French aviso Vitry le François visited Sabang, Dutch East Indies in 1932

The Jaarboek van de Koninklijke Nederlandsche Zeemacht 1931-1932 reported that the French aviso Vitry le François visited Sabang, Dutch East Indies between 14-16 March 1932(1). The Dutch newspaper Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated 2 March reported that the submarine mother ship underway from France towards French Indochina would visit Sabang between 14-17 March. The De Sumatra Post dated 15 March called her a minelayer with a crew numbering 6 officers and 80 men. The De Indische courant dated Thursday 17 March reported that she arrived on the [Monday] 14th [at 09:30 o’clock] and would depart next Wednesday towards Saigon, French Indochina. The Bataviaasch nieuwsblad dated Wednesday 16 March referred to press agency Aneta which reported from Medan that her crew laid a wreath for the French sailors buried during the First World War at Sabang.(2) Later telegraphed Aneta that she was departed that day [at 6:30 o’clock] towards Saigon with a planned visit underway at Singapore.

Notes

1. Arras-class aviso preceded by Marne-class succeeded by Ailette-class. Laid down by Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire (ACL), Saint-Nazaire, France in 1918, launched in March 1920, stricken on 22 October 1935 and sold to be broken up in 1935.

2. At Sabang were ensign Jacques Carissan and sailor Hamon Joseph Clairon buried after they died in the local hospital. Both men were wounded in the Battle of Penang of 28 October 1914 when the German light cruiser SMS Emden sunk the French destroyer Mousquet. The men were dropped by the same Emden at Sabang.