On 13 August, towards the end of the campaign, Dempsey's XIII Corps HQ was withdrawn to reserve to plan Operation Baytown, Eighth Army's part in the Allied invasion of Italy across the Strait of Messina. The 50th Division was earmarked to return to the UK, and was replaced by the 1st Canadian Division, under the command of Major-General Guy Simonds, whom Dempsey considered a friend. Although surrender negotiations with the Italians were in progress, intelligence on German and Italian dispositions was sketchy, and Dempsey insisted on an adequate number of landing craft being provided, which delayed the operation until 3 September. Although his Corps' landing was unopposed, and subsequent opposition was light, the Germans ensured his progress was slow by destroying bridges and culverts on the only routes through the harsh terrain. It took nearly two weeks to advance more than to the north to link up with the U.S. Fifth Army landing at Salerno as part of Operation Avalanche. Allied forces then commenced to fight their way northward with Fifth Army to the west and Eighth Army to the east of Italy's Apennine Mountain spine. The corps later took part in the Moro River Campaign but the severe winter weather precluded any further progress.