Battle of Annual
Although Spain [[Spain in World War I|remained neutral]] during [[World War I]], despite suffering considerable economic losses to German [[submarines]], she was militarily active elsewhere during the early part of the 20th century, attempting to strengthen her position in North Africa. Despite successes in the late 19th century, the [[First Melillan campaign|first Rif War]] (1893–4) around [[Melilla]] had also shown the potential weakness of the Spanish position along the coast. The [[Second Melillan campaign|second Rif War]] (1909–10) was initially a fiasco for the under-equipped and undertrained Spanish, until heavy [[artillery]] was brought in; in the aftermath of the war, Spain began to raise units of local [[Regulares]]. The [[Rif War (1920)|third Rif War]] (1920–1926) also began badly for the Spanish, especially after the [[Battle of Annual|disaster of Annual (1921)]], resulting in various changes to the Spanish approach. Working in alliance with French forces in the region, Spain created the [[Spanish Legion]] along similar lines to the [[French Foreign Legion]] to provide additional experienced forces. Spain also became the first country to deploy [[Chemical weapons in the Rif War|chemical weapons by air]], dropping [[mustard gas]] from aircraft.