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The last step of the Cruise yellow

Then she took the road home, the Yellow Cruise, the most famous French expedition of the interwar years, is suddenly interrupted by the death of its leader, George Marie Haardt March 16, 1932 in Hong Kong.

Three years after the success of the Cruise black in 1924-1925 was connected Colomb-Bechar in Antananarivo by the automobile, André Citroën and Georges-Marie Haardt form the project of linking Beirut and Indochina by land. The preparation of the Expedition Citroen Centre Asia will require more than two years. The
Lieutenant Victor Point who commanded a gunboat on the Yangtze, obtained with the support of Mr. Martel, Minister of France in China, Chiang Kai-shek agreement for the passage of the Shipping within China. Marshal King, governor of Sinkiang practically independent, also agrees.
In 1930, Haardt goes to Washington to gain support from the National Geographic Society. Upon his return, he learns that the Soviet Union, which had initially supported, refuses for 1931 the passage of shipping. This decision forced the last-minute shipping through the Himalayas and the Pamirs. Haardt decides the formation of two groups: the Pamir under his command and under that of Deputy Chief Louis Audouin-Dubreuil, China and the group headed by Victor Point. The junction of the two groups must take place at the foot of the eastern foothills of the Pamir.
In three months, the engineer Charles Brull adapted vehicles in the Pamirs to high mountain: seven torpedoes light tracked feature a special traction equipment. The seven-tracks of the group were sent to China by boat Tiensin where they are received by Victor Point.
expedition with 40 people is not designed as a "sporting event" but a "cruising" for business purposes but also scientists. Besides the mechanics headed by Maurice Penaud, Cruise yellow "loads" of scholars and artists, Joseph Hackin, director of the Guimet Museum, Father Teilhard de Chardin, who intends to conduct studies geological, painter Alexandre Iacovleff. Haardt, which attaches great importance to the theatrical release, commits the filmmaker Andre Savage. Each group has a Car TSF.
The day before, the vice-president of the National Geographic Society, one member, Maynard Owen Williams, part-shipment, furnish a bell Haardt caravan Tibetan: "The Tibetan bell rang at the dawn of April 4, 1931, the awakening and the end of the preparations that had lasted more than two years. "
From April to July, the Pamir group through Syria, Iraq, Persia, Afghanistan to arrive at the foot of the Himalayas in mid-July. In areas controlled by Great Britain, the expedition is supported by a British officer, Colonel Vivian Gabriel.
The climb is started July 12. To achieve Kilik Pass (4750 m) that marks the border with China, we must pass over 45 bridges that can clearly support the weight of cars. Therefore every time unloading vehicles, install the fixed points on the opposite bank, the tow cable guiding them remotely and then reload them. Sometimes the path must be paved with dynamite and then cleared by the coolies. Sometimes scree that leave cars at half suspended in a vacuum. Progression is the average of twenty miles a day.
In early August, Haardt, who learned that point has been held since July by the Governor of Sinkiang, decides to continue to pony. The junction of the Pamir group and a detachment of the China group takes place October 8 at Aksu. The mission is found in full on October 26 to Urumchi, capital of Sinkiang. For a month, Marshal King refuses, under various pretexts, to issue passports needed to continue the expedition. The situation is released at the end of the month with the arrival of Jacques Salesse, commissioned by André Citroën to convey the three cars, forty-six boxes of material and two wireless sets ordered by Marshal King. The yellow
Cruise entire can finally leave Urumchi November 29 but the delay forced him to confront the crossing of Mongolia in winter. The vehicles, designed for high heat, had to be adapted to extreme cold: to protect the engine, body and caulk invented a special device to heat the cabin. For cross-country "in the white card," the mission is guided by a Mongol, Goumbô. The insecure situation of the country and temperatures down to less than thirty degrees require rolling night and day.
In early January 1932, Haardt Telegraph: "Cars have charged heavy traveled 5,000 miles through speed. Damaged cylinders despite dust filters. Thick oil to hot country freezes. Radiators freeze in two hours. When engine idling, fouled plugs, oil leaks. Stops too short to draw up a tent. Mechanic repairing bare hands, blue and sleepless jealously refuses driver (rescue). After accidental dumping ice water, freeze wheels, brakes slip. Colder weather threatened. Revision full-Liang Chow. The hardest part of the trip remains to be done. "
January 10, the expedition reached the Yellow River which it crosses by ferry. After suffering a collision from rebel troops, but no casualties, January 25, the expedition reached Kalgan February 8, 1932 and finally arrived in Beijing on February 12 at eleven. In the absence of Wilden, held in Nanjing, the shipment is received by Lagarde, the First Counselor. Haardt is the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour, MO Victor Point and Williams are knighted. Received within ten days by the diplomatic corps and the Chinese authorities, the expedition left Beijing on Feb. 25 to begin the planned return by Indochina, India, southern Persia and return to Beirut, its point of departure.
Some of the material and personnel embarked for Haiphong while Haardt and earn some companions Shanghai and Hong Kong they reach the night of March 11 to 12.
Haardt, suffering from Beijing, decided to take a few days off to Hong Kong and moved to Repulse Bay Hotel along with Henry Pecqueur of Pétropavlovsky and Waddington: "Haardt not want anyone with him, says Andrew Georger. It gives instructions for travel in Indochina. It is understood that the ship did not wait and that the various working groups provided for the passage of Indochina leave without him. "
Consulted on the morning of 12, doctors diagnosed a double pneumonia. Haardt can not attend the lunch hosted in his honor by the Governor of the colony or receive Dufaure La Prade, Consul General of France, who came to inquire after her. While his condition seemed to improve slightly and he organized the way back, Georges-Marie Haardt died in his sleep the night of March 15 to 16.
informed of the death of Chief Yellow Cruise, André Citroën telegraph at once: "Bring the body in France that I mourn with you. The man died but the work remains. "
At the news of the death of Haardt, Teilhard de Chardin wrote March 18:" Here today we appenons rapid death if Mr. Haardt, removed, j imagine a relapse bordering on pneumonia that he contracted when arriving in Beijing. I guess Haardt, if he could foresee his end, was not without discovering any size up to the death in action. The desert had been a nobler grave. Hong Kong still has its beauty. Personally, this sudden disappearance of a man whose heart and generosity won me gives me great grief, which augments the regret for not being there at the last moment. Haardt as I know, he would have pressed me at that moment and I'd have probably softened. This is the real punishment for me. "
Presented at the cemetery in Hong Kong, the body of Georges-Marie Haardt is brought back to France aboard Felix Roussel .

DVR.

Sources: Goerger Andrew Apart Cruise the yellow, Paris, Rieder, 1935; Andre Le Fevre. Cruise yellow, Paris, L'Asiathèque 1991; Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Letters of Travel, 1923-1955, Paris, Grasset, 1997. Photo Credits: L'Illustration, 1932, p. 385. "Reception at the Governor Tash Kurgan: from left to right (" identifiable in pith helmets they wear are the only ones): The George Smith (historian), Hackin (archaeologist), Audouin-Dubreuil (Deputy Leader) Williams (Member of the National Geographic Society), Pecqueur (Geodesy), Iacovleff (painter), GM Haardt (Head of Mission) Savage (director), Jordan (doctor), Gauffreteau (popotier).

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The saga of the "Fronde"

Character singular history of France in Hong Kong, the destroyer cons "Sling" is unique in the annals of the Navy. It sank in Hong Kong in 1906, has been refloated and repaired, then participated in one of the first naval battle of 1914.

The cons destroyer "Sling" is one of a series of twenty ships of 300 tons, called type "Arquebuse", the first of this series commissioned in the early twentieth century. The lightweight construction of these vessels resulting theories of the "Young School" school of thought initiated by strategic naval Admiral Aube, Minister of Marine in the late 1880s. At that time, the introduction of the torpedo in the range of naval guns raised high hopes among some French naval officers. They hope indeed that this new weapon, supposedly unstoppable, will help counter the dominance of other navies equipped with powerful battleships, particularly the Royal Navy. The great rival sea background of colonial expansion, is still for a few years the British fleet before improved relations between France and England in 1904 opens on the Entente Cordiale.
Supporters of the "Young School", sailors but also politicians and many journalists who have a passion for naval strategy then, think that a swarm of small vessels armed with torpedoes must be able to saturate the defenses of the great ocean liners and put out of action. Behind this theory is the idea that France can save a large number of small torpedo boats or destroyers returning cons cheaper than a smaller fleet of big battleships. It is indeed can spend as much money as possible rearmament against Germany Land. The priority given to small units of area at the expense of large buildings responds to the strategic axis of France. The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century are thus the start of construction of hundreds of small boats, from 100 to several hundred tons. On the eve of the First World War, the French navy destroyers and 272 aligns and cons destroyers under this theory of the "Young School". The "Sling" is one.
The cons destroyers from the series "Arquebuse" weighing about 300 tons, a length of 58.3 meters. They are equipped with engines of 2300 hp which gives them a high speed of 30 knots, the main advantage of these ships armaments consists mainly torpedoes. Despite their small size, these buildings are valued for their seaworthiness. Admiral Hallier, who in 1906 commanded as lieutenant on "Sabre", the ship of this series, writes: "This little 350-ton destroyer has shown, on this occasion (Admiral evokes the typhoon in Hong Kong) , wonderful nautical qualities. After the typhoon, I would have faced without the slightest apprehension, any time in any sea: for I do not think a building this size could ever be subjected to a test harder than the latter. "
The "Fronde", launched in 1902 with "Building Workshops and the Gironde in Bordeaux, is called to active duty in 1903. The cons destroyer belongs to the first squadron of the Mediterranean, based in Toulon. Then, March 9, 1904, the "Fronde" and its sister ships "Javelin", "Musket" and "Pistol" sailed from Algiers, along with the cruiser D'Assas, to join the Naval Division Far East (DNEO). The fleet reached Saigon on April 23. "The Sling" and "Gun" continues through Hong Kong, where they anchored in the port of Victoria on 1 June. This is the first stop in Hong Kong against the destroyer "Sling", which set sail on July 8, reached Shanghai on July 11, then enter it in dry dock on August 2. From 1904 to 1906, the "Fronde" sailing between Shanghai, Fort Bayard, Guangzhou, Macau, Haiphong and Saigon. The ship also returns several times in Hong Kong, among others in October 1904 and April 1906. Finally, September 15, 1906, the "Sling" made a last stop in Hong Kong with four other destroyers cons of DNEO, "Javelin", head of fleet, "Francisco", "Rapier" and "Sabre". The fleet arrives in Shanghai and has faced a queue of typhoon Sept. 13. She underwent September 18 in Hong Kong a violent typhoon which we have already told the story . The "Fronde" was severely damaged and five of its crew perished that day (the English squadron delivered as Admiral Boisse, commander of the DNEO a check for 25 pounds sterling for the families of missing the Fronde).
The wreckage remains 75 days under water but DNEO decides to bail it out and fix it. The operation is facilitated precisely by the small size of this class of destroyers cons. The arsenal of Saigon means Boysson 2nd class engineer to oversee the operation from the company of marine works in Hong Kong, "Protector". The wreckage was found on December 1 and enters the dry dock in Hong Hom, Kowloon. The cons destroyer receives a new front shell portion, consisting mainly repairs to ensure its airworthiness. The boat leaves the pool March 14, 1907 and left Hong Kong on March 20, towed by the cruiser "Algiers" March 24 to join the arsenal of Saigon. He completed several months his equipment and weapons. Subsequently, from 1907 to 1914, the "Fronde" crossed the waters from Indochina, the Mekong delta in Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia, patrolling along the coast, bringing supplies to the garrisons or providing hydrographic work.
The First World War provides the "Fronde" during an appearance last notable. The ship, which is then integrated into the flotilla of destroyers cons of Saigon, in fact involved in an early naval battles of the war. The German cruiser "Emden", Wing German China, sailing in pirate since the beginning of hostilities. He has already sunk 22 boats of Commerce allies when he faced 28 October 1914, at the port of Penang in the Straits of Malacca, the Russian cruiser "Yemtchoug," the French aviso "Iberville" and cons destroyers "Musket", "Gun" and "Sling". This is in port, disassembled. The "Emden", in the tradition of privateering vessels, has disguised his sillouhette Greant in a 4th false chimney on her deck to look like a British cruiser. It comes close to the Russian ship which, surprise, is taken under the German guns, broke in two and sank. Of the French ships, only the "Musket", back from patrol, could intervene. But despite its torpedoes that were supposed to give it supremacy over the heavier ships, it is quickly destroyed by the guns of the "Emden," which collects 46 survivors. 43 members of the crew, including the commander, were killed in action. The crew of the "Fronde" witnessing helplessly as the destruction of two ships. A ship's officer wrote: "And in all it was the same rage can do nothing. The unanimous feeling was like to go through the bottom it was nothing, but go there without even being able to shoot a gun, without a fight, suffer the slaughter without resistance which we had to have poor performance for our Russian friends, it seemed too hard. " In March 1915, the destroyer cons "Fronde" in the Mediterranean and back to patrol until the end of the war. The ship was decommissioned 30 October 1919 and her hull was sold to Toulon May 6, 1920. This time, the "Fronde" finally completed his naval career, which already had almost ended September 18, 1906, at the bottom of the port of Hong Kong ...

CR.

Source: Archives of Historical Service Defence / Marine: navigation logs and correspondence of the commanders, Toulon and Vincennes "La Revue Maritime, September 1951; http://pages14-18.mesdiscussions.net/; Paul Chack, Claude Farrere "Fights and battles at sea", Flammarion, 1928. Credits: Historical Service Defense / Navy / Vincennes HKMM.

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captain Contenson, visiting Hong Kong

military attaché in Beijing from 1871 to 1874, Captain Guy Contenson extensively surveyed in Asia, China, Japan, Malaysia to Indonesia. Hong Kong is a mandatory step of these journeys, in one of his stories, it focuses on the British colony.

Baron Guy de Contenson is 27 years old when he accepted the post of military attache in Beijing. It is an ambitious and curious young captain who enjoys his assignment to discover Asia. In tireless traveler, he never hesitates to give advice to people who might follow: hotels, transportation, good food and curiosities ... some pages have nothing to envy of modern travel guides.
During his travels, he must obviously go to Hong Kong is to China and must stop ships. The young master came from Saigon aboard "Mei Kong," the very day of the anniversary of Queen Victoria (then a May 24), worthily celebrated in the colony. The boat "was received by the Sabbath of English music, amid the fluttering flags."
Like all travelers of his time, he goes into raptures about the city created "absolutely naked on a rock, but along a excellent harbor. " Guy Contenson, whose account is very convenient and clean miser descriptions, notes the "very beautiful aspect of [the city] with its villas from the sides of the mountain. These houses can rival those of Frascati and Albano, leaving aside, of course, works of art, although they contain charming chinoiserie. "And to linger longer on the" villa Jardyne at two kilometers from the city. " The passenger recalled that his owner made his fortune through its fleet of "fast steamers" which outperformed the trunk to make English the new Europe.
"As for the French, they do little business on the Hong Kong we did not represented as an official manner by our consuls, our warships, etc.. The number of French is rather insignificant at the time, "with the exception of the office of courier shipping, there are no French schools." The military defeat of the recent Franco-Prussian War is no shortage of finger pointing, in comparison, the German presence. "The Germans [...] are the masters. Their prosperity is revealed to the wealth of public and private buildings they own, and, among other things, the club they were built: as beautiful outside as the English club, he is best fitted inside. " Is this true? Information
Guy Contenson sometimes based on rumors and some exaggerations of his countrymen. Thus he says that the temperature can drop "in the winter up to twelve degrees below zero." The observatory English was not created at that time, it is difficult to verify, but no story has ever noticed these temperatures. On another note, is it just landed it quacks on the governor's daughter Kennedy. "This young lady directs everything that the constitution leaves the English colonies of authority to his dad." Gossip circulating in There is no doubt that Guy and Contenson relays.
It is difficult to say exactly what year it is passed by the British colony. His story "China and the Far East" suggests that it is a single journey, and it is not. From 1871 to 1874, Guy Contenson is based in Beijing and take every opportunity to wander in the Far East. Presumably his visit Hong Kong dated spring 1873 or 1874 because the Governor Kennedy, which he refers, does that during the year 1872. But Contenson, itself, must be very sure of the timeline since the first edition of his book in 1884, ten years after his return. Meanwhile, he left the army to become a landowner in Spain ... The devil's journey resumed the baron in 1897, when an archaeological expedition up in the Taurus. In 1915 it was 71 years, and is found resuming service in the army, Russia alongside General Pau.

FD.

Sources: Guy Contenson, China and the Far East, Paris, 1884; Numa Broc, Illustrated Dictionary of French explorers of the nineteenth century, Paris, 1992.

Acknowledgements Mr. Yves Azémar and his inexhaustible library of old books on Asia, 89 Hollywood Road - Hong Kong.

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Georges Bigot-based Pathe Overseas Hong Kong

Adventurer key-on, passionate about music and cinema, Georges Bigot is an atypical and uncommon. After years of adventures in Asia, he moved to Hong Kong in the 60s and Pathé-based Overseas, a company's film distribution and production.

Georges Bigot left France in 1927. Engaged in the colonial army, the chances of an eventful life led him to China, at Tientsin, and Shanghai. It is a police officer in the French Concession, bureaucrat at the consulate, and these trades allow him to see the country, but does not match the aspirations of the turbulent character. He returned to France in 1935 to blaze his savings and make a definitive statement: his life is in Asia.
Back in China, he teamed up with a Greek called Castro and embarks on a grand adventure: the creation of the Shanghai Opera. The growing business was quickly dampened by the Sino-Japanese War. In 1939, he moved to Saigon to revive the opera in the capital Cochin: War breaks out and he was drafted. Reformed Two years later he is back in Shanghai, while with his lyrical art projects ... and Japanese censorship. It diversified into the cinema, opened a restaurant and a nightclub!
With the arrival of Mao in power, he left China. It is obviously in Hong Kong we find it. He decides to increase its distribution activities in the 7th Art and password for production. He travels between France and the British colony, the anchor of his new company. "It Georges Bigot, who has contributed substantially to the growth of Japanese cinema in France," says Paul Clerc-Renaud, one his associates. He then bought the film rights to the Japanese offer to the French public. A risky bet cultural and time-consuming, which is based on the conviction and passion.
With his company Pathe Overseas, Le Bigot also acquires the rights of French films for broadcast in Asia. His former colleague and friend remembers, "it was known everywhere by everybody ... It went to Cannes to shop for new productions and was working in their dissemination in Asia." From 1977 to 1983, Paul Clerc-Renaud second businessman from offices in the International building. "It was a part-time basis since My main function was to direct Saca Far East trading company Pathe Overseas shareholder with George. " The Hong Kong producer Fred Wang, the company Salon Films, fondly remembers a good friend: "Our collaborations have been very many! We made use of our respective services almost always for French productions.
In Hong Kong, one of the pleasures of Georges Bigot is to get artists to launch movies. "Lino Ventura, Delphine Seyrig, Pierre Richard and many others have moved here for promotional tours, says Paul Clerc-Renaud. Pierre Richard was a star in Hong Kong in the late 70's ... His films were walking very well. " And remember a meal where the comic epic amused the gallery with his chopsticks. "We took the players always go for a ride on boat to the village of Lei Yu Mun to eat seafood once again enjoys his collaborator, the director of Film UniFrance fell to the water trying to help Delphine Seyrig to land! ".
tougher times come next. "The film market has evolved, cinema managers were themselves directly and look for the film: we lose our job wholesaler. In 1983, Pathé Overseas, the company was sold to Hong Kong Edko, his passionate founder can not help but stay in business for some time. "George went over very often in Hong Kong, he loved this city." Sees two daughters, Suzanne and Isabelle Brepson Bordeaux also lived several years in Hong Kong with their spouses. Georges Bigot died in France in 1997 after a long life of adventure and Asian ambitious cultural projects. His many friends in Hong Kong and the region still remember his enthusiasm, his kindness and modesty.

FD.

Sources: Gabriel No one, Flic and poet, Georges Bigot, Revue Otherwise, 1986. Thanks to Mr Paul Clerc-Renaud for the time we spent and valuable information. Photo credit: private archives. Georges Bigot at a dinner at Lei Yu Mun with Andrea Ferreol (right).

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The promotion of French in 1928.

Defending and promoting the French language in English-speaking territory has never been easy, at all latitudes. In 1928, the consul of France in Hong Kong already working in this direction.
In 2008, academic exchanges, cooperation between universities, scholarships, curricula Erasmus, the "Plans for the defense of the French" and the actions within the Francophonie, are involved in promoting the French language. 80 years ago, the task proved more difficult and more limited range of ways, but not without results, as reported by the then Consul of France. In a despatch of December 4, 1928, Georges de la Prade Dufaure responds to an investigation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just launched (even then!) On the situation of French in the country territories are located and where the embassies and consulates in France. The consul gave an update on the French settlements but also on "local schools and universities abroad. His letter thus provides valuable information about educational opportunities in Hong Kong in 1928, both in primary and secondary schools, French and foreign, to the university.
The "two institutions founded by our compatriots, St Joseph's College for boys and the French Convent for girls [...] give to the French language in place that allow them maximum official programs. Thus, At St Joseph's College, a school founded by the Paris Foreign Missions, "with a population of 850 students, Chinese, Portuguese mixed blood known Macaïstes and forty Europeans [...] the French language is compulsory from the 4th for all students who do not follow the course of Chinese or Portuguese. The hours of French data are the same hours as the courses of Chinese and Portuguese. At Frenchies Convent school, "265 students including 175 Chinese and 90 foreign", founded by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, the situation is similar. Instead of French is satisfactory in both "French schools" Hong Kong is notable, home to a very small proportion of European students (less than 5% for St Joseph's). In
schools within the "local foreign initiatives," the consul noted that "the official programs make no special place in French primary schools [...] with the exception of the primary school called" Peak School where French is compulsory (where) in grades 9th, 8th, 7th, teaching has half past one week in French. In the 6th teaching of French is focused at half past two week. " For the sixth highest class of such institutions 'foreign', the Dufaure Prade stresses that "Children were then 10 to 11 years, so they leave Hong Kong after their sixth year and continue their studies in England, those who remain Hong Kong can complete their studies at the Central British School.. "
In "High School girls and boys (foreign), French is optional. An exception exists, however, the Central British School, under the Government of Hong Kong, where French is mandatory. In college Hong Kong finally, "French is optional.
After this overview of the education system in Hong Kong, Consul assess the status of the teaching of French in the colony: "the place of French is not very important, with busy schedules as they are with customers almost exclusively Chinese schools in Hong Kong and of little practical use that this necessarily those Chinese knowledge of the French language, one can only hope that this place could grow substantially; However, instead of French is appreciated and one can say that there tend to increase at stagnation. " Finding somewhat disillusioned but with a hint of optimism ...
This optimism is reflected in the study made on the consul must pass exams that students and students from Hong Kong. He noted as well that the "matriculation examination, which corresponds to our bachelor, has as an optional subject review of modern language - other than English, which is mandatory." French and Portuguese can be chosen as a foreign language, without notifying the university while the choice of requires other language to warn the university six months in advance and "this condition indicates already a primacy of the French language. This rule is further underlined by the fact that for the French alone, there is provided an oral exam required for candidates seeking a Distinction ", viaticum valuable for the university.
After these mixed on the role of French in Hong Kong, Consul examines the situation of teachers who teach French in the "foreign" is to say not managed by the French religious orders. And he considers the situation concern in more ways than one. He lamented that "the French teachers at all three levels (primary, secondary and university) are not of French nationality, there is no Belgian or Swiss, a schoolteacher, born in France, teaches in a school of Government, She graduated from the Faculty of Aix (Bachelor letters, complete, philosophy). " In addition, teachers of French "are not required to do internships in France, Belgium or Switzerland, in general, classes are taught in preference to teachers who made such courses, whose duration is not limited . La Francophonie, to be institutionalized before, is already present in the analysis made by the consul when he refers to teachers of French Belgian or Swiss, with the notable exception of those in Canada ... Dufaure La Prade also cites a letter Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, too, regretted the lack of French teachers, which requires him to teach while "(he) has no qualification in The Teaching of French Other than a love of Everything French year and Enthusiasm for The Language and literature of France. "
concerns of the consul of France in 1928 are therefore very close to those of its successors and those of cultural attaches who have succeeded since then. The French, after English and Chinese, and far behind those languages, in 1928, occupies first place among the languages taught in Hong Kong. Already facing problems in the number of teachers and their training. 80 years ago, the defense and promotion of French in Hong Kong, a long breath, then asked already means, motivation and perseverance ....

CR.

Sources: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nantes.

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controversy surrounding a typhoon

In the days following the violent typhoon September 18, 1906, a lively controversy trips to Hong Kong: Royal Observatory, why did he not raised the alarm when it was created, precisely to prevent such tragedies?
The island of Hong Kong is situated on the coast of southern China (22 ° N, 114 ° E) in the middle of an area sub-tropical climate, hit regularly between August and October by typhoons. Their violence can cause great damage and especially cause casualties. The chronicle of Hong Kong is punctuated by stories of hurricanes, typhoons and hurricanes devastated the area.
Thus, the consul of France, four years after the opening of the consulate, has already reported a hurricane that hit the colony September 8, 1867. In his despatch of September 10, the consul From Oak describes this "hurricane whose consequences have been disastrous [...] and which has caused so in the roads in the city of losses for which the figure is not yet significant. [...] Four foreign vessels were cast ashore. An American schooner sank, and a large quantity of Chinese junks. A steam frigate of the Navy Imperial, "The Warrior", a port visit in Hong Kong, was also damaged and "is obliged to go to the dock and undergoing repairs which will retain at least a month here."
These recurring risks posed by lead elements of Hong Kong colonial authorities to create, in 1883, the Royal Observatory, in charge of measuring time, the collection of meteorological and magnetic data and forecasting of tropical cyclones. A warning system is implemented and when it is fired, the firing of a cannon dedicated to this mission must warn people and vessels in the bay of an impending typhoon.
Yet, September 18, 1906, the warning system did not work. As noted by the commander of the French destroyer cons "Sabre" in calling at the harbor, "the service port has not given the usual notice about an approaching typhoon." This will cause serious flaw in the days following the disaster, a lively debate that involves the Royal Observatory and its director, severely attacked by the newspapers of the colony. Why did not he Observatory raised the alarm? Was he able to do? How to avoid this in future kind of drama? In response to these violent proceedings, the British Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, decided to establish a commission of inquiry to determine misconduct, impose sanctions and adopt preventive measures.
Indeed, the typhoon that hit Hong Kong on September 18 was of unusual violence and lack of warning has compounded the damage and casualties. The consul of France, Auguste Liebert, said in a dispatch of 3 May 1908 the extent of the disaster, he had described in his 1906 report: "Nearly 60 major European-style ships, 34 boats Steam and hundreds of barges, barges and junks were sunk, is cast ashore or damaged during the typhoon, however, that only lasted three hours but whose center passed right on the colony. The fleet of Hong Kong, comprising at least 1500 boats or sampans was cast and an estimated 7 to 8000 the number of Chinese who were drowned. " The five destroyers against the French call have also been affected and "damage had more or less serious." The "Fronde" addressed, sank and "five of the crew of this small vessel and vanished their bodies were never found . These are the losses caused to the French fleet in this harbor that led the consul of France "to intervene, as elsewhere in the private-work of the Commission of Inquiry." It states: "... and I think I have served by the evidence that I made before the Commission, the interests of navigation in this big port frequented by large numbers of warships and French commerce."
The work of the Commission of Inquiry referred to by the consul of France last several months and are being debated in the Legislative Council (Legco) the colony in May 1907. But the conclusions of the report of the Commission are not up to the expectations of the consul Liebert: "As expected, the Centre-UK-official service was officially exonerated = = (emphasis is the Consul), but it is nonetheless true that appreciation was given to the public by the retirement of its director, Mr. Doberck. Finally, what is better still, orders were given to the Hong Kong Observatory reflect a more serious than he had been doing weather telegrams sent to it by the Zi Ka Wei observatories and Manila. Among other measures, the barrel giving the alarm is deleted and replaced by a more developed and anti-typhoon shelters are built, including one in Causeway Bay.
Although the Observatory is exonerated of any wrongdoing, the instructions in the following publication of the report provide guidance on what could be criticized. It seems that the Royal Observatory did not account for weather forecasts provided by the Zi Ka Wei Observatory (near Shanghai, founded by French Jesuits in 1873) and that of Manila (founded by the English Jesuits in 1865). These two observatories in the state of the art of the period, accounted for decades of weather coverage of the China Seas and newsletters were used by all vessels sailing in these waters. But, obviously, the Hong Kong Observatory has ignored the information sent by Zi Ka Wei and Manila, where the lack of warning.
This is confirmed by the archives of the Navy. Thus, 3 November 1901, Commander Morazzani, commander of the transport ship "Nive," a stopover in Shanghai writing to the Admiral commanding the squadron in the Far East in order to share his thoughts about typhoons observed in the area, his letter also communicates the Zi Ka Wei Observatory. In his letter, the commander of the "Nive" expressed his vision of marine sailing in these waters "rule still uncertainty about the origin and path of hurricanes." The sailor, facing the danger, must rely on forecasts of "Manila Observatory, Hong Kong and Zi Ka Wei (who) makes a valuable service." But the exchange of information between these observatories is essential for ensure the best possible forecast. Citing the Father and Froc, renowned meteorologist Zi Ka Wei, "it was enough in 1898, while Manila gleaning indications of a telegram telling merely an indication of wind does not fit with the movement barometric the resort, he was able to warn the ports of the Far East, 3 days in advance of the threat of a typhoon. " The commander of the "Nive" recommends to "multiple points-ship or observatories, which collects weather information = checked =".
Father Louis Froc responds to the commander of the "Nive" in a letter dated November 5, 1901: "You say that we announced a typhoon in Hong Kong three days in advance: we announced everywhere, but not in Hong Kong is the only port that has refused to receive from us any warning whatsoever, including the director has tried to direct the same ban at the Observatory of Manila, through these approaches has, for some weeks, received defense expressly tell us so dreaded typhoons! ".
The archives of the Navy therefore confirm that this is the report of the Commission investigation: the Hong Kong Observatory, systematically refused to cooperate with other observatories in the region. This was a deliberate attitude, probably related to a certain arrogance of its director, which lasted for many years, at least eight years.
However, the drama could it be avoided? The contemporary experts who analyzed weather data from the September 18, 1906, consider that, given the means at the time, the typhoon could not be detected in time. The information on Hong Kong and the region broadcast that day by the observatories Zi Ka Wei and Manila did not also mention the risk of typhoon. And descriptions and recorded on the typhoon that hit Hong Kong show that he was an exceptional phenomenon. The typhoon did indeed lasted only two and a half hours or three hours, very short period for a typhoon, which usually lasts a day or more. The typhoon has developed suddenly, its diameter was small size and high winds were very violent. So it was a rare phenomenon, a very high intensity and short, and nobody at the time, could not foresee.

CR.

Sources: Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nantes, historical records of the Service of Defense, Navy Section, Toulon, La Revue Maritime, September 1951. Photo credit: HKMM.