incident incident january marked opening shots british french forces french revolutionary wars phase year long war countries following french revolution diplomatic relations steadily deteriorated france political social turmoil strongest republican activity principal atlantic naval base french_navy brest brittany scene significant mutiny january small british warship gun brig commander ordered enter state readiness french fleet entered vessel came fire french batteries flying clearly identified brig neutral british vessel fire continued able withdraw struck crew wounded incident minimal damage casualties marked symbolic moment deterioration relations britain france approach war broke february background following french revolution relations newly declared european neighbours sharply deteriorated april declaration jointly issued austria prussia stating support king louis february austria prussia formally allied responded april declaring war austria conflict known war coalition began land france principal european remained neutral arrest french king august expansion war brought start naval war mediterranean_sea britain remained neutral stages war violence french revolution britain prime minister younger unwilling war alongside eastern_europe royal_navy extensive preparations war occur starting spanish armament poor condition principal fleet base brest brittany scene significant mutiny rates french naval officers running despite strong republican politics command difficulties fleet strong having expanded improved tax rises pay french_navy causes original revolution incident strength fleet major cause concern british admiralty late orders issued small british brig gun hms commander enter investigate state readiness french fleet january approaching entrance overcast skies light unreliable breeze entrance brest harbour narrow known lies north shore des peninsula south importance entrance brest shores heavily fortified entered forts covering entrance southern shore fired shot distance nautical miles passed brig sea assuming warning shot fired belief brig flying flag enemy vessel ordered british naval ensign pennant channel_fleet run clearly identified neutral british warship allowed drift closer tide french battery responded raising flags red copied batteries covering having drifted closer batteries suddenly came heavy fire batteries containing large pounder cannon fire wind calm sailing ran try pull brig away french batteries size vessel difficult target soon able advantage fresh breeze withdraw single shot struck brig smashing pounder cannon deck breaking pieces crew wounded strike aftermath having successfully withdrawn danger returned britain january battling strong gale channel small port took express coach directly admiralty london arriving january carrying evidence incident british historian called strong spirit hostility new republic writing noted french hostility occasion justified commenting troubled state europe captain business brest gunshot forts seen french vessel war running making observations suspect crisis taken liberty bring action january french ambassador expelled response execution paris january february declared war great_britain naval campaign atlantic began earnest march french battle squadron briefly sea mutiny forced return war britain france begun january month break
Childers Incident