The British dispatched the "Queen Elizabeth" to North America, which undoubtedly put a huge pressure on the Americans, but on the other hand, it significantly weakened their own strength in Europe.
This situation immediately brought about a change.
On the day Nelson's fleet attacked Savannah, a French fleet appeared outside the port of Cardiff. This was a powerful fleet including the battleships "Engelbert" and "Caesar". After the "Queen Elizabeth" had gone to North America, there were temporarily no ships in the British navy of the same class.
However, the Royal Navy still mustered the courage to send a small fleet consisting of two armored cruisers close to the French fleet, and asked the French their intentions using signal flags.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"They're asking us our intentions?" On the bridge of the "Engelbert," Admiral Treveil said with a sarcastic tone, "Tell them we're sailing freely. We go wherever we wish on the high seas. It's none of their business!"
So, the French fleet, just three miles from Cardiff port, formed a battle line, setting up a bombardment formation, and practiced tactics for shelling the port.
Then, the French fleet turned around and left Cardiff, passing through the Strait of Saint George, and headed towards Liverpool in a grand manner. The British navy's fleet naturally came from all directions to watch the French sail freely.
The French fleet, unconcerned, continued at a speed of about six knots until they reached outside Liverpool port, where they flaunted their freedom of navigation before leaving Liverpool, sailing eastward, and then sailed freely off Dublin.
During this process, more and more British warships began to follow them. From the initial two armored cruisers, almost the entire British navy had gathered.
As more British warships followed, the French began to feel the pressure.
"It's time we left. Otherwise, they might really start having bad ideas," Admiral Treveil said. The Irish Sea is a relatively enclosed area with limited space. If the British managed to bring all their remaining naval fleets here, they might entertain the idea of using the advantageous terrain here to wipe out this French fleet.
But he still commanded the two cruisers to meet them head-on, shouting through a high-power loudspeaker imported from France: "You are about to enter British territorial waters, turn away immediately!" But the French hoisted a "D flag" at the top of their masts. The British knew that in the French flag signal system, the D flag meant: "My ship
's rudder is malfunctioning, beware of collision."
To put it more plainly, hoisting the D flag, the real intention was to play bumper boats. Once the D flag was hoisted, it meant a direct collision with any British warship trying to block them. That meant, "Move aside, or I'll crash into you!"
This tactic, also a common strategy in later maritime disputes, inspired the modern border poem:
Clear skies today, high waves roll, D flag flutters atop the lead ship's pole.
Command the barbarians to quickly evade, "I'll crash without care," is the message conveyed.
Describing this very tactic.
As the French warships each hoisted the D flag, they headed straight for the two British cruisers.
If the British were a bit more clear-headed, they should have quickly realized that they had no chance of winning in this game of bumper boats. But the British dared not fire, nor did they dare to play bumper boats with the French fleet's warships, knowing full well that they couldn't win.
But the Royal Navy has never had the habit of turning away in the face of the enemy. So they could only guard the shipping lanes while continuing to loudly proclaim: "You are about to violate the territorial waters of the United Kingdom, please turn away immediately... please turn away immediately..."
Then there was a loud "Boom!"