Don't forget to mention that the fire attack on Copenhagen is considered not only the first attack by rockets, but the first terror attack ever in
modern times.
So who invented terror?
Also, as for the reason the faulty intelligence might have been just an exuse for attack. Don't forget Denmark at the time was considered a regional
superpower and a serious threat to Britania's ambitions of ruling the waves. Not only that. The attemps to subdue and break the Danish powerhold of
the entrance to the Baltic in the 1801 battle of Reden (
1st Battle of
Copenhagen)was only a partial victory, the Brits were bound to come back.
What I think is because the true agenda of their campaign was to control the entrance to the Baltic. It was essential for building a modern ocean
going fleet, the core to colonial expansion. Because good flax came from Lithuania and Latvia, and quality pine from Estonia.
Please note, the British explorations since Sir Walter Raleigh to James Cook had all been send out by the Admiralty in London. And precisely the
latter was send on several Pacific voyages only to discover that none of the greater islands of Terra Australis did hold the desired stock of pine or
wild flax that reports had promised.
Essential material for building a fleet. To Norfolk Island great expectations were held, as both flax and pine grew there in abundance. Unfortunately
on his 2nd voyage, which was a scientific expedition sponsored by the Royal Society, the samples collected proved of a quality too inferior for the
intended use.
Therefore, admitting scientific facts, the Admiralty in Whitehall had to give up their plans for expansion in the Pacific ...on reason of
commodities.
Instead they came up with the much better idea -to relieve the overcrowded penal system at home (the Irish rebellion)- by designating the Australias
as penal colonies.
Norfolk Island should become one of the most cruel the World has ever seen.
Anyway, this only to tell, the Brits had to break Denmark to secure their ambitions.
We only forgave them when they started buying our pork and butter for their starving masses.
[edit on 2-9-2007 by khunmoon]
