标题: 1月15日单词背诵the war between Britain and France [打印本页] 作者: 鱼之乐 时间: 2011-1-15 23:24 标题: 1月15日单词背诵the war between Britain and France
In the late eighteenth century, battles raged in almost every corner of Europe, as well
as in the Middle East, South Africa, the West Indies, and Latin America. In reality,
however, there was only one major war during this time, the war between Britain and
France. All other battles were ancillary to this larger conflict, and were often at least
partially related to its antagonist’ goals and strategies. France sought total domination
of Europe. This goal was obstructed by British independence and Britain’s efforts
throughout the continent to thwart Napoleon; through treaties. Britain built coalitions
(not dissimilar in concept to today’s NATO) guaranteeing British participation in all
major European conflicts. These two antagonists were poorly matched, insofar as they
had very unequal strengths; France was predominant on land, Britain at sea. The
French knew that, short of defeating the British navy, their only hope of victory was
to close all the ports of Europe to British ships. Accordingly, France set out to
overcome Britain by extending its military domination from Moscow t Lisbon, from
Jutland to Caldaria. All of this entailed tremendous risk, because France did not have
the military resources to control this much territory and still protect itself and
maintain order at home.
French strategists calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the force
necessary to defeat the British navy. Such a force would give France a three-to-two
advantage over Britain. This advantage was deemed necessary because of Britain’s
superior sea skills and technology because of Britain’s superior sea skills and
technology, and also because Britain would be fighting a defensive war, allowing it to
win with fewer forces. Napoleon never lost substantial impediment to his control of
Europe. As his force neared that goal, Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and
began planning an immediate attack.
