-2-
 
      
 
 
Central Sector.
 The Russians have had marked successes 
      against the Northern and Southern arms of the German enveloping 
      movement around MOSCOW, and the Germans have been obliged to 
      withdraw both in the KLIN and TULA areas with heavy casualties 
      and much less of equipment. The withdrawal in the latter area 
      has been considerable. Between these two sectors the Germans 
      have made a slight withdrawal in the OVENIGOVOD area, due West 
      of MOSCOW, in order to conform with their retirement in the KLIN 
      area. Troops in the German Salient East of TULA, which originally 
      extended as far as SKOPIN, have been withdrawn and the line now 
      runs approximately South from TULA to a point West of YEFREMOV 
      and thence to LIVNI which the Russians now claim to have recaptured. 
      The Russians are attacking along the whole of this line.
 
      
 
 
UKRAINE
. No change. Despite heavy casualties the Germans 
      continue to hold the line of THEOMIUS and TAGANROG.
 
      
 
 
CRIMEA
. Pressure on SEVASTOPOL has probably further 
      eased. No German attempt to cross the KERCH STRAIT is likely 
      at present.
 
      
 
 
Conclusions.
 After trying for over two months to capture 
      MOSCOW the Germans decided to stabilise and withdraw to a shorter 
      line suitable for defence during the winter. Their sustained 
      effort under difficult conditions had however so much reduced 
      their fighting capacity that the Russians have been able to launch 
      and press home heavy counter-attacks along nearly the whole of 
      the Central Sector, particularly in the KLIN and TULA areas. 
      As a result, the German withdrawal has not been altogether according 
      to plan and has involved them in serious difficulties. They may 
      now well have to revise their original intentions as to their 
      winter line. The threat to the MOSCOW-RIAOHSK-VORONQAD Railway 
      has been removed for the winter. The situation has undergone 
      a very marked improvement in the important central sector. The 
      Russians now appear definitely to hold the initiative.
 
      
 
 
(III) 
AIR OPERATIONS
 %
 
      14th. A 1,200 ton merchant vessel was sunk off NORWAY by a coastal 
      Hudson of the Royal Netherlands Air Service.
 
      LIBYA. 12th/13th. Extensive and successful operations were carried 
      out by our fighters and bombers. Twenty Wellingtons started ten 
      large fires at DERNA aerodrome, enemy M.T. was attacked north 
      of EL TMIMI on the road near EL AGHEILA and in the BOMBA-DERNA 
      area. Many vehicles were destroyed and others damaged. In addition 
      to casualties reported yesterday, 22 enemy aircraft were destroyed, 
      nine probably destroyed and fourteen damaged. Fourteen of our 
      fighters and three bombers are missing.