2nd Melilla Campaign 1909

 2nd Melilla Campaign 1909

Soldado in cotton 1908 campaign uniform by Jose Maria Bueno Carrera

 With her defeat in the Spanish – American war of 1898 (El Desastre) Spain was left with little in the way of overseas colonies. In an attempt to improve her world position, Spain decides to extend her influence over the northern portion of Morocco using the Declaration of London of 1904 as an excuse. After the 12 March 1908 Spanish occupation of Ras Kebdana which caused further potential intervention in the Moulouya basin, foreign mining companies began to enter the area. The declaration gave Spain the task of providing aid to Morocco to carry out reforms be they military, economic or administrative as required which were much needed in this mountainous and wild area. A Spanish company: Compañia Española de las Minas del Rif, was constituted in July 1908, with directors: Clemente Fernández, Enrique Macpherson, the Count of Romanones, the Duke of Tovar and Juan Antonio Güell, who appointed Miguel Villanueva as chairman.

 At this time the control of Kabyle (tribal area) surrounding Melilla was in the hands of a pretender to the throne of Morocco - Muley Mohamet, known in history as Bu Hamara “father of the donkey”, who claimed to be the brother of Sultan Abd al-Aziz. Muley Mohamet negotiated with Spain the mining rights to mineral deposits in the Rif Mountains which were then sold to French and Spanish companies. However he seriously underestimated the opinions of his allies and followers, who rose against him for letting the infidel into the tribal lands. He was captured and turned over to the Sultan’s authorities, later taken to Fez and executed after a brief imprisonment.

 General José Marina Vega, Officer Commanding Melilla, requested reinforcements from the government, since the forces he has in Melilla just are not large enough for the present task of policing the área and protecting the continuation of mining operations.

General Marina with Alfonso XIII

 The government response is tell the General to remain calm and do nothing to aggravate the situation. He is prohibited from any military action and on June 9, 1909 the mining companies resume their work.

 The period of peace was short and at end of June various local troublemakers start to preach Holy War and an uprising against the Spanish. The government refuses to authorize the setting up of defense positions to defend the workers against possible attack by the Riffians. But a punitive expedition into the Kabyle, results in the capture of six prisoners, these agitators who are then brought to Melilla for trial. These arrests act as the trigger for the uprising and on July 9, a Riffian harka attacks a group of Spanish workers building a railway bridge to a mine near Sidi Musa killing six of them and wounding another. General Marina had foreseen the possibility of such aggression and the Spanish garrison responded by occupying several key locations in the vicinity of the city and the navy began bombarding coastal villages but the Spanish government order an end to naval bombardment due to concerns about international opinion.

Cover illustration from Le Petit Journal about the incident

When news reaches the government in Madrid headed by Antonio Maura Montaner (2 May 1853 – 13 December 1925), they order the mobilization of three mixed brigades, comprised mostly of reservists. These reservists were basically impressed back into service, those with wealth or influence could buy their way out (or get a less dangerous assignment) or even pay someone else to take their place! This led to riots in Madrid and in Barcelona, what is known as the Tragic Week in Barcelona (July 26 to August 2), where anti-war protests intertwined with outbursts of anti-clerical violence, forcing the Maura government to suspend Constitutional guarantees in the whole country after 28 July. Security forces brutally suppressed antiwar protests, during the riots a number of pólice and soldiers were injured (some deaths too) and many more civilians hurt, dead or imprisoned!

In Morocco almost everyday sees clashes with the Riffi, outlying farms and mining facilities are attacked or harassed; Spanish positions are sniped at with increased regularity. The reinforcments from Spain finally arrive on 16 July and after only a couple of days these inexperienced soldiers are committed to the field. 20 July sees another attack against Sidi Musa, but after a long hard fight the Spaniards under a blazing sun with little water and food without resupply, drove back the attackers.

By 22 July Riffi attacks are getting close to Melilla, so to stop the enemy advance the Spanish bombard villages using long range artillery. General Marina in anticipation of a direct attack on Melilla, organises a quarter column of six companies of infantry and a section of howitzers in the vicinity of the city, under the command of Colonel Alvarez Cabrera.

However the commander, on his own initiative, ordered a night march towards the heights of Ait Aixa; his command got lost during the night and morning found itself in a deep ravine where they were surprised and was decimated by rifle fire from Berbers positioned on the heights. This reckless mistake, cost the life of both the Colonel and 26 of his command and left another 230 wounded!

On 26 July, General Marina learns from spies of an impending attack on Melilla itself, so he decides to move troops out of the city to form a defensive line. He also sends Brigadier General Guillermo Pintos and the Cazadores de Madrid to patrol the area around Barranco del Lobo (Wolf Ravine) located in the foothills of Mount Gurugu. Unfortunately the Spanish made the serious error of advancing beyond their artillery support, this combined with a total lack of local knowledge, no maps and the complicated topology; they found themselves caught in a trap with Riffi riflemen holding the high ground. General Marina seeing the gravity of the situation, took personal command and organized the withdrawal of forces and artillery support from the forward defensive line. The ambush caused 153 deaths, including the General Pintos and almost 600 wounded.

Ambulance unit bring back the dead from Barranco del Lobo

Valley of the wolf (poem)

"In the Canyon of the Wolf there is a fountain that rules

Blood of the Spanish who died for Spain. (other versions: "for the homeland")

Poor little mothers, how much will they mourn, to see that your children to war they go!

(other versions: "they won't come back anymore")

I don't wash or comb.

Nor do I put on the mantle, until my boyfriend comes from the war of Melilla.

Melilla is no longer Melilla

Melilla is a slaughterhouse

Where are the Spanish to die like lambs."

Barranco del Lobo monument

On 27 July a Riffi harka attacks the fortified island in Alhucemas Bay

Reinactors wearing 1909 era uniforms 

Taken by me in Novelda, Spain October 2023

 

Sometime in early August, Abd al-Hafid, the Sultan of Morocco, informed Spain of his willingness to send Moroccan troops into the area to punish the Rif tribesman and establish peace; Spain refused the offer as insufficient and proceeded with plans to pacify the Rif. 

Given the gravity of events it was decided to suspend all military operations and further strengthen the Spanish forces in Melilla, which by mid-August rises to more than 35,000 men and a large number of artillery pieces and ammunition. Public opinion in Spain had shifted towards support for the war after the defeats suffered in July. Rif forces continued their attacks and extended their operations to attacking the fortress at Penon de la Gomera.

Interesting photo of a telegraph mule

In September, the possibility of the situation escalating to a war between Spain and Morocco was openly being discussed. The Spanish intended to demand an indemnity from Morocco because the sultan had failed to provide sufficient troops to keep order and prevent the Rif attacks on Melilla. Internationally, the great powers response to the situation seemed to assure Spain of non-interference. With the Spanish army in North Africa now having been reinforced to strength of nearly 60,000 troops, General Marina decided the best thing was to take control of the entire region by force. This way he could keep the population under control and avoid revolts and, in addition, isolate Mount Gurugú held by the Kabyle of Beni Sicar. The action plan was simple. Two columns would be formed that should take the territory north of Melilla. Other units were sent further south towards Zocco del Arbaa and the Rio de Oro in the hope of drawing off enemy forces.

Front cover of  The Graphic weekly illustrated newspaper (Saturday 25 September 1909) showing General Marina conferring with a Moorish ally

The Spaniards took the offensive against the Rif tribes beginning about September 20th, but now from a position of clear military advantage. The East-West column under the command of Generals Morales and Tovar became involved in a large battle with some 1500 Riffi near Taxdirt (sometimes called Taxdir), during this battle 4th Squadron of Cazadores de Caballería "Alfonzo XII" led by Lieutenant Colonel Don José Cavalcanti de Alburquerque y Padierna carried out three charges against a superior enemy and saved the day. Lt. Col. Cavalcanti was promoted and awarded the Laureate Cross of San Fernando for his brave leadership.

Painting of the Taxdirt Charge by Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto

Offensive operations continued throughout October with Spanish forces successfully occupying several key positions and villages; therefore expanding the Melilla enclave. The cost of the war, and the willingness of Rif leaders to accept peace now, then convinced the government to order a halt to the advance and begin demobilizing.

By January 1910 their overwhelming strength had enabled them to subdue most of the eastern tribes. The Spanish continued to expand their Melilla enclave to encompass the area from Cape Tres Forcas to the southern inlets of Mar Chica and west as far as the Kert River. Peace was formally considered re-established on April 23, 1910,  however, this was achieved at the cost of 2,517 casualties

Wargaming the period

I`ve been giving some thought to wargaming this period, it seems to me in either 20mm or 28mm scale FFL or Troupes d`Marine figures in sun helmet would do the job (you could even get away with Zulu/Boar War British at a pinch in the smaller scales). Also figures with kepi and havelock in shirt or jacket (no frock coats) would also serve (Indian Mutiny ranges possibly?). I`m toying with the idea of converting 1898 Miniatures Spanish from the Spanish/American war range if I can find suitable kepi heads, creating a havelock out of plasterscene (very old school).

Tumbling Dice British Camel Corps painted up as 1909 era Spanish

As well as the larger battles I did come across an interesting story which would make a good 1 to 1 skirmish game:

In the early morning of 28 September 1909, Cabo (corporal) Luis Noval Ferrao was in command of an avenzadilla (listening patrol) outside the camp located in the Zoco el Had in the area of the Kabyle of Beni Sacar, with four men from his section. All the men were from 3^rd Company, I Battalion, Regimiento de Infantería del Príncipe Número 3.

 Unknown to the patrol a large harka of Riffi was about to make an assault on the camp! The Riffi didn`t know the camp so decided to send warriors to attack and hopefully capture members of Cabo Noval`s patrol to get this information. Using their superior field craft, helped by the darkness and their grey Chilaba robes they soon found the patrol and surprised them; quickly killing three and badly wounding the fourth who was unconscious and thought dead also, so only Cabo Noval was taken alive. A Riffi who spoke Spanish tried to negotiate with Noval to lead them into the camp`s entrance (this took some time as by all accounts Noval`s heavy Asturian accent proved difficult for either to understand the other easily) and then bluff entrance for the Riffi; all this in exchange for his life! 

 Noval proceeded to guide the Riffi through the outlying trip wires to the camp entrance, but when challenged by the sentry he called out “I`m surrounded by Moors! Open fire! Viva Espana!” At which point a Riffi plunged a blade into the brave soldiers back and he was hit by several rifle rounds and fell dead; several of the attackers were also killed. At first light soldiers from 1^st Company swept the area killing fourteen more of the enemy, they also collected the bodies of Cabo Noval and his comrades.

 Because of his act of bravery at the cost of his own life Cabo Noval was awarded the Laureate Cross of San Fernando 2nd Class by Royal Order on 19 February 1910 

Cabo Noval

News announcement of the statue to be erected yo honour Cabo Noval

The statue as it looks today in Madrid`s Palacio de Oriente

Sources

Guerras de Marruecos 1859-1926 by Emilio Marín Ferrer 

ISBN 978-84-677-1896-6

El Ejército Espanol en Ultramar y Africa 1850-1925 by José Manuel Guerrero Acosta 

ISBN 84-95464-31-4 

Uniformes de las Unidades Militares de la Ciudad de Melilla by José María Bueno Carrera 

ISBN 84-86629-26-8

The Rif War (vol 1) Taxdirt to Annual by Javíer Garcia de Gabiola

 ISBN 978-1-914377-01-3

Espana en sus Heroes (magazine) Nos 1-5