Copy No. 11
 
      OPTEL No. 19
 
      
 
 
Information received up to 7 a.m., 4th December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      Attacks on Shipping - 2nd. Norwegian ship of medium tonnage torpedoed 
      and sunk East of GIBRALTAR. Third p.m. British ship of small 
      tonnage mined and sunk in BRISTOL CHANNEL.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. 2nd. (Additional to 0PTEL No. 18). Our patrols reported 
      area from BARDIA to twenty-five miles to West clear of enemy. 
      German armoured cars were encountered in GAMBUT area. Night 2nd/3rd. 
      Italian troops, probably Ariete Division reported area BIR COLETA 
      (six miles South of GAMBUT) morning 3rd. Enemy motor transport 
      reported moving East along TRIGH CAPUOOO (EL ADEM-SOLLUM road). 
      About fifty motor transport had reached SISI AOEIO and about 
      one thousand motor transport were following a few miles behind, 
      being harassed by our mobile columns. A detachment of the enemy 
      was also reported digging in at EL GOBI.
 
      
 
 
RUSSIA
. MOSC0W Sector. In their North East and Eastward 
      advance from the Sector immediately South of TULA, the Germans 
      have forced a salient reaching the railway rushing South East 
      from XASCHIRA at a point some eighty miles East South East of 
      TULA.
 
      
 
 
ROSTOV Sector. There are indications that the German forces 
      have moved back to the TAGANROG area.
 
      
 
 
(III) 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      A Beaufort attacked a three thousand ton merchant vessel off 
      STAVANGER and set it on fire. 3rd/4th. No offensive operations 
      owing to widespread fog.
 
      
 
 
LIBYA
. Night 1st/2nd. Wellingtons dropped seventeen 
      tons of bombs on objectives at BENGHAOI and DERNA and on motor 
      transport on the DERNA -CIRENE Road. Hits were obtained on buildings 
      at DERNA and on the motor transport, but at BENGHAOI results 
      could not be observed owing to bad weather. 2nd. Operations were 
      severely restricted by rain and low cloud, but South African 
      Marylands scored hits on buildings at BARDIA, and Hurricanes 
      destroyed one enemy aircraft and damaged fourt %een on the ground 
      at JEDABAYA and MERSA BREGA (forth three miles South West of 
      JEDABAYA). During these operations we lost five fighters.
 
      
 
 
(IV) 
G.A.F.
 
      3rd and 3rd/4th. Activity against United Kingdom negligible.