He was appointed brigadier general in 1896, and took command of the 3rd Colonial Brigade (1896-97) as the Inspector General, he under-commissioned missions to New Caledonia, Réunion and Madagascar. In 1900, he participated in the Battle of Peking with his men, mostly Vietnamese conscripts who had seen little action were in-experienced. They were hastily sent to be landed near Tianjin, arriving a day after the other legions. Then in July 1900, he took command of the French troops in China, which he commanded during the march on Beijing and the capture of the imperial city on August 15. On the arrival of General Voyron in September 1900, he took command of the First Brigade of the Expeditionary Force.