The Allies Decide not to attack him, but to turn their Efforts against British Commerce 189 Minorca Lost by British 189 The Battle of the Dogger Bank, between British and Dutch Fleets 190 CHAPTER XII THE FINAL NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN THE WEST INDIES. HOOD AND DE GRASSE. RODNEY AND DE GRASSE. THE GREAT BATTLE OF APRIL 12, 1782 Capture and Destruction near Ushant of a great French Convoy for the West Indies opens the Naval Campaign of 1782 195 Attack upon the Island of St. Kitts by de Grasse and de Bouille 197 Hood sails for its Relief from Barbados 197 His Plan of procedure 198 Balked by an Accident 199 He Succeeds in dislodging de Grasse and taking the Anchorage left by the French 200 Unsuccessful Attempt by de Grasse to shake Hood's position 203 St. Kitts nevertheless compelled to Surrender owing to having insufficient Land Force 205 Hood Extricates himself from de Grasse's Superior Force and Retires 205 Rodney arrives from England and joins Hood 205 Project of French and Spaniards against Jamaica 206 De Grasse sails from Martinique with his whole Fleet and a large Convoy 207 Rodney's Pursuit 208 Partial Actions of April 9, 1782 209 British Pursuit continues 211 It is favored by the Lagging of two Ships in the French Fleet, April 11 211 An Accident that night induces de Grasse to bear down, and enables Rodney to force Action 212 The Battle of April 12 begins 214 A Shift of Wind enables the British to Break the French Order in three places 217 Consequences of this Movement 218 Resultant Advantages to the British 219 Practices of the opposing Navies in regard to the Aims of Firing 219 Consequences Illustrated in the Injuries received respectively 220 Inadequate Use made by Rodney of the Advantage gained by his Fleet 220 Hood's Criticisms 220 Hood's Opinion shared by Sir Charles Douglas, Rodney's Chief-of-Staff 222 Rodney's own Reasons for his Course after the Battle 222 His Assumptions not accordant with the Facts 223 Actual Prolonged Dispersion of the French Fleet 224 Hood, Detached in Pursuit, Captures a small French Squadron 224 Rodney Superseded in Command before the news of the victory reached England 225 The general War Approaches its End 226 CHAPTER XIII HOWE AGAIN GOES AFLOAT. THE FINAL RELIEF OF GIBRALTAR 1782 Howe appointed to Command Channel Fleet 227 Cruises first in North Sea and in Channel 228 The Allied Fleets in much superior force take Position in the Chops of the Channel, but are successfully evaded by Howe 229 The British Jamaica Convoy also escapes them 229