Gosh! I didn't realise when I started this topic that there are people around who don't like the French.
In the interests of balance, I must remind everyone that France has a proud history of military victories, such as the sinking of the unarmed protest vessel "Rainbow Warrior" which was moored at the time in Auckland Harbour. If the night watchman had chosen that night to come back early from the pub, this could have been a very close run affair!