Ripley's Believe It or Not 4th Series Author:Pocket books Ripley's Believe it or Not: The Ruse that made England Ruler of the Seas! An English fleet — Outnumbered 5 to 1 by the French, won Britannia's first major naval victory near Dover on Aug 24, 1217 when Herbert de Burgh — MANUVERED HIS eNGLISH SHIPS to winward- and made use of the first smokescreen in history by pouring great masses of quicklime ... more »into the sea! The British cut down their blinded foes with crossbows and captured 55 French ships.« less