Word: wergha
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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...rear to urge war upon the French and to promise rewards from his Chief, Abd-el-Krim. The visits are repeated nightly; and if kind words fail, threats are used, and occasionally an assassination is committed to terrorize the petty chieftains into submission. The Valley of the Wergha, along which the fighting is taking place, is noted for its rich iron deposits; and in the views of some the war is in reality for their possession, Abd-el-Krim supposedly being under the thumb of Germany, who has promised to import all the ores which the Riff chief can deliver...
...wave greatly interfered last week with the prosecution of the war in Morocco (TIME, May 11, et seq.). Minor engagements were reported in the Spanish sector in the south, but nothing decisive was effected by any engagement. In general, the Riffians continued to dominate Fez* and Taza behind the Wergha River and a new offensive against the former was developing...
...Riffs conducted several fierce onslaughts on the French positions along the Wergha Valley, Riff artillery being used in support with deadly effect. On each occasion, according to French communiques, the enemy was repulsed, but the losses on both sides were heavy. Little, if any, territory changed hands. A battle was continuing...
...retiring behind the Wergha, the French have largely abandoned blockhouse fighting and have formed a continuous line along the entire front...
Some months before, this Abd-el-Krim, leader of the Riffs and once a German agent, had conducted numerous pillaging expeditions in the Wergha Valley in French Morocco, which is the south side of the Spanish zone. The French countered by occupying the valley in force. The Spanish blockade drove the Riffs to depend more and more for supplies on their agents in French Morocco. This move was accompanied by inciting other Moroccan tribes to revolt against the French. France took action to protect the natives. Abd-el-Krim replied by declaring that the occupation by French troops...