Admiral Charles Rigault de Genouilly had led a French force, with support from Philipines based Spanish troops, into Indo-China the previous year. He had captured the port city of Da Nang in September, 1858 and the southern city of Saigon in February, 1859. Fierce resistance from Vietnamese imperial forces had continued, however, and the Admiral requested a relief from command for health reasons. Admiral François Page replaced him. (By John Osborne)