To the east of the Tug Argan battlefield, Gen. Arturo Bertello had seen most of his right column melt away as his bande irregulars discovered that British Somaliland offered no water and even less loot. By the time he neared the area, he had only a handful of hard-core Somali fighters left and part of a battalion of less-than-inspired Blackshirts. But if he could punch his way up the Jerato Pass, he could sever the road between Berbera and the British battalions fighting at Tug Argan.

The Italians had a significant advantage in numbers (which was never as great during this campaign as British propaganda suggested), but could make little headway against the long-service sepoys defending the pass. More of Bertello’s force melted away, and the advance would have to be carried by De Simone’s central column.