As soon as they arrived they began to dig trenches in the sand, creating a defensive line with redoubts from Mahemdia near the Mediterranean coast, south to Katib Gannit a high point in front of Romani.
Så snart de ankom, begyndte de at grave skyttegrave i sandet og etablerede en forsvarslinje med skanser fra Mahemdia nær Middelhavets kyst sydpå til Katib Gannit et højdedrag foran Romani.