THE DUTCH EXPEDITION TO THE ISLAND OF LOMBOK. 583 
to this long road with high walls running on either side of 
it.” Here was asituation which cavalry could very speedily 
have elucidated. 
(c.) The cavalry reconnaissance from Ampenan, on the night of 
the 25th, 26th August, appears to have been executed in 
but a half-hearted manner. “ Repeated attempts to cut a 
way through” an enemy, if really meant, would result in 
a heavier loss than “ one horse.’’ 
(d.) There were four mounted orderlies and an officer of the 
General Staff with Van Lawick’s column. Considering 
the known unsettled state of affairs, it would have been 
better if these mounted men had sought for the 6th 
battalion bivouac before the column entered the town. 
3. Setting aside the unfavourable position of the bivouacs and the 
absence of entrenchment, the great mistake appears to have been the 
splitting up of the force into so many small bodies. . 
if the Materam and Tjakra Negara forces had been massed, say at 
the palace at Tjakra Negara, warren though it was, with the Rajah in 
their power, they would not only have had a better chance of defence, 
but could, if necessary, have extended a helping hand to the two 
detached columns. ‘These columns appear to have been quite strong 
enough as long as they were in the open and, if they had had a solid 
force at Tjakra Negara to fall back upon, their detachment seems well 
considered. 
THe SEcoND Hxpeprrron. 
In order to avoid making an exaggerated statement as to the con- 
dition of the troops re-united at Ampenan, the following extract from 
the work of Captain Schulze is given :— ; 
“After the column, under the command of Major Rost van 
Tonningen of the artillery, with which was also the Commander-in- 
Chief, had reached Ampenan with comparatively small loss, but in a 
perilous condition from hunger and exhaustion, the best possible 
measures were taken before night (27th August) against a surprise. 
he general state of affairs at Ampenan during the first night, how- 
ever, gave great cause for apprehension. ‘lhe state of tension of the 
men’s nerves was such that, again and again, they fired into the dark- 
ness at nothing and created an alarm, so that there could be no question 
of taking the so-much-needed rest on this night. 
“ Although the troops fought under that murderous fire with the 
courage of lions and displayed a contempt of death of which Holland 
may well be proud, yet it is natural and evident that, finally, many 
men became, so-to-speak, paralysed and temporarily lost their heads, 
but they gradually recovered their self-control. 
“If the Balinese had vigorously attacked Ampenan on this night 
(27th), although it would have led to a fight to the last man, their 
superiority in numbers and their good weapons gave them a very good 
chance of completing their victory. 
“Wortunately they made no energetic attempts to do so and then 
came the 28th August and with it fresh courage.” 
