Aldebaran at Tandjong Priok and her commanding officer.
Source De locomotief dated 3 December 1932
British Arabis-class minesweeping sloop©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1931-1932 reported that the French aviso Aldebaran (1)visited Sabang between 12-16 August 1932. In the following edition is nothing said about other visits the same year. Newspapers supplied also details about the November-December visits.
De Sumatra Post dated 30 September 1932 reported the arrival of the French gunboat Aldebaran in the afternoon of 29 September at Sabang. She left Colombo, Ceylon on 23 September towards Saigon, French Indochina to replace the gunboat Bell. Commanding officer is André le Pelletier. Probably she would stay 4 days at Alddebaran. Her crew numbered 3 officers and 103 men.
De Indische courant dated 1 October reported her arrival at Sabang on 28 September 16:00 o’clock. She was expected to arrive end August but waited at Colombo, Ceylon for better weather while the monson was heavy. On 3 October was planned to leave for Saigon, French Indochina.
De Indische courant dated 24 November reported an non-official visit to Batavia 27 November -1 December and to Ambon 6-10 December.
Soerabijasch handelsblad dated Tuesday 29 November reported hat she had been expected at Tandjong Priok on Sunday 27 November but this was changed into 1 December. Commanded by capitaine de frégate Pelletier.
De Locomotief dated Friday 2 December 1932 reported her arrival at Tandjong Priok on Thursday morning around 09:30 o’clock and berthing along the East buoys. After a visit of 4 days she would leave for Ambon. The edition dated 3rd reported that from Ambon she would leave for the French possessions in the Pacific. Her crew numbered 6 officers and 91 sailors.
Bataviasch nieuwsblad dated 6 December reported her departure on 5 December 12:45 O’clock towards Ambon. From there she would via Townsville, Australia go to her destination Tahiti.
Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 22 December reported her arrival at Ambon (2) on 10 December and berthed along the small of Digoel-quay.
Notes
1. A British Arabis minesweeping sloop, ordered in January 1916. Launched by Barclay Curle and Company, Whiteinch, Scotland on 19 May 1916, delivered to France in 1916, commissioned on 3 July 1916, stricken at Saigon, French Indochina on 13 October 1934 and sold to be broken up on 15 January 1935.
2. At Ambon were wreaths laid on the French mass grave on the European graveyard. During the Crimean War (16 October 1853-20 March 1856) visited the French frigate Sybille commanded by Villeneuve Ambound underway towards Kamchatka to join the British-French fleet. By drinking poisoned drinking water broke out an epidemic and between November 1854-February 1855 died 73 crew members. Villeneuve afraid of lacking men asked the resident of Ambon for support especially for being towed as far as Poeloe Manipa. The resident refused while the Netherlands were neutral. Villeneuve protested at the French cabinet without success. The Sybille left at the end without any Dutch support. The 50 guns Poursuivante-class sailing frigate Sibylle laid down at Toulon in November 1829, launched on 7 November 1847, commissioned on 8 April 1851 and stricken on 13 May 1881. During the Crimean War she served in the Far East.
