Copy No. 11
 
      OPTEL No. 40
 
      Information received up to 7 a.m., 18th December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      Northern Waters. 26th November. A Russian submarine sank an 800 
      ton merchant ship in FUGLO SOUND (S.W. of North Cape). Between 
      28th November and 6th December another Russian submarine sank 
      one 10,000 and two 6,000 ton escorted merchant ships in the vicinity 
      of North Cape.
 
      
 
 
17th p.m. Two of H.M. minesweepers were in action with two 
      enemy destroyers off GORODETSKY (entrance to WHITE SEA). One 
      was slightly damaged and the other has so far been unlocated.
 
      
 
 
MEDITERRANEAN
. 17th. Early in the morning our aircraft 
      located a force of enemy battleships, cruisers and destroyers 
      Southbound escorting 4 merchant ships, to the Westward of NAVARINO. 
      At 5.55 p.m. our light forces were in action with the enemy 165 
      miles to the Southward but lost touch at 6.47 p.m. since when 
      no further reports have been received.
 
      Attacks on shipping. 13th. A Spanish tanker of medium tonnage 
      was sunk by a U-boat off the Spanish coast to the East of GIBRALTAR.
 
      
 
 
15th. A Portuguese ship of medium tonnage was torpedoed in 
      the vicinity of CAPE ST. VINCENT.
 
      16th. A Dutch coastal vessel was damaged in the BRISTOL CHANNEL 
      by an enemy aircraft which was probably shot down by a Corvette.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. 16th. We continued to press the enemy along the whole 
      front taking about 1,000 Italians prisoner. Strong resistance 
      was encountered some 12 miles South-West of GAOALA. Meanwhile 
      a mobile detachment had reached TMIMI astride the GAOALA-DERNA 
      road where some enemy M.T. was destroyed. In the afternoon our 
      armoured forces moving from BIR HALEGH EL ALEBA (See OPTEL No. 
      39) engaged the enemy in the rear of his right flank North of 
      the THIGH EL ABD.
 
      
 
 
17th. 10 a.m. 22 German tanks (probably remnants of 15th and 
      21st German armoured divisions) escorting a large column were 
      discovered withdrawing in the direction of TMIMI. Later enemy 
      beg %an to retreat all along the line. Our forces followed up and 
      by noon, New Oealand troops had reached a point 10 miles North 
      West of GAOALA. The main portion of our armoured forces was moving 
      from the BIR HALEGH EL ALEBA area on TMIMI.
 
      
 
 
Frontier Area. South African troops captured an enemy post 
      forming part of the defences of BARDIA. Following prisoners of 
      war have reached