Sébastien Lespès (1828-1897)

Rear Adm Sébastien Lespès was no Adm Anatole-Amédée-Prosper Courbet. He arrived in Hongkong on March 4, 1884 to assume the command of the Far East Division. His flagship was the ironclad La Galissonnière. By July, this Division (including also warships Triomphante, d'Estaing, Duguay-Trouin, and Volta, and gunboat Lutin) was combined with the Tonkin Coasts Division in July, and in August, Adm Courbet took total command.

Lespès did succeed in attacking even occupying Keelung on Aug 5. The Chinese counter-attacked on the next day, and Lespès retreated.

On Aug 25, Lespès was to enter Min River to support Courbet's fleet which had just destroyed the Chinese Nan-Yang Fleet upstream in Fuchow but Lespès was forced back after his ship received several hits.

In the War of Fisherman's Wharf, Lespès's performance was less than stellar. In fact, France suffered a most embarrassing defeat. From this point on, Lespès was never to receive any more battle assignments except for blockading the ports of Taiwan.

In the Campaign of the Pescadores, Adm Courbet was in command who died on June 11, 1885. Lespès did deliver a moving eulogy.

Sébastien Lespès海軍少將在1884年3月4日抵香港就任法國遠東海軍支隊司令.他的旗艦就是鐵甲戰艦La Galissonnière號.到7月時,孤拔統領遠東及東京海岸兩支隊,8月合為遠東艦隊.

Lespès並無孤拔之才.8月5日攻打基隆時,雖然摧毀了幾個要塞,而且佔領了基隆,但次日清軍大事反擊,Lespès無法應付,只有退兵一途.

8月29日,孤拔在福州之役大勝後[偷襲大清南洋艦隊],順著閩江出海,Lespès入閩江支援,但在江口遇襲,旗艦中彈數發,只好倉皇撤退.

10月8日的淡水漁人碼頭之戰,在Lespès統領下,鎩羽而歸,灰頭灰臉的,從此孤拔不再交付任何戰事,後來只被指派封鎖台灣港口.

澎湖之戰孤拔就親自督戰.1885年6月11日孤拔病死,13日的追思禮拜中,據聞Lespès的追悼辭甚為感人.

Lespès的座艦La Galissonnière號吃水4,585噸(見下圖).其他的遠東支隊艦隻包括了Triomphante, d'Estaing, Duguay-Trouin, Volta, 及砲艇Lutin.

(Lespès's flagship, La Galissonnière, tonnage = 4,585 tons)