 The South African regiments succeeded in smashing through the German line, but were stopped and then forced to withdraw after suffering casualties from machine guns.As they retreated to their starting positions, they were out-flanked and attacked by a German relief column led by "Hauptmann" (Captain) Schultz from the nearby town of Taveta.Following this encounter, the force moved further north to Serengeti, having suffered 172 casualties, 138 of them South African.