French armoured cruiser Jules Michelet visited the Dutch East Indies in 1929

 

Jules Michelet entering the harbour of Tandjong Priok

University of Leiden, Netherlands

French governor-general A.M.A. Pasquier in the middle with beard at his arrival at Tandjong Priok, Dutch East Indies

University of Leiden

Paved ships in harbour of Tandjong Priok, Dutch East Indies to welcome the Jules Michelet

University of Leiden, Netherlands

The Dutch newspaper De Locomotief dated 2 April 1929 announced the visit of the Jules Michelet (1) to the Dutch East Indies. She was to transport the French governor general of French Indochina [Pasquier] to his new post.(2) Further more was rear admiral Stotz on board of the cruiser. (3) Arrival was planned at 9 April 09:00 o’clock in the harbour of Tandjong Priok and to be berthed in the second inner harbour. Three Dutch aircraft (W.A.’s) were to fly as far as the island Edam to escort her and a naval vessel would leave the harbour towards her with some authorities like the French consul on board followed by the guard sloop. Her berth place was as the west side before the quay of the J.C.J. shipping line. After the governor general was disembarked she was to anchor at the buoys. The Dutch warships including ships of the so-called Gouvernements Marine lying in the harbour or in the roads were that day between sunrise and 14”00 o’clock all paved. Ships in the roads under steam had the flags hoisted. The harbour master would asked all Dutch, Dutch East Indies and foreign ships to hoist the usual flags and banners.The crews of the warships of the Nederlandsch-Indië were to shout three times ‘Hoezee’ and dressed in ceremonial uniforms. The expected salute of 21 gunshots by the Jules Michelet was immediately to be returned by the gun battery of the air field. After these salutes was the Dutch cruiser Hr.Ms. Sumatra to salute the standard of the governor-general with 21 gunshots. When he left the ship was again saluted with 21 gunshots by the Sumatra and the air field battery. The Soerabaijasch handelsblad dated 22 March wrote that at the moment of arrival the Dutch cruisers Hr.Ms. Java and Evertsen, the coastal defence ship De Ruyter and a division of submarines would be present. The edition a day later reported that the Sumatra would replace the Java while the latter ship was to undergo major repairs. During his stay in the Dutch East Indies were several meetings organized.

De Koerier 4 April 1929

The Bataviasch nieuwsblad dated 16 April reported her departure around 11:30 o’clock from Tandjong Priok towards Surabaya and from there to Bali to wait for there for Pasquier for further transport with as final destination Saigon.

Notes

1. She served in 1925 as the flagship of the French Far East squadron. Laid down at Lorient, France as an armoured cruiser in June 1904, launched in August 1908, commissioned in November 1908 and finally sunk as target ship by the submarine Thetis in 1937. Main armament consisted of 2x2-19,3cm/7.6” guns and 12x1-16,4cm/6.5” guns. Modified Léon Gambetta-class design, succeeded by Ernest Renan.

2. Pierre Marie Antoine Pasquier (6 February 1877 Nantes, France-15 January 1934 Nièvre, France) governor general acting for A. Varenne between 4 October 1926-16 May 1927 and between 26 December 1928-15 January 1934.

3.  J.J. Stotz (died17 September 1929 Toulon, France), former chief in command French naval forces in the Far East