Copy No. 11
 
      
OPTEL No. 30
 
      
 
 
Information received up to 7 a.m., 10th December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I)
 NAVAL
 
      A Russian submarine operating off Northern Norway torpedoed on 
      the 3rd a Westbound merchant ship of 5,000 tons and sank a trawler 
      and a motor boat escorting the ship. Another Russian submarine 
      torpedoed a Westbound tanker north of VARANGER Fjord. H.M. armed 
      boarding vessel ALOUETTE intercepted a small French merchant 
      vessel off LISBON and is sending her into GIBRALTAR.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. On 8th December we made good progress. The enemy continued 
      to fight a stubborn delaying action West of EL ADEM and North 
      West of EL GOBI but the remains of his armoured divisions are 
      being driven back and he appears to be retiring Westwards. EL 
      ADEM is now in our hands and the siege of TOBRUK appears to have 
      been finally raised. 9th - From the EL GOBI area our armoured 
      formations were in progress of out-flanking the enemy and mixed 
      mobile columns were working wide Westwards and Northwards in 
      the direction of ACR0MA. To the East of TOBRUK and in the frontier 
      area vigorous mopping up operations were in progress but BARDIA, 
      HALFAYA and a strong point between SOLLUM and SIDI OMAR were 
      still in enemy hands.
 
      
 
 
MALAYA.
 Nothing further to my OPTEL No. 29. 
 
      SIAM. There have been further enemy landings at PRACHUABKIRIK-HAN, 
      150 miles South West of BANKOK, but reports of fighting in this 
      district with British forces from BURMA are not confirmed. Japanese 
      forces entered BANKOK a.m. 9th.
 
      
 
 
HONG KONG.
 Our troops are now established in their 
      main positions which are being successfully maintained in the 
      face of an enemy attack by a force estimated at about two divisions. 
      Our patrols are active and one of them ambushed and practically 
      annihilated a Japanese Platoon. 8th/9th. Two air raid alerts 
      but no enemy aircraft located. Air attacks on the 9th were countered 
      by A/A fire. Civilian air raid casualties now reported as 70 
      killed % and over 100 injured.
 
      
 
 
RUSSIA.
 There are indications that the Germans are 
      now trying to stabilise the MOSCOW Front. The Russians are continuing 
      their heavy pressure on the Germans in the ROSTOV Sector.