor and other regional or local military and civil servants for 20 minutes.. When they disembarked fired the Bussard the common 7 salute shots. In the evening was a the house of the regional military commanding officer a feast for the German commanding officer and his etat major in the presence of a large number of guests and the military fanfare of the 17^th Battalion Infantry. The Dutch petty officers of the garrison organised a feast for their German colleagues. In a second item was her departure on 1 February confirmed.