 At dawn on 4 February, the 11th Hussars left Mechili over ground which had only been reconnoitred from the air, to avoid alerting the Italians.Low-flying aircraft had reported that the going was difficult and for the first the route was the worst yet encountered in the desert.By armoured cars had reached Msus, away, where the garrison left hurriedly, some cars followed up for another to Antelat and the 7th Support Group reached the 4th Armoured Brigade, which was still preparing to move from Mechili.