This delay was necessary to give the headquarters staff time to prepare their defences.

They had also had some weeks to prepare their defences and towns had been turned into fortresses.

Because of the haste with which Urabi's forces had prepared their defences, there were no obstacles in front of them to disrupt the attackers.

Governor Villebon having been alerted, had prepared his defences.

From there they were taken by boat to New York City where they began preparing the city's defences in expectation of an attack.

On occasion the knowledge that Mohists were helping to prepare a city's defences was enough to dissuade attack.

Like any reasonable man I prepare my own defences.

This gave the British extra time to prepare their defences, and withdraw their outposts - boosting the garrison to nearly 4,000 troops.

Receiving intelligence of Khalid's march towards Damascus he prepared the city's defences.