No. 466.
Mr. Gorham
to Mr. Fish.
The Hague, May 25, 1875. (Received June 11.)
Sir: The second chamber of the States-General has been in session, nominally, for two or three weeks, but as the principal business brought under consideration must first be elaborated by some one of the various sections, (committees,) little of moment has yet transpired in full session.
The minister of colonies, being interrogated at a short session a few days since respecting the army in the Indies, stated that, on the 1st of November, 1872, it numbered 28,000; 1st of November, 1873, 30,131; 1st of November, 1874, 31,168.
Referring to the second expedition to Atchin, he said that it was composed at first of 118 officers and 3,262 men; increased in August to 163 officers and 4,466 men, and in December to 6,010, including officers and men.
The loss by death at Atchin, he said, had been 1,196 in seven months.
[Page 989]Unfavorable reports respecting the health of the troops had made recruiting difficult, but the government, according to the minister, had procured and sent to the Indies 4,282 men in 1873; 1,819 in 1874; and 1,095 in 1875; also about 300 marines.
He also stated that to the question “What is the present situation?” put to the commander of the army on the 20th of March last, he received in reply, among other things, that the troops were well provisioned; that the arrival of re enforcements was irregular; that the enemy seemed discouraged, made no more advances, and that the coast districts had generally recognized the sovereignty of the Netherlands.
I am, &c.,