Spain tried in July 1775 with an landing of troops supported by warships to
capture Algiers, part of the Ottoman empire after the Moroccan sultanate failed
in capturing the Spanish fortress of Melilla between December 1774 and March
1775. The attack failed with high casualties on Spanish side.
According to an item dated Cartagena 16 May were the labourers working on
the naval yards hardly any peace awarded. In the harbour were all ready 15
ships of the line and the masts of the other (war) ships suggested a whole
forest. According to rumours was at Toulon a French squadron loaded with 30,000
centiners of hay and 12,000 centiners of gun powder and other stores and a
large number of troops. This squadron was to join the Spanish fleet just some
Maltese and Tuscan ships would do. An item dated Madrid 23 May reported that
lieutenant general Don Peter Castejon the fleet would command.(1)
Note
1. This must be Pedro Gonzalez de Castejon en Salazar (1719-19 March
1783 Madrid).
