Now it was obvious why Dugommier had taken such a risk with his attack. Given the shallow topsoil it was impossible to dig deep, angled trenches, which meant that most of the work was above ground. They would build a parallel with stones and earth, and work to make it impregnable before sapping forward again. Their only advantage lay in numerical superiority. But they also benefited from the poor gunnery of the Allied artillery, which was manned in this sector by Neapolitans. As far as possible the best gunners, British sailors, were kept aboard their ships, being too valuable a commodity to risk ashore. Hood considered Toulon important, but compared to the integrity of his fleet, in an area where he could not make up his losses, it counted for nothing. The marines were needed as infantry, and could not be spared to man the guns. Despite the wishes of their commanders, they were soon called upon to move from the top of Mont Faron. Admiral Gravina, more for the sake of his pride than out of any military sense, insisted that his troops be allowed, once more, to take over these defences.
