The Netherlands 1929 News

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Monday, May 29th 2006, 11:13pm

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The Netherlands News 1929

January

The Hauge Herald, January 1st
On this New Years day, the Admiralty kept busy.
The Admiralty announced that Lieutenant-Admiral Hans Pienaar has been recalled to Amsterdam and will be brevetted Admiral of the Fleet. The estimable Maarten Winters will assume command of the forces in the Netherlands East Indies.

The Admiralty also announced that three new submarines and four destroyers were to be started, the O-4 of the O-1 “a” submarine class, K22 & K23 of the K17 “b” submarine class, and Z65-68 of the Z53 “b” destroyer class.

In the last item of news from the Admiralty’s busy day, it was announced that over the course of 1929 and 1930, the eighteen old Z25 class of “b” destroyers would be reconstructed into escorts. Once reconstructed it is expected they will be renamed the S1 class. The first four were brought into dry dock today, and a further eight are expected to start reconstruction in July.

The Batavia Bugle, January 16th
Admiral of the Dutch Pacific Fleet, Maarten Winters, announced today that an fleet exercise will be held in the over the next several weeks. The exercise will involve both battle divisions the Far East Fleet and will be centered on the Mollucan Sea. The exercise has not been previously announced.

The Batavia Bugle, January 28th
Reports from the Philippines are that the SATSUMA alliance launched an offensive against the rebel base. While the exploits of the rebel fighters are well known, and rumors of special “X-craft” have made their way into dime novels, the combined forces of SATSUMA will assuredly overwhelm the doughty independence fighters.

The Batavia Bugle, January 29th.
Governor-General A.C.D. de Graeff made the following statement today “The United Kingdom of the Netherlands does not recognize the Filipino rebels nor do we encourage glamorization of a group of thugs that came to power by murder and treason. Despite the difficulties with the loyalist government of the Philippines, armed insurrection must be viewed as unacceptable except in narrow circumstances of gross misgovernance without recourse. One can only feel sorrow for the plight of the common Filipino who has been saddled with poor governments ever since they claimed the award of freedom.“

February

The Hauge Herald, February 10th
The Royal Dutch Shell company has announced a planned series of oceanographic survey vessels. “We are convinced that there are substantial resources, beyond simply oil, in many of the coastal regions. The state of oceanographic research is such that there are many questions that we simply do not yet know enough to ask. To alleviate this problem, we are funding university grants, and making arrangements for a series of research vessels. We have also engaged the services of Phillips Electronics in an effort to develop new and improved surveying instruments.” The vessels listed in the press release included a dozen vessels ranging in size from 300-ton trawlers, to a 5,000 ton “exploratory drilling ship” and, most unusually, a submersible. When further comment was requested regarding the submersible, the Royal Dutch Shell representative stated “The submersible is an exploration of the questions we do not yet know. With the navy’s new O-1 class submarines, there is sufficient volume in the bow and stern areas to include many of the survey apparatus that the surface ships can. While this role can be filled to some degree by Bathyspheres, we expect the submarine to be able to conduct more research on a broader array of questions, as well as be refitted as needs develop. Should the benefits prove sufficient, we may invest in future mini-subs”

March

The Hauge Herald, March 9th
The old predreadnaught, Ijseelmeer was launched from dry dock today. The Ijseelmeer is being extensively reconstructed to serve as a training vessel.

The Tarakan Times, March 11th
The Celebes Sea has been unkind to mariners these past several months, and the region has been saddened by the loss of an unseasonable number of fishing craft.

April

The Hauge Herald, April 5th
Prime minister Jan De Voor has announced the luminaries which will represent the concerns of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in the upcoming Clieto Treaty talks.

Adm. of the fleet and head of delegation: Lieutenant-Admiral Hans Pienaar
SubSecretary of Defense, the honorable Frank Meijer, Subsecretary of Foreign affairs, the honorable Johann Vogel, Dutch Ambassador on Copenhagen,, the honorable Frank Reuter and the Chief of the Royal Dutch Navy's Naval Design Bureau, the honorable Martin De Vries.

The Prime Minister stated “The Netherlands views the Clieto Treaty as an important tool to maintain the balance of power within the world without resorting to Naval Armament races. The Treaty is in need of revision to allow for logical naval needs and for expansion to incorporate other nations into the system.

The Amsterdam Advocate, April 10th .
The launching of the two new carriers, Eendracht and Brederode, occurred today. Foreign dignitaries were in attendance. The Eendracht was launched by Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. The Brederode was launched by Queen Elizabeth of the Belgians. King Albert of Belgium, in his first visit since the great war, was in attendance. This would seem to be the final step in normalization of official relations initiated by former Prime Minister Lodewyk Van Der Berg. The new carriers are, of course, named after famous flagships from the Dutch Golden Age.

The Admiralty also announced today that five of the new K17 class, built in widespread shipyard, have been completed. The new K17s are class “b” coastal submarine and will eventually serve in the same role the K1 class has been, while the K1-16 will eventually be replaced by O5-20.

May

The Amsterdam Advocate May 1st
The commissioning today of three of the new O-1 class fleet submarines. A total of four of these large submarines are planned, to bring the Netherlands up to the treaty limits allowed. The K-1 class, while small, still counts against the class “A” submarine limits. Replacement of the K-1s

June

The Amsterdam Advocate June 5th
The old predreadnaught Molluca was launched from drydock today. The Molluca is being nearly totally rebuilt to provide a first rate target vessel. With the reconstruction of the Molluca and Ijseelmeer, and the fleet realignment to allow more active duty training vessels, Prime Minister Mr. Jan de Voor and Defense Minister Vice-Admiral (ret.)Dennis De Jong appear to making a substantial commitment to fleet training standards.

The Batavia Bugle June 20th
The KLK reports that the freighter SS Pride of Flushing, of NYC, USA, has been reported as four weeks overdue at Menando and presumed lost. While loss of elderly and small vessels occurs each year, the SS Pride of Flushing, of 5000 GRT, is a six year old vessel in good repair. The KLK spokesman speculated that the vessel was en route through the Carolines and is feared to have struck uncharted coral heads in passage.

July
The Vlissingen Vanguard, July 1st
The Royal Dutch Shell corporation announced the keel laying of their oceanographic submersible.

The Amsterdam Advocate, July 1st
The Admiralty has announced today the laying down of the keels of two new submarines, K24 & K25 of the K17 “b” type.

The Batavia Bugle, July 6th
The KM has announced that AVP-2 and the 10th destroyer training squadron will be detached to Menando for three months. As the KLKs motor launches are insufficient for open ocean duty, the additional KM forces will allow better patrol of the Celebes Sea.

August
The Talakaban Times
The KLK reports that an informer’s information has led to the interception of 3 vessels engaged in smuggling in the past five weeks.

September
The Amsterdam Advocate, September 1st
The commissioning of the first eight new Z53 class destroyers occurred today. These vessels are to be the future backbone of the destroyer force and the Admiralty indicates that the intent is to build these vessels to the treaty limits.

The Menando Mercury News, September 16th
The rumors of piractical activity in the Celebes Sea have been apparently well founded. The KLK has announced the sinking of a suspected pirate vessel off Morotai island by the destroyer Z42. “The KLK is pleased to announce that a vessel believed to be based in the Siau island area and preying on coastal commerce has been intercepted by the KM. The vessel, masquerading as a tramp freighter, refused boarding and attempted to flee, whereupon she was sunk. The KLK believes this vessel has been responsible for the loss of numerous small traders.

In other news, two provincial policemen have been found shot on the outskirts of Tolitoli. There have been reports of armed bandits in the hills north of Palu have been reported, and the provincial administration is clearly concerned that insurgents, presumably communists backed by India, may be active once again.

October
The Amsterdam Advocate, October 11
The two new K17 class “b” submarines, K22 and K23 have been formally commissioned into service.

November
The Amsterdam Advocate, November 3
The old predreadnaught, now a training vessel, PDT Ijseelmeer, was commissioned into service today. The Admiralty spokesman commented “Perfect time of year for a ship full of cadets to visit scenic Iceland !”. The Admiralty commissioned the new class A submarine, O-4, yesterday with little fanfare.

The Batavia Bugle, November 11th
The KM has announced contracts for expansion of the on-shore facilities at Balikapapan.

The Amsterdam Advocate, November 13th
The four new Z53 class destroyers, Z65-68 have been accepted into service and commissioned.

The Menando Mercury News, November 16th
The armory of the Gorontalo-based 1314th Provincial Battalion was broken into this morning and the arms looted. Witness report that a large band of men withdrew westerly.

A second AVP and the 3rd destroyer squadron will be temporarily based in Menando. The KLK reports that the Philippine unrest has led to a surge of smuggling in the Celebes Sea.

December
The Menando Mercury News, December 12th

The KLK reports a freighter has been seized while loading at a small village east of Tolitoli. The freighter was being loaded with a range of military arms. The KLK did not release if the arms were related to the armory of the 1314th battalion. Sporadic fighting has been reported in the vicinity as Provincial Army patrols encounter insurgents.