Might be because the country of France has a Mediterranean coast line. They have plenty of assets in the area. No excuses, but there has been sea trade between the eastern Med coast and the southern French/Europe coast since ancient times.
Actually, all they really need to get started is a destroyer or two and a couple of chartered cruise ships. That is what is happening today, six days later.
The delay in evacuation is understandable. The lack of communication to/from State is what I find so disturbing.