A short while later , at 5 : 54 p.m. , Churchill ordered the British ships to open fire against the French ships .
The British commenced from 17,500 yd ( 9.9 mi ; 16.0 km ) .
A short while later , at 5 : 54 p.m. , Churchill ordered the British ships to open fire against the French ships and the British commenced from 17,500 yd ( 9.9 mi ; 16.0 km ) .