Most of these elements are still dispersed, on March 8, between Thai Nguyen and Cao Bang, where Colonel Seguin is. To reach Tuyen Quang – the planned regrouping point – it would take the latter four or five days, in the best conditions. Only the 2/9th R.I.C. (Mille Battalion), which moves with a battery of 75 between Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Quang, quickly reaches this center where there are already two car companies, a battery of 75 and two sections of the 19th R.M.I. Fearing that Colonel Seguin would arrive too late for him to be able to exert his influence on the elements being assembled at Tuyen Quang, General Alessandri - in the absence of General Sabattier, of whom we have no news - designates Major Capponi, Deputy Chief of General Sabattier's staff, to assume command of the Claire River group. Upon his arrival in Tuyen Quang on March 12, the new group leader approved the arrangements already made by Commander Mille, two companies of which were blocking the southern access to Tuyen Quang.
On March 13, passing through Ngan Son, Colonel Seguin entrusted the Inspector of the Indochinese Guard (G.I.) of Pontich with a guerrilla mission to be carried out between the R.C. 2 and the R.C. 3 at the Lepage battalion (4/16th R.M.I.C.) stationed at Bac Kan; he instructs him to join Tuyen Quang to put himself at Commander Capponi's disposal.
The western defenses of Tuyen Quang having collapsed (Phu Yen Binh ferry), the town is evacuated during the night from 12 to 13 and the column engages towards Bac Muc, order having been given to the battalion Lepage to join Chiem Hoa.
It was only when he arrived in Bac Kan (March 14) that Colonel Seguin learned of the loss of Dong Dang, Nacham, That Khe (the mobile detachments of these last two posts had moreover joined Bac Kan (see map) , Ha Giang, Lao Kay and Tuyen Quang. The fall of this center rendered one of the initial missions obsolete and Colonel Seguin decided to withdraw to Bao Lac to organize a guerrilla base there.
Three routes were adopted to facilitate resupply:The first element to arrive at Bao Lac on March 24 found the post evacuated and organized itself defensively while waiting for the bulk of the column, which arrived on March 27.
The Japanese, coming from Soc Giang and Nguyen Binh attacked at Bao Lac on April 3, then at Nam Quet on April 4. The group, weakened by the desertion of many Indochinese, crossed the border towards Tien Piao.
The Capponi column, after Bac Muc, went to Vinh Thuy. This post was destroyed and abandoned and, like that of Bac Quang, in the hands of the Japanese, the column continued on Yen Binh Xa - also destroyed and abandoned - in the hope of joining Pa Kha by the Nghia Do pass. The passage of the pass, in the rain, by a vertiginous track, is catastrophic for the animals and the material. Pa Kha being also occupied, the Capponi column slanted towards Khon Lung and Nam Yen where, surrounded in a circus, it was forced to capitulate (March 27). Individuals and small groups will manage to pass through the Japanese system and join the French troops. Others will be destroyed or decimated along the way by mountain dwellers from the region (meos), attracted by the bounties offered by the Japanese to whoever brings back Europeans, dead or alive.
The Lepage Battalion, to which Commander Capponi had given back its freedom of maneuver on March 22, will join China via Bac Me, Coc Pan, Loun Lan. He was able to refuel at Bac Me thanks to the G.I. post that remained in place. The G.I. de Pontich detachment continued its anti-Japanese guerrilla action until April 6. Pontich, despite an agreement reached on March 23 with Vo Nguyen Giap - the future Vietminh generalissimo - was injured on April 1 in an ambush by the Vietminh. Taken prisoner with some of his French subordinates, he will not be returned to the representatives of France in Hanoi until March 29, 1946, a year later.