CHANNEL NAVAL BATTLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1942, Page 4

CHANNEL NAVAL BATTLES

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I "was considerably astonished to read in the "Notes on the War News" in your issue of February 16 that the German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen were "the first enemy naval force that has passed through the English Channel since the Spanish Armada."

That was in 1588. Between 1652 and 1784 we engaged in four wars with our present gallant Allies, the Netherlands, several of the 12 fleet actions involved being fought in the English Channel. Tromp, De Ruyter, the Evertsens, and de With were Dutch admirals who frequently passed up and down the English Channel during those wars. Their names are commemorated in ships fighting in the East Indies today.

During the long series of wars in the 18th century the French fleets constantly operated in the English Channel, which swarmed with enemy warships and privateers that played havoc with our shipping. A great naval action was fought in the English Channel off; Cape Barfleur in May, 1692. Erroneously spoken of as the Battle of La Hogue, the action lasted for five days and ended in a decisive victory for the British and Dutch fleets over the French fleet commanded by Tourville. —I am, etc.,

S.D.W,