 Despite British intelligence suggesting the contrary, however, Salaita was heavily defended by approximately 1,300 men under local commander "Major" Georg Kraut.Furthermore, unknown to Malleson there were six "Schutztruppe" field companies—numbering roughly 1,000 men—in the surrounding area.The Allied assault began on the morning of February 12 with a preliminary bombardment of German positions by 4 inch guns salvaged from the sunken cruiser HMS "Pegasus".