Chinese gunboat captured by the French according to the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 16 November 1899

An item dated Paris 15 November reported that two French officers stationed at Montao were killed by the Chinese. Admiral Courrejolles arrested the prefect of Hainan and captured his gunboat. The newspaper De locomotief dated 27 December reported that immediately after the murder near Kwang Tjouw Wan landing troops of the Descartes (1) plundered and burned Hoi-how. Marines plundered and destroyed Soei-taji and some villages nearby. The prefect of Soei-taji responsible for the murder escaped but the tao taji of Hainan was arrested on board of a gunboat. Marshal Soe who was on board of the Descartes warned the French crew that this civil servant was rowed to a gunboat probably to escape. A barge of the Descartes arrived however at the same time at the Descartes and with bayonets sailors arrested him throwing him in the barge. The Chinese gunboat was disarmed and her main engine parts were destroyed to prevent any movement of her. Three other Chinese vessels at the roads were warned not to depart while if so they were to be destroyed.

Note

1. Protected cruiser laid down in august 1892 at Soc. De la Loire, launched in September two years later, completed in July 1896 and stricken in 1920. With a displacement of 3.960 tons were her dimensions 96,32 x 12,98 x 6,50 metres. The armament consisted of 4-6.4” guns, 10-3.9” guns, 8-3pdr guns, 4-1pdr guns and 2-18” surfaced torpedo tubes.