No. 229
 
               FROM: THE ADMIRALTY
               TO: DIVISION OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
               TOR ONI:   Feb. 021310
 
OPTEL No.38                                           
 
               Information received up to 7 A.M., 1st February , 1942.
 
1. NAVAL
 
     Photographic reconnaissance on the 31st located the battleship 
TIRPITZ and a tanker at Trondhjem, and another photographic reconnaisance of 
Brest located the SCHARNHORST and GNEISLNAU at the torpedo-boat station and 
PRlNZ LUGEN at the coaling wharf. A German ship, probably the SPREKNWALD 
(5,000 tons), reported on 31st in English and German that she had been tor-
pedoed 400 miles North of Azores and was on fire and sinking and had British 
prisoners on board. Corvettes have been sent. An ex-United States coast-
guard cutter has been torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic while escorting a 
homeward-bound convoy. An 8,000 ton tanker was toroedoes and abandoned on 
the 15th East of Newfoundland, and survivors from a small Greek ship have 
been landed at St. John's. A medium sized British merchant vessel was sunk 
by submarine gunfire on the 30th 50 miles East of Hadras. An 8,000 ton 
British ship, independently routed from Buenos Aires to the United Kingdom, 
was torpedoed this morning 300 miles South-East of New York.
 
2. MILITARY
 
     LIBYA. On the 31st, there was no forvard movement of enemy
main bodies, which were in the area Benina-Msus. Their patrols were, however,
active as far as Marawa. Our forces vere approximately on a line El Garib-
Charruba-Tengeder with patrols pushed well forward. Part of the 7th Indian
Infantry Brigade, which had been cut off in the Benghazi area, has broken
through and is reorganizing.
 
     MALAYA. During the night 30th/31st. Our forces effected their 
withdrawal to Singapore Island in spite of continued enemy pressure. The 
causeway has been breached. Part of an Indian Brigade which was cut off two 
days previously has not yet rejoined during five nights beginning 26th/27th, 
the Royal Navy evacuated nearly 2,000 all ranks, British and Indian, who 
had been cut cff on the West Coast of Johore.
 
     BURMA. On the 30th, Moulmein was heavily attacked, and fighting 
continued throughout the night. During the 31st, our troops were withdrawn 
to the West ban of the Salween River.