On 17 February Northern Column sent an officers' patrol commanded by Lieutenant F. C. Farlow to select a site for an advanced base and to reconnoitre the Thilwetl el Thamamat Pass, 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Nekhl.
Den 17. februar sendte den nordlige kolonne en officerspatrulje under løjtnant F. C. Farlow af sted for at finde et sted at placere en fremskudt base og rekognoscere Thilwetl el Thamamat Passet, 6 km nord for Nekhel.