The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1906-1907 reported that the British armoured cruisers HMS King Alfred and Monmouth visited Tandjong Priok, Dutch East Indies on 13 December 1906. The Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 13 December 1906 reported that at Tandjong Priok were lying the mighty British armoured cruisers HMS King Alfred (1) and Monmouth (2) and the protected cruiser Astraea (3). Especially the King Alfred was an impressive warship with a displacement of 14,320 tons, 30,000 ihp horsepower and a speed of 23.5 miles. With her armament of 2-34.4cm guns, 12-15cm guns, 14-7.6cm guns, 12-.7cm guns, 8 machine guns and 2 submerged torpedo tubes. she did not needed her escape from the battle wat according to navy statements the task of the Royal Netherlands Navy was.(4) She was protected by a belt of 15.2cm thickness on the waterline, just like the battery and the gun turrets and with an armoured deck of 7 6.3cm thickness. With her 4 high oval funnels she made a mighty appearance. Her large draught of 7.9cm forced her to stay in the outer harbour. Although smaller was the Monmouth also an opponent to be feared with 9,950 tons displacement, 22,000 ihp horsepower, 23 miles speed, 10.2cm thick armour and a 5cm armour deck and an armament of 14-15.cm guns, 10-7,6cm guns, 3-4.7cm guns, 8 machine guns and 2 torpedo tubes; another newspaper reported that she also stayed outside. The Astraea was less powerful. The Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 13 December reported their arrival, the King Alfred commanding officer C.T. Thursby, 924 men (including 58 officers), Monmouth commanding officer T.A. Tuke 781 men (including 45 officers) and the Astraea commanding officer C.L. Vaughan Lee 302 men (including 18 officers) all coming from Singapore. The De Preanger-Bode dated Friday 14 December reported that the Astraea was to depart on Tuesday morning towards Semarang en from there to Makassar and Balikpapan and the two other ships would return on Tuesday evening to Singapore. The Deli courant dated 27 December reported that the King Alfred was the flagship of vice admiral A.W. Moore.
Notes
1. Part of Drake-class armoured cruisers, preceded by Cressy-class, succeeded by Monmouth-class, laid down by Vickers Limited, Barrow-in-Furness, England on 11 August 1899, launched on 28 October 1901, completed on 22 December 1903 and sold to be broken up on 30 January 1920.
2. Part of Monmouth-class, preceded by Drake-class, succeeded by Devonshire-class, laid down by London&Glasgow Shipbuilding, Govan, Scotland on 29 August 1899, launched on 13 November 1901, completed on 2 December 1903 and sunk in the Battle of Coronel against the German fleet on 1 November 1914.
3. Of the Astraea-class protected cruisers, preceded by the Apollo-class and succeeded by the Eclipse-class which was ordered in 1889, laid down in August 1890 at the Devonport Dockyard, launched 17 March 1893, commissioned in November 1895, decommissioned/paid off in July 1919 and finally sold 1 July 1920 to be broken up at Castle, however she was resold and finally broken up in Germany.
4. On of the Dutch largest warships was lying there. The Hr.Ms. Hertog Hendrik was part of the Koningin Regentes-class coastal defence ships. On stocks at the navy yard at Amsterdam 13 October 1900 and launched 7 June 1902 by the Dutch prince Hendrik (after which she was named) which was married with queen Wilhelmina. Trials found place 9 September 1903, commissioned 5 January 1904 and finally stricken on 28 August 1969 and broken up. Displacement 4.950 tons and dimensions 96,60 x 15,20 x 5,70m. Her 2 vertical triple compound engines delivered 6.282 hp allowing a speed of 16,5 miles. Armour consisted of a 150-100mm belt, 250mm gun turrets, 50mm deck and 250mm conning tower. Originally armed with 2x1-24cm guns, 4-15cm guns, 8-7.5cm guns, 4-3.7cm guns, 1 torpedo tube and 2 torpedoguns. In 1926 were the aft 24cm gun and the torpedo armament removed. In 1937 were 4-40mm machineguns placed and 2-7.5cm guns removed.. At the arrival of the British ships fired the King Alfred a salute of 21 shots, the Hertog Hendrik 15 shots.
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