Copy No. 11
 
      OPTEL No. 28
 
      
 
 
Following is supplementary resume of operational events covering 
      period November 27th - 4th December.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      E-boats were active off East Coast and our M.T.E's and Motor 
      Gun Boats on 3 nights attacked E-B oats and Armed Escort of Merchant 
      ships in Straits of Dover with inconclusive results.
 
      
 
 
Extensive sea and air searches have failed to locate any survivors 
      of H.M.A.S. SYDNEY.
 
      
 
 
There was no submarine activity on North Atlantic convoy routes 
      and U-Boats are now concentrated in an area East and West of 
      Gibraltar. At least four are operating in South Atlantic.
 
      
 
 
Our shipping losses though somewhat heavier than of late were 
      moderate. A report has recently been received that two medium 
      sized British merchant vessels on passage on Government service 
      from MALTA to GIBRALTAR were sunk by aircraft off TUNISIA on 
      November 14th and 15th and that French naval units picked up 
      survivors.
 
      
 
 
TRADE. During the week ending December 3rd 972 ships were 
      convoyed. Imports into U.K. during week ending November 29th 
      were one million two thousand tons which includes 358,779 tankers 
      imports.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. The enemy was evidently surprised by our preliminary move 
      and General Rommel's armoured forces were brought to battle and 
      a great part of them destroyed. On other hand the fight has been 
      bitter and casualties heavy and enemy was able to cut TOBRUK 
      corridor and reconcentrate those parts of two German armoured 
      divisions which survived first 14 days of campaign. The opposing 
      forces have now fallen apart without a decision being reached 
      both forces having fought themselves temporarily to a standstill. 
      Meanwhile our patrol and mobile columns are constantly harassing 
      and inflicting losses upon enemy prier to next phase of operations.
 
      
 
 
RUSSIA.
 The situation in MOSCOW sector still gives 
      cause for anxiety. The Germans have gained ground at three points 
      (a) at KLIN, (b) from West of city, (c) East of TULA. The last 
      named of these gains is the most serious for not only has it 
      cut KASHIRA railway (though not the more important KOLOMNA-RYAOAN 
      railway further North East) but also it forms an advanced pincer 
      towards