Hawke first formed a conventional line because the distant convoy looked like a larger warship force. Once the French escort revealed its true size and detached from the merchants, he ordered a general chase so each British ship would close at its best speed. The wording mattered because captains sometimes clustered for protection or arranged to share prize money, habits that could slow the fastest ships to the pace of a group. Appealing to each captain's honour made the signal an instrument of command culture as well as a tactical order.
Notable Point · 1:07:40-1:10:25
General chase meant each captain's best speed
Hawke's general-chase signal appealed to personal honour to press each captain toward the enemy at his ship's best speed, despite incentives to remain in a group.