The Egyptian vessels, later identified as P 4 class torpedo boats first attempted to flee and then opened fire.
A dozen or more British boats attempted to intercept him but arrived too late.
Dr. Braverman explained that the boat was attempting to rescue some people in the water.
Although one or two boats attempted to cross under cover of a smoke screen, it was now, in daylight, impossible for the evacuation to continue.
British boats attempted to recover Preneuse, but she came under fire from the coastal batteries and they abandoned the attempt.
The boat attempted to unload the people further up the coast at night.
The boat attempted to run south on the surface and fired her stern torpedo at Roper when the range closed to 700 yards.
Larger boats should not attempt to approach the island's rocky shore line.
The defence maintained he was firing over heads at the ship; and that the boats attempted to escape and were lost in the dark.
As the boats attempted this, they came under heavy fire from shore positions but cleared all opposition.