 On 1 February, he reported to Mussolini that he intended to withdraw to Sirte, where Gariboldi, the commander in Tripoli, had been ordered to prepare defences.On 3 February, after Graziani had sacked Berti, Tellera took over command in Cyrenaica, with orders to command the retreat.The Australians had caught up with the Italians west of Derna, at Giovanni Berta, on 31 January and British air reconnaissance reported indications of a general Italian withdrawal.