Let it be remarked clearly, however, that _both_ De Grasse's alternatives brought before him the organized forces as the objective.
Not so with D'Estaing at Grenada.

His superiority in numbers over the English was nearly as great as that of De Grasse; his alternative objectives were the organized force afloat and a small island, fertile, but militarily unimportant.

Grenada is said to have been a strong position for defence; but intrinsic strength does not give importance, if the position has not strategic value.

To save the island, he refused to use an enormous advantage fortune had given him over the fleet.

Yet upon the strife between the two navies depended the tenure of the islands.