His own
British ships of the line (that is, the ships of the biggest and
strongest kind) numbered sixty-three; while his Dutch allies had
thirty-six. Against these ninety-nine Tourville had only forty-four.
Yet, having been ordered to attack, and not getting the counter-order
till after the battle was over, he made for the overwhelming Dutch and
British with a skill and gallantry beyond all praise.
[Illustration: LA HOGUE, 1692.]
The fury of the fight centred round the _Soleil Royal_, Tourville's
flagship, which at last had to be turned out of the line. Then, as at
Jutland in the Great War, mist veiled the fleets, so that friend and
foe were mixed together. But the battle went on here and there between
different parts of the fleets; while a hot action was fought after dark
by Admiral Carter, who, though a Jacobite, was determined that no
foreign army should ever set foot in England. Mortally wounded, he
called to his flag captain, "Fight the ship as long as she swims," and
then fell dead. All through the foggy 20th the battle was continued
whenever the French and Allies could see each other.
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