at toulon a major republican attack was driven back on 15 november, but an allied attack two weeks later failed. general dugommier launched a major assault on 14 december, which broke through the neapolitan lines. three days later the spanish held fortifications were lost and french artillery was in a position to bombard the allied fleet. hood ordered his ships to withdraw to open water, and evacuate toulon . as allied troops were removed from the docks, british and spanish boat parties led by captain sir sidney smith entered the arsenal with instructions to burn the disarmed french fleet. smith's crews destroyed eight ships of the line and two frigates. three ships of the line, six frigates and eight corvettes were removed by the allies and distributed to their navies, most going to the british. the remaining 15 ships of the line and several smaller ships were damaged to a greater or lesser degree but were subsequently salvaged and repaired by the french. significant parts of the french dockyard stores remained intact, although the timber stores were destroyed. accusations were made against the spanish; one historian accused them of "jealousy and treachery" in preserving the french fleet to prevent british supremacy in the region. the allied soldiers were successfully removed, as well as more than 7,000 royalist refugees. in the aftermath of the siege 6,000 toulonaise inhabitants were massacred by the republicans, and there was a plan, later abandoned, to demolish the town entirely as punishment for rebellion.