Just like the French Navy has always considered the British Royal Navy its hypothetical enemy, the British Royal Navy has always regarded the French Navy as its rival.
Therefore, General Winter was very familiar with the relationship between the Minister of the Navy and the Brest Fleet.
In principle, the French Navy is commanded by the Minister of the Navy.
But the special terrain of France divides the navy into the Brest Fleet focusing on the Atlantic Ocean in the north and the Toulon Fleet focusing on the Mediterranean in the south.
When the Minister of the Navy first took office, there weren't many issues, but in recent years the Minister increasingly felt that the French Navy had little hope of catching up with the British Royal Navy. He believed that rather than wasting funds and materials on the Brest Fleet, it would be better to concentrate on developing the Toulon Fleet.
The Minister of the Navy once said in parliament:
