incident incident inconclusive encounter powerful squadron french spanish warships british_royal_navy escort squadron january incident took place context campaign french revolutionary wars allied squadron attempting disrupt valuable british merchant convoy sail dynasty china second attempt years incident french frigate squadron driven attack year china convoy early french squadron dispersed remaining ships deployed frigates united spanish manila squadron sailed attack british china convoy gathering british commander rear admiral concerned vulnerability china convoy sent reinforcements support lone royal_navy escort ship line captain reinforcements arrived january days allied squadron arrived sailed meet french spanish ships chase ensued contact lost sides subsequently claimed refused battle allied squadron withdrew later successfully escorting china convoy safely westwards background east indian trade essential component economy great_britain eighteenth century administered exotic trade goods carried large armed merchant ships known east weighed long tons valuable parts trade annual convoy portuguese port dynasty china early year large convoy east assemble preparation month journey indian_ocean atlantic britain value trade carried convoy nicknamed enormous convoy reported carrying goods worth million contemporary values equivalent british interests protected large scattered royal_navy squadron overall command rear admiral command covered thousands square miles ocean including strategically important ports bombay madras calcutta coast bases red_sea dutch_east_indies maintain watch hostile warships particularly french force remote island base mauritius dutch spanish manila french greatest threat powerful squadron assembled menacing british shipping january force intercepted year ensuing incident quick thinking commodore imitating royal_navy warships poor visibility pressing attack force subsequently broken proved expensive maintain cohesive force late anchor vessels gun corvette gun frigate arrived diplomatic mission state near mutiny captain forced execute men route learned additional frigates joining orders governor frigates cruising independently british trade indian_ocean decided augment forces uniting allied spanish squadron manila spanish philippines frigates arriving october admiral remained spanish squadron severely damaged typhoon april repairs taken nearly years british frigates raided manila january spanish ship condition oppose incident news junction french spanish squadrons reached soon assembling merchant ships frigates hms fox gun ship line escort commanded captain fox detached local convoy november forces largely committed red_sea following recent french invasion egypt gave urgent orders frigates replaced gun gun hms arrogant reinforcements sailed arriving january franco spanish squadron comprising gun ships line frigates accompanied sailed manila january command rear admiral squadron crossed weeks arriving near january intention attacking shipping mouth informed presence danish merchants unaware arrival reinforcements immediately sailed confront squadrons initially forming lines battle steering head british line followed subject dispute reported franco spanish squadron turned fled anchored darkness fell withdrawing dawn conflict probability terminated disgrace reported retreated pursued closely claimed pressed attack damage rigging allowed escape explain squadron subsequently withdrew attacking apparently unprotected assembled anchored aftermath historian assessment fair conclude squadron fight describes subsequent reaction disgust fury considered action french threw away stroke chance seizing valuable convoy establishing franco spanish dominance chinese waters retired manila french ships departing subsequently returning intercepted action december blockade squadron driven shore destroyed subsequently returned france retired french_navy sailed february passing indian_ocean send frigate achieved ensured china fleet defended attacks british shipping china peace early napoleonic wars powerful french squadron attacked battle east succeeded french withdrawing brief exchange fire
Macau Incident (1799)