On 12 August, Venetian trumpets and flags signalled battle, but the officers did not move their ships forward. Repeated efforts to organise the force failed to secure obedience. By 20 August, Grimani was ordering crews to kill captains who refused to fight. Four French galleys arrived as reinforcements, yet only two Venetian galleys went forward to attack, and both returned unharmed. Their survival weakens the explanation that exceptional Ottoman gunnery alone produced the victory. The more convincing advantage in this account is the willingness of Ottoman officers to engage while Venetian captains ignored their admiral.
Chapter · 48:45-51:00
When the Venetian battle line would not obey
Venetian captains ignored battle signals and repeated attack orders, even after Grimani ordered crews to kill captains who refused to fight.