Port Semuda

This is a hilly area along the coast. Because the terrain is high, it can prevent the flooding of the sea tide and rivers from flooding. The port of Semuda is separated from the town. The port is by the sea and the town is in the mainland. The two are about fifteen or sixteen kilometers apart and are connected by a sand and gravel road with very good road conditions.

Queensland troops landed on the Gulf of Glory and launched a roundabout attack from the flank, which was the worst news for the Dutch defenders of Semuda.

If a strong attack on the port, the Dutch defenders are confident that they can use the fortress to give the invading enemy a warning and can concentrate their forces to participate in port defense. When the sea and land transfers, they will deal a heavy blow to the enemy who landed on the beachhead.

Now the Queensland army chooses to attack in a roundabout way, which posed a big problem for the Dutch defenders.

Defending a port or guarding a town is a big problem of choosing 1 in 2.

More than 2,500 Royal Dutch Army and more than 3,000 white militiamen were more than enough to cooperate with the fortress to defend a town, and they were confident that the invading enemy would be bleeding.

However, there are two key points of division of troops to defend, and it is possible to lose sight of one and be taken advantage of by the enemy.

After experiencing the painful experience of Queensland fleet bombarding Medan Port, the Dutch army learned a lesson. Generally, they do not build fortresses along the coast, and even the strongest fortresses cannot withstand the attack of naval guns.

If the shore cannon cannot be blocked, the fortress will be just a dead target.

Therefore, the Royal Dutch Army focused on defending the town of Semuda. Once it was lost, Sanpit, a major plantation town more than 80 kilometers away, could not be guaranteed. The Queensland army could advance along the river and fight all the way to Sanpit Town. Its garrison was empty, with only 550 white Dutch soldiers defending, and it was destroyed only in a while.

On the vast fields near Semuda and Sanpit, there are white plantations with more than 460. They are important agricultural towns. They produce a large amount of tobacco, cocoa, rubber and spices every year. The importance of Central Kalimantan Province is equivalent to that of the Twin Cities Red River Valley and Brisbane in Australia, and there is no way to avoid any mistakes.

Therefore, three Shimu defensive fortresses and a large number of defensive chest walls were built here, and the Royal Dutch Army was ready to defend the city of Semuda at all costs.

On the east side of Saimuda is a large swamp terrain with water accumulation that has not yet receded, and no military operation is possible. After the dry season comes, the water accumulation disappears, and the attacking party can only land on detour from the west side.

There are only two sailing warships and several small fishing boats in the port. The coastal turret is built at a height of the hills, about 70 meters away from the sea level.

In order to defend the Port of Semuda, the Governor's Office of the Dutch East Indies spent a lot of money to build permanent concrete fortifications. In the three large forts arranged in a font on the top of the hill, two German 280mm long-body shore cannons were equipped. This was a masterpiece of the German Krupp Company and was sold well in Europe, America and around the world.

The shore guns of Port Moresby Fortress on Shangri-La Island also use the German Krupp 280mm long-body barrel gun. Firstly, this 280mm shore gun has high accuracy, long range and great power. Secondly, the relationship between the two sides is good. The third and most important reason is that it is cheap.

The British Armstrong 281mm breech reloading cannon has excellent performance and has surpassed the Krupp's similar artillery products in all aspects. It is one of the top artillery products in the world. The disadvantage is that it is too expensive. One artillery can buy two and a half of the Germans. Except for the British Empire, there are few national equipment. British artillery technology is the world's top. The problem is that it is too expensive. Not only is the price of artillery expensive, ammunition is also expensive, artillery training and logistics support are all expensive.

On the port fort

A group of Dutch officers were inspecting the fort. Colonel Henry, the "butcher" looked at the empty bay with a gloomy face. In the distance, the ships of the Queensland United Fleet could be seen vaguely blocking the outer sea from the range of the onshore artillery.

"Mr. Colonel, we must strengthen the protection of the port flanks to prevent the Queensland army from raiding and snatching the port, seizing our shore artillery positions at a high cost, and gaining a solid foothold. If that is the case, they can continuously import reinforcements, ammunition and supplies through the port, fight an asymmetric war of attrition with us, and put our army in an unfavorable situation." Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant, the commander of the shore artillery, said worriedly.

"I understand your concerns, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, it's so damn... The problem is that we lack sufficient troops to stick to two key points." Colonel Henry frowned and thought hard about how to deal with it.

The Queensland army has proved strong strength in the Battle of Shangri-La Island, and is by no means the Aceh Kingdom army that can be controlled by others.

Latest intelligence display;

The first to land were all officers and soldiers of the Second Kalimantan Division, with a total quota of about 6,500, slightly higher than the Dutch defenders (the indigenous minions subconsciously ignored it), and their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated.

In particular, the Queensland army's artillery was particularly powerful. Its hydraulic re-advance 95mm "Miss Australia Cannon" was famous in the Battle of Shangri-La. The Royal Dutch Navy also suffered a lot. Several naval defeats were all due to this kind of advanced artillery. It can be said to be the most advanced medium-caliber artillery in the world today, no doubt about it.

"The importance of the port is unparalleled. If it really doesn't work, it's all that we can do is to remove the guards of Sanpit." Captain Henry sighed and made an important decision.

"Mr. Colonel, there are only half a musket battalion in Sanpit Town, and if it is transferred, it will become an empty city." The entourage officer next to him said worriedly.

"The port must be kept, at least for more than 8 hours. It is unreliable to expect the natives holding spears and swords to be held, and they must rely on ourselves." Colonel Henry was very clear about the importance of the port, and he thought about it and said;

"The town of Sanpit goes deep inland, and as long as the port and the city of Semuda stand here like nails in our hands, the enemy will not be able to defend even if they occupy it. As for the losses suffered by the planter, we can only pray for God's blessing.

I decided;

400 soldiers, 750 militias and 2,600 indigenous minions were drawn from the town of Sanpit to rescue the port, focusing on strengthening port defense.

We will leave another 300 soldiers and 250 militias for the port. If the shore artillery battalion is subtracted, the total defense force of the port will reach 1,700. I will collect 5,000 indigenous soldiers for you, and this garrison force is no longer weak.

Taking into account the unexpected factors, he stayed at the port for more than 12 hours and waited until the army came to aid.

If both sides work together to attack, they will surely be able to severely damage the enemy they invade.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant, the longer you can hold on, the greater our chances of winning.”

Having said this

Colonel Henry stared at Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant, not only the commander of the shore artillery, but also the commander of the port defense.

Whether the port can hold on to it is most of the burden on Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant thought about it and asked, "Mr. Colonel, how long do we need to hold on if the enemy launches a large-scale attack?"

"After 12 hours, you must be prepared to defend for 18 hours."

"this……"

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant hesitated. He understood that the "butcher" Henry was using the port defenders to consume the offensive power of the Queensland army. The port and the town were only 16 kilometers apart, and he could climb for two hours.

It's totally conceivable

After the Queensland army rushed out of the jungle, it would launch a full-scale attack. It was a division with strong combat effectiveness. Without any decent defensive facilities in the port area, it could only rely on houses and hilly terrain to block the enemy. It would be a miracle to be able to last for 6 hours.

It’s better to die than to live. Colonel Hugrant said in a dry tone. "Mr. Col., we are not equipped with artillery, and the Queenslanders' artillery has always been extremely sharp. According to the current situation, it is not easy for us to last for 6 hours. I am worried that all the reinforcements will be killed."

The German 280mm and 239mm shore artillery fire interfaces weighing fifty or sixty tons face the sea, and it is impossible to turn around and fire. The thick concrete fortress has no firing holes in the direction of the enemy's attack on the west side.

The large-caliber shore cannon located on high hills has a large shooting dead spot, and can only reach -3 degrees downward, which means that within 2.6 kilometers, there is a shooting dead spot, which is almost impossible to threaten the attack on the enemy.

Because 2 kilometers away from the port is a tropical rainforest covered with thick sunshine, hidden in the rainforest, unobservable towards enemy soldiers' targets, let alone accurate artillery bombardment.

If the enemy soldiers charge in just over ten minutes, once they rush to the position, they will be finished.

The Dutch defenders at the port were begging for food with a golden rice bowl. The shore artillery battalion did not dare to leave the fort for a moment, nor did they dare to turn the guns to attack the tropical rainforest, nor did they dare to move the cannons out of the concrete fortress. What if the Queensland Combined Fleet attacked from the sea?

Then that's bad, it's too late to put a big guy of fifty or sixty tons back.

The Dutch defenders had few field artillery, with only 11 German 95mm field artillery, all of which were left in the Semuda City defensive fortress, and even a single artillery could not be drawn out.

Colonel Henry glanced at him with some dissatisfaction and said in a cold tone, "I have left you 5,000 native cannon fodder, and you can find more in the nearby plantations. Once the enemy approaches the edge of the jungle, you can drive the native warriors into the jungle to fight and buy time for defending the port.

If 5,000 is not enough, then 10,000 is the same as 10,000 pigs, which is enough for the Queensland army to kill for a while. As long as you can win the final victory, it will be worth it to pay any price."

Having said this

Colonel Henry happily patted Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant on the shoulder and said with confidence. "Believe me, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, the branches and leaves in the tropical rainforest are terrible. Indigenous warriors quietly approach the enemy. Often they can only find it at a distance of twenty or thirty meters. The attack of cold weapons will give the Queenslanders a big surprise. You just need to prepare the supervision team. Let me tell you a little secret. We can pay a lot, which can greatly inspire those stupid indigenous people to fight. Anyway, those indigenous warriors cannot get it. And... Remember not to invest too many people at a time, and the attacks from all directions are better. "

"Well, Mr. Colonel, I will do what you said." Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant agreed helplessly.

How stupid are Queenslanders to set up a guard post and allow the indigenous people holding cold weapons to rush to the side and kill?

OK, let's listen to it, let's believe it.

What if Queenslanders are too busy?

This possibility also exists. Anyway, it consumes cannon fodder for natives, so no matter how much death it is, there is no need to worry.

These indigenous people are like weeds in the wild, cutting off batch after batch, which is nothing.

As long as the purpose of blocking the enemy's attack can be achieved, it will be worth it.

Considering that the second Kalimantan Division opened a road and it would take two or three days no matter how fast it was, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant immediately ordered his men;

“Transfer the orders of the Port Defense Command;

All the indigenous men aged 16 to 50 in the surrounding plantations will be summoned to participate in the port defense war. They will bring their own weapons and must arrive at the port within two days to receive the marshalling. Any planter who violates the order will be punished immediately as a crime of collusion with the enemy."

"As for orders, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel."

After the murderous order was issued, the officers under his command immediately ran away to execute it.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Grant is now gambled, no matter how much the cost is, he has to hold back the Queenslanders' offensive pace and gain a glimmer of hope for the Dutch defenders at the port.
Chapter completed!