This changed on 15 August 1914 when German ships, stationed on Lake Tanganyika, bombed the port of Mokolobu (south of Uvira) and the Lukuga post a week later.

The southern brigade commanded by Colonel Frederik Valdemar Olsen advanced to Tabora following the Tanganyika Railway (Tanganjikabahn), which the Germans destroyed as they withdrew to the east.

[citation needed] On the 7th, General Wahle launched another counterattack on the train station of Usoke, this time a naval gun was mounted on one of the railway wagons.

Both sides suffered heavy losses, the train station was bombarded, the Force publique launched an attack, and the Germans were pushed back.

[citation needed] On 16 September the Germans intercepted a letter from Crewe for colonel Molitor (Brigade Nord), which stated that the main offensive from the north was planned for the 19th.

Wahle, in anticipation of an Allied pursuit, was retreating at a rapid pace to Mahenge and found himself in unexplored and uninhabited terrain, with no water and food at his disposal.