French destroyers Javeline and Pistolet inspected before their departure to the Fra East according to th Dutch newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad dated 16 February 1904

An item reported that the French admiral Melchior after visiting the destroyers Javeline (1) and Pistolet (2) ordered their departure about 4 days. To the crews of the Redoutable and the Styx were men coming from Europe added. At Marseille, France were 70 officers and sailors embarked on board of one ship of the Messageries. The French minister of war seemed also to have ordered to fit out the Gloire and Condé for battle. Huge numbers of bombs and melinite were loaded.

Notes

1. Javeline of the Arquebuse-clas destroyers, building ordered in 1900, laid down by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France in November 1900, launched on 15 October 1902 and stricken on 12 January 1920.

2. Pistolet of the Arquebuse-clas destroyers, building ordered in 1900, laid down by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, Nantes, France in September 1901, launched on 2 March 1904, stricken on 19 September 1919 and sold to be broken up on 6 May 1920.