▁the ▁French ▁were ▁again ▁at ▁war ▁with ▁China , ▁and ▁Page ▁had ▁to ▁di vert ▁most ▁of ▁his ▁forces ▁to ▁support ▁Admir al ▁Lé on ard ▁Char ner ' s ▁China ▁expedition . ▁▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 1 8 6 0 ▁Page ▁left ▁C och inch ina ▁to ▁join ▁Char ner ▁at ▁C anton , ▁and ▁the ▁defence ▁of ▁Sa ig on ▁and ▁the ▁neighbour ing ▁Chinese ▁town ▁of ▁Ch ol on , ▁an ▁important ▁commercial ▁centre , ▁was ▁entr usted ▁to ▁cap itaine ▁de ▁v ais seau ▁Jules ▁d ' A ri ès . ▁ ▁To ▁g arrison ▁these ▁two ▁towns ▁d ' A ri ès ▁had ▁a ▁mere ▁ 6 0 0 ▁marine ▁inf antry men ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 ▁Spanish ▁troops ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁Colonel ▁Pal an ca ▁y ▁Gut ti ere z , ▁supported ▁by ▁the ▁cor v ettes ▁Prim au gu et , ▁Nor z agar ay ▁and ▁Lap lace . ▁ ▁To ▁augment ▁this ▁mod est ▁force ▁the ▁French ▁armed ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁jun ks ▁to ▁pat rol ▁the ▁rivers , ▁and ▁also ▁rec ru ited ▁Ann am ese ▁and ▁Chinese ▁auxili aries ▁to ▁take ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁pat rol s ▁and ▁man ▁the ▁advanced ▁posts . ▁▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 8 6 0 ▁the ▁Franco - Span ish ▁force ▁in ▁Sa ig on , ▁only ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁men ▁strong , ▁was ▁placed ▁under ▁sie ge ▁by ▁a ▁Vietnam ese ▁army ▁of ▁about ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0