Through his patience and common sense he learnt the local languages, persuading them to pay the taxes demanded by the Free State and conscripts for the Force Publique.
He was appointed area manager for Banzyville on 23 February 1897, a role he combined with those of a commander of Force Publique, a military judge in Upper Ubangi and even that of a naturalist collector.
He returned to Belgium in May 1902 and was charged by King Leopold II to join an expedition to Bahr el Ghazal towards the copper mines of Hofrah-el-Nahass, which prior to the Franco-Congolese Treaty of August 14, 1894 had been explored and occupied for the Free State by Kethulle de Ryhove and Nilis as part of the Lado Enclave.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Captain Landeghem, a geological engineer, several prospectors and a military escort of two companies of Force Publique, they crossed the northern border of Congo on 2 February 1903.
He was seriously wounded in the left arm at Diksmuide and after recuperating was promoted to Major and was appointed to command the School of Military Interpreters and the Bayeux inspection camp in Normandy.
He retired on 31 December 1922 but retained interests in the industrial and commercial companies and then was chairman of the Compagnie des Cafés Congo Belgique.