Wei-hai-Wei (Chino-Japanese War).
On February 4, 1895, the boom protecting Wei-hai-Wei harbour was cut, and the Chinese fleet attacked by 10 Japanese torpedo-boats, who succeeded in sinking one battleship, at the cost of two torpedo-boats. On the following night the attack was renewed by four boats, and three Chinese ships were sunk. On the 9th another battleship was sunk by the Japanese land batteries, whereupon Admiral Ting, the Chinese commander, surrendered, and he and his principal officers committed suicide.
Weissenburg (Franco-German War).
The opening engagement of the campaign, fought August 4, 1870, between the advance-guard of the Third German Army, under the Crown Prince of Prussia, and a portion of Marshal Macmahon's army, under General Abel Donay, who fell in the battle. The Germans carried the French position, and captured the town of Weissenburg, at a cost of 91 officers and 1,460 men. The French lost 2,300 killed, wounded and prisoners.
Wepener (Second Boer War).
This place was invested by a strong force of Boers, under De Wet, April 9, 1900, and was defended by 1,700 men of the Colonial Division, under Colonel Dalgety. Notwithstanding the Boer's great preponderance in artillery, and a succession of bold assaults on the trenches, the garrison held out gallantly till April 25, when they were relieved by General Rundle, having lost 300 killed and wounded in the course of the operations.
Werben (Thirty Years' War).
Fought July 22, 1631, between the Swedes, 16,000 strong, under Gustavus Adolphus, and 26,000 Imperialists, under Count Tilly. Tilly attacked Gustavus' entrenchments in front of Werben, but his troops could not face the fire of the Swedish batteries, and being thrown into disorder, were then charged by the cavalry, under Baudissen, and repulsed. The attack was renewed a few days later with a similar result, and Tilly then drew off his forces, having suffered a loss of 6,000 men.
Wertingen (Campaign of Austerlitz).
Fought October, 1805, between the cavalry of Murat's corps, and nine Austrian battalions, strongly posted in and round Wertingen. The Austrians were defeated, losing 2,000 prisoners and several guns, and had the French infantry been nearer at hand, it is probable that the whole force would have been captured.