CHAPTER VII
THE NAVAL WAR IN EUROPEAN WATERS, 1779. ALLIED FLEETS INVADE THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. RODNEY DESTROYS TWO SPANISH SQUADRONS AND RELIEVES GIBRALTAR
Spain declares War against Great Britain [116]
Delays in Junction of French and Spanish Fleets [116]
They enter the Channel. Alarm in England [117]
Plans of the French Government [118]
Their Change and Failure. The Allied Fleets return to Brest [119]
Criticism of the British Ministry [120]
Divergent views of France and Spain [120]
Prominence given to Gibraltar, and the resulting Effect upon the general War [121]
Exhaustion of Supplies at Gibraltar [121]
Rodney with the Channel Fleet Sails for its Relief, with ultimate Destination to Leeward Islands Command [121]
He Captures a large Spanish Convoy [122]
And Destroys a Second Spanish Squadron of Eleven Sail-of-the-Line [123]
Distinction of this Engagement [124]
Gibraltar and Minorca Relieved [125]
Rodney proceeds to the West Indies [126]
The Channel Fleet returns to England [126]