ADMIRAL NELSON saw off the mighty Franco-Spanish fleet at the battle of Trafalgar but 200 years on, he has been sunk by a wave of political correctness. Organisers of a re-enactment to mark the bicentenary of the battle next month have decided it should be between "a Red Fleet and a Blue Fleet" not British and French/Spanish forces. Otherwise they fear visiting dignitaries, particularly the French, would be embarrassed at seeing their side routed. Even the official literature has been toned down. It describes the re-enactment not as the battle of Trafalgar but simply as "an early 19th-century sea battle". A host of French dignitaries will attend the event, which will take place off Southsea near Portsmouth, the home of Nelson's fleet. The aim is to create a spectacular "son et lumiere" re-enactment with pyrotechnics, lights and effects from barges in the Solent. Tall ships will create the illusion of a real battle. But the organisers of the event confirmed last week that there would be no national "sides", a fact that has surprised some of the event's sponsors. One said: "It seems remarkable that we are not saying this is Britain versus France in this re-enactment. Surely 200 years on, we can afford to gloat a bit. Not even the French can try and get snooty about this."