In the introductory chapter allusion was made to the strategic question raised by these two policies.
In the West Indies the grip of the two combatants on the land was in fact about equal, though it should not have been so.

Both France and England were strongly posted in the Windward Islands,--the one at Martinique, the other at Barbadoes.

It must be noted that the position of the latter, to windward of all others of the group, was a decided strategic advantage in the days of sail.

As it happened, the fighting was pretty nearly confined to the neighborhood of the Lesser Antilles.
Here, at the opening of the struggle, the English island of Dominica lay between the French Martinique and Guadeloupe; it was therefore coveted and seized.

Next south of Martinique lay Sta.