In 1935 she was transferred to a new route, sailing between Marseille and New Caledonia in the South Pacific, via the Panama Canal. On 19 May 1940 she left Marseille under the command of Captain Sabouret, bound for Tahiti. She arrived at Papeete on 28 June 1940, five days after the signing of armistice between France and Germany that ended the battle of France. On 18 July 1940 she arrived at Suva in Fiji to refuel, but was requisitioned by the authorities there. She was taken to Sydney, Australia, where 26 members of the crew, including the captain, volunteered to serve aboard.