or more ships might be prepared to make the attempt, preferring suicide to surrender. The destroyers might be ordered into the Channel for anti-shipping operations and then attempt to find refuge in the German-held Atlantic fortresses or the Channel Islands or, as a last resort, in Spain, when their fuel was exhausted. 9. We have no evidence to suggest that any of the foregoing operations are being planned. with the exception of one light cruiser, all the heavy ships and most of the destroyers are now in the Baltic, engaged in supporting the land fighting and in the protection of military shipping and evacuation movements.