Retreat to Dar Drius
Morocco 22/23 July 1921
This is a fictional game based on historic reports of the desperate Spanish withdrawal East towards Melilla following what eventually became known as “El Desastre” at Annual. I`ve been doing a bit of research into El Desastre and about the desperate retreating columns and the heroics of the Alcantara Cavalry Regiment during the retreat, I decided to build a game based loosely on that.
I highly recommend readers check back and re-read the following articles for a broader understanding of the history:
https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-sacrifice-of-alcantara.html
https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2024/04/captain-arenas-last-stand.html
https://baberonwargames.blogspot.com/2023/09/a-spanish-camerone.html
Historic background
The advance of General Manuel Fernandez Silvestre`s forces into the Spanish western zone from the old presidio Melilla towards Alhucemas Bay had started well enough.
Silvestre had around 25,000 men and was well supplied, unfortunately he was a vain and conceited man with his rank and position due as much to his money and the influence of his circle of friends (including King Alfonzo XIII). Silvestre took little or no advice from his subordinates and even his superiors! As his columns advanced they built a large number of blocaos (blockhouses) plus fortified encampments and supply bases along their path; local tribes were paid off (but not disarmed). Silvestre decided to move further into the Rif than planned and, against the direct orders of General Damaso Berenguer Fuste, the Spanish High Commissioner of the protectorate, he crossed the Amekran River and built an outpost on top of Mt. Abarran, a holy site to the local Riffi.
Militarily Abd el-Krim who was trying to raise a rebellion against the Spanish must have welcomed the Spaniards advance into the Rif as it took them away from Melilla and stretching out their supply lines making them vulnerable. But then building a post isolated across the river from the bulk of the Spanish troops on top of a holy mountain which enraged the locals was a gift too good to ignore. His men acting with the aid of some native troops who betrayed their Spanish officers, attacked the outpost and nearly 200 Spaniards and loyal Regulares were killed; more importantly a battery of guns was captured along with large stocks of shells and small arms ammunition. Abd el-Krim used this success to gather more tribesmen to his banner with the promise of more victories and further loot.
What followed was a series of defeats that led one after the other, domino fashion, to one of the largest disasters to befall a European army in Africa. The next Spanish outpost to be attacked was Igueriben. Situated three miles from Annual this position was quickly surrounded and cut off from the main base. General Silvestre rapidly gathered what forces he had and rushed to Annual to rectify the situation. There followed several brave attempts to break the siege including two cavalry charges led by Silvestre himself, but the Rifeños (the Spanish word for Riff Berbers) were highly skilled and were now assisted by captured artillery and machine guns which caused heavy casualties and defeated every brave attempt to relieve the desperate defenders! The Rifeños stormed Igueriben and in so doing managed to isolate and cut off General Silvestre and his men from Melilla, Annual being situated in a valley and Iguerben actually overlooks it and dominating its approaches.
Finally on July 22nd, after several days with ammunition and supplies running dangerously low, General Silvestre gave the order to abandon Annual and for the Forces there in to try and fight their way back to the coast. What should have been an orderly withdrawal turned into a rout! Here accounts vary, with some stating that Silvestre was killed in combat, whilst others claim he committed suicide. Whatever the truth about the Spanish commander, his force was ill-prepared, and the Rifeños fell upon the fleeing Spanish soldiers, civilians alike, slaughtering all they caught.
My scenario
A Spanish column must make it`s way across the table despite attacks by Rifeños who want to stop and kill their enemies.
The column advances across the table at 6” per turn, the Riffi attackers can pop up all around the column chosen randomly by D8 (see the direction indicator below) every three turns, what turns up is governed by a random dice table (below), the harkas fight until they are destroyed or driven off. If they column can reach and cross River Kert, they achieve a victory (be it a Pyrrhic one in the long term).
There are also two blocaos on the route, the men from the Alcantara have orders to relieve these and rescue as many men from these positions as they can bringing them to join the column – adding more soldiers to defend the column possibly! However the Riffi have both positions surrounded at the start of the game.
A bonus mission is to rescue a downed pilot.
Riffi Harka arrival table (2D6)
2-4 no contact
5-6 1 x 10-man harka on foot
7 10-mounted Metalsa tribesmen
8 2 x 10-man Juramentados (men sworn to die in battle) on foot – this unit fights until everyone is killed and gets +1 in melee [this happens only once after which a 10-men harka on foot arrives]
9 2 x 10-mounted Metalsa tribesmen
10 10-man former Regulares (includes a marksman +1 to hit)
11 2 x 10-man harkas
12 10-man harka with a machine gun team
Spanish forces
Convoy Escort
2 platoons from Regimiento de Infanteria No68 “Africa”
2 mounted troops from Regimiento de Caballeria No14 “Alcantara”
Barcelona Universal Model (BUM) SCW cavalry with head-swaps
Warrior Miniatures SCW cavalry with head-swaps
1 dismounted troop from Regimiento de Caballeria No14 “Alcantara”
1 sección de ametralladoras from Regimiento de Caballeria No14 “Alcantara”
Blocoa garrisons
Each with:
1 platoon from Regimiento de Infanteria No42 “Ceriñola”
Signals and supply personnel
Pilot
Convoy
My Table
The game
Turn 1 The column formed up with the dismounted troop from El Alcantara in front, the two platoons from Africa in the center and rear and the two mounted Alcantara troops on the open right flank. I rolled the dice and the head of the column was ambushed by a platoon of traitorous former Regulares!
Turns 2-3 after receiving fire and taking casualties El Alcantara charge their foes and vicious melee results
On turn 3 the Rifeños rolled and a large harka of Juramentados appeared and attacked the front of the column
Turn 4 The melee at the front of the column reaches its climax and the former Regulares are put to flight
Upon seeing the Juramentados the second mounted troop from El Alcantara sound the bugle and charge
Turn 5 With the Regulares broken, what remains of the 1stst mounted troop head towards the blocoa on the left side.
In front of the column, the dismounted Alcantara troop reforms (including a few mounted troopers who had lost their horses) and the column moves off once again. A chaotic melee develops between the Juramentados and the 2nd mounted Alcantara cavalry.
Turn 6 The Rifeños roll and they get a large body of mounted Metalsa tribesmen. One up the valley towards the column, the other down into the rear!
Meanwhile half the Juramentados and Alcantara cavalry are in a swirling melee, the other half slip around the melee but are shot to pieces by soldats for the Regimiento de Africa who had moved to cover the open right flank of the column!
Turn 7 The mounted 1st element of Alcantara surprise a group of Rifeños, killing some and putting the rest to flight. They link up with the blocao defenders and will be ready to move out next turn. The blocao commander sends orders across the valley by flag and heliograph giving orders to the other blocao to be abandoned and its garrison to head towards the track and link up with the main column.
The melee with the Juramentados continues, both sides lose men.
The Metalsa tribesmen attack up the valley ride into a gap between this melee and the reforming dismounted Alcantara troop, they attack the helpless civilians and wounded, killing some. The Alcantara and soldatos from “Africa” shoot down several riders.
At the rear of the column the Metalsa tribesmen ride into a world of hurt as the “Africa” rearguard is well set and hits then with withering fire, killing several and forcing the rest to break and ride away.
Turn 8 both blocaos begin their evacuation.
Finally the last Juramentado is killed, but they have proved a tough foe and taken quite a few Alcantara with them.
The Metalsa tribesmen continue hacking anyone they can (soldiers, civilians be they men or women) they are engaged by Alcantara and Africa soldiers, by the end of the turn they break off and ride away.
Turn 9 The Rifeños roll and get another unit of former Regulares, once again these appear in front of the column; which can now move again as it faces no direct attacks. I place the regulares in an ambush position down the trail.
Both Blocao garrisons are on the move, but the men from the left side are ambushed and lose some men, they respond very well and drive off their attackers.
Turn 10 every Spanish group is now on the move, the main column vanguard (Alcantara of course) comes under fire from the Regulares and loses a few men.
The soldatos of Regimiento de Infanteria No42 “Ceriñola” from the left side blocao move towards the sounds of rifle fire.
Turn 11 The main column vanguard no reinforced by soldatos from “Africa” exchange fire (and casualties) with the Regulares. At the end of the turn the Regulares are hit in the flank by the unit from “Ceriñola”, they take several casualties and are driven off opening the track for the main column.
Turn 12 The Rifeños roll and get yet more Metalsa tribesmen, both groups riding up the valley towards the column
The main column is moving again and at the end of the turn both units from Regimiento de Infanteria No42 “Ceriñola” have joined it.
In the center of the column more men from Ceriñola prepare to receive cavalry, troops from Africa and Alcantara also move to protect the front of the column.
Turn 14 the Metalsa tribesmen charge the Spanish infantry, a melee follows.
The rest of the column moves forward down the valley.
Turn 15 the Riffi roll but get no extra men, but those on the hill by the blockhouse on the left are forming up.
The column moves down the valley.
Turn 16
The column is hit by long range rifle fire from the hill on the left with little effect (one casualty), the Spanish return fire (equally ineffective at long range)
The column carries on moving down the valley.
Turn 17
The Riffi on the left continue to fire at the column, moving closer down into the valley; their fire is again sporadic (they kill one soldato), but Spanish return fire takes two Berbers in return!
The column continues its retreat down the valley.
Turn 18
The Riffi roll and get two groups of infantry one at the head of the column one from the rear.
The column is still retreating down the valley.
Turn 19
The Riffi at the front and rear of the column open fire! The rear shooting is ineffective, but the soldiers from Africa who are the column`s rearguard kill 2 Berbers! At the front of the column soldatos from Ceriñola take a couple of casualties, a wagon driver is also taken. The column is brought to a halt by this ambush!
Turn 20
At the rear of the column the Berbers can make no headway and lose another 2 men to the well placed soldiers from Africa.
In front the last mounted element of Alcantara charged the Riffi, the surprise and violence of their charge, plus good shooting from soldatos break their morale and they flee!!
Turn 21
The Riffi roll and get another unit of former Regulares at the head of the column.
At the rear, the firefight is over when the Berbers taken another casualty and fail their morale test.
The Column moves off once again, the lost Spanish pilot joins up with the column.
Turn 22
The former Regulares attack the head of the column, but find themselves up against soldatos from Ceriñola, Africa and Alcantara plus the Alcantara machine gun. They cause casualties but are cut to pieces and the survivors flee!
Turn 23
The column moves off for the first turn in ages not a single shot is fired!
Turn 24
The Riffi roll and get a single 10-men group, amazingly once again in front of the column!
The column advances down the track
Turn 25
Soldatos from Ceriñola, Africa attack the new group of Berbers!
The exchange of fire results in both sides taking casualties!
Turn 26
The Spanish launch a close-assault against the Berbers, the gods of dice reward their bravery and the Berbers are scattered!!
The column moves off once again.
Turn 27
The Riffi roll no encounter, the column moves on down the track, the river is within one move of the lead wagon (now driven by an Alcantara trooper)
Turns 28 & 29
The column moves unopposed down the track
Turn 30
Luck is with the Spanish and the Riffi roll no encounter once again, this means the entire column can now reach the river before the Riffi get to roll again - game over!
Victory for the Spanish, well at least a successful withdrawal to Dar Drius. But General Navarro decided not to defend the position and continue the withdrawal to Mount Arruit where he eventually surrendered to the Riffi on August 9.
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