REMEMBERING VICE-ADMIRAL DU FOURNET–SAVIOUR OF MUSA DAGH ARMENIANS
May 6, 2010
Paris, France
Louis Dartige du Fournet, was born in Orne Putanges, France, on March
2, 1856. He joined the naval academy in 1872, where he graduated top
in his class.
He proved his abilities during his first year of active duty in Siam
(Myanmar). In 1893 he attacked the Menam Pass with his brigade -The
Comet- to clear the port of Bangkok, a feat which earned him the rank
of captain. In 1909 he was promoted to admiral and then vice-admiral,
following the Balkan War of 1912-1913.
During the First World War, Dartige became the commander of the
Third French Squadron which had just been formed. Based in Syria,
the squadron was responsible for enforcing the blockade of the eastern
shores of the Mediterranean, enacted in August 1915.
He rescued 4,058 Armenians who were blockaded by the Turkish army on
Mount Moses (Musa Ler), located on the Syrian coast, north of the Bay
of Antioch, and evacuated them to Port-Said (Egypt). He then commanded
the allied fleets of the East in the Bosphorus. His brilliant service,
his intellect, his passionate leadership gained him the reputation
of flattering Paknam.
After the war, he wrote about his career. His memoirs were re-published
several times.
Dartige’s career involved two other significant events. The first was
glorious: In the summer of 1915, Admiral Dartige took the necessary
steps to evacuate Armenians who had escaped the Genocide. His portrait
appears in a supplement to the Diary–and Country France magazine.
The second episode was tragic. On December 1, 1916, near Athens, the
Greek Army fought against the landing of French forces. The French
wanted to force the King Constantine to take a positive attitude
towards the Allies. The French lost six officers and 64 sailors during
the bloody conflict The massacre of French soldiers was dubbed the
"Greek Vespers". The admiral had just been promoted grand officer of
the Legion of Honour. His cap bears the three-star of a vice-admiral.
He was brutally dismissed and left his command of the squadron on
December 18, 1916.
In 1922, he married Edmee de La Borie of the Batut Perigueux
(Dordogne). There, in his villa–Paknam–he wrote his memoirs. He
died on February 17, 1940 and is buried in St. Chamassy (Dordogne).