The local resistance began to believe that they were able to defeat the Spanish when, on June 1, 1921, it took the position from Abarrán, killing many Spanish soldiers in combat. On June 8, 1921, Silvestre again sent his men south of the Amekran to start building a fort at Igueriben. Krim then out a proclamation to all the Berber tribes of the Rif: "The Spaniards have already lost the game. Look At Abaran! They have left their dead mutilated and unburied, their souls vaguely wandering about, tragically denied the delights of Paradise!" The Rifians now surrounded the new Spanish base at Igueriben and used captured Spanish artillery to bring down fire on the Spanish. Then, Silvestre sent a telegram to Berenguer saying that the situation had become "somewhat delicate" and that he desperately needed more troops. Silvestre now started to worry, as he had much trouble sleeping and eating. However, Silvestre's doubts were quietened when King Alfonso sent him a telegram, whose first line was "Hurrah for real men!", and it urged his favorite general to stay the course and not to retreat. With that, any possibility of retreat vanished, as Silvestre would never displease the king.