Assigned to patrol the waters off Tahiti at the start of World War I, she was sunk before scuttling could be completed during the Bombardment of Papeete on 22 September 1914.

Present at Papeete during a devastating hurricane in February 1906, Zélée's commander was asked to assist with rescue efforts on the quarantine island of Motauta, but refused due to the high risk involved.

Instead he lent the island's station master an open boat and left him with the task of finding men to man it.

The German captain had not yet learned of the state of war between Germany and France and at first thought the entire situation was a joke and invited Zélée's commanding officer aboard for dinner; instead, Zélée took Walkure as a prize and brought her back to Tahiti.

On 22 September 1914, the Imperial German Navy armoured cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau entered the port of Papeete.