from 7–8 august, the defenders had received reinforcements of the 1/2nd punjab regiment and the 2nd battalion black watch; by 10 august, de simone had closed up on the british positions behind the tug argan and prepared the italian attack. the road from hargeisa turns north through the karrim pass to tug argan and then east between the assa hills to the south, hills and dry riverbeds (tugs) to the north. the pass is a flat stone expanse with occasional thorn bushes, tugs and a few rocky hills about apart, named black, knobbly, mill and observation hills by the defenders, with castle hill east of mill hill.