The third part was to attack the enemy wherever British
fleets and armies, acting together in "joint expeditions," could strike
the best blows from the sea. The fourth was to send joint expeditions
to conquer the French dominions overseas.
But lesser men than Pitt were at the head of the Government when the
fighting began; and it took some time to bring the ship of state on to
her proper course even after his mighty hand began to steer.
In 1754 "the shot heard round the world" was fired by the French at
Washington's American militiamen, who were building a fort on the spot
where Pittsburg stands today. The Americans were determined to stop
the French from "joining hands behind their backs" and thus closing
every road to the West all the way from Canada to New Orleans. So they
sent young George Washington to build a fort at the best junction of
the western trails. But he was defeated and had to surrender. Then
Braddock was sent out from England in 1755. But the French defeated
him too. Then France sent out to Canada as great a master of the art
of war on land as Drake had been by sea.
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