Copy No. 11 
 
      
OPTEL No. 47
 
      
 
 
Following is supplementary resume of operational events coving 
      the period 11th - 18th December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      An Italian battlefleet was at sea covering convoys to North Africa. 
      British and Russia submarines had several successes in the Mediterranean 
      and in Northern waters. A Canadian destroyer suffered considerable 
      damage from heavy weather South of ICELAND on 14th. There was 
      little U-boat activity during the period and the general trend 
      of submarine movements to the Mediterranean seem to have continued. 
      A number have passed Gibraltar and there are indications that 
      several may have turned back after having been attacked and damaged. 
      The Japanese losses in the Far East are believed to be one battleship 
      sunk and two damaged in addition to casualties to light craft 
      and transports. Shipping losses have been light although little 
      information from the Far East of Mercantile losses has yet been 
      received. It is known that some British ships have been seized 
      by the Japanese who claim to have captured 120,000 gross tons.
 
      
 
 
TRADE.
 During the week ending 17th December 998 ships 
      were convoyed. Imports into the U.K. during the week ending 13th 
      December totalled 1,043,000 tons and included 350,000 tons of 
      tanker imports.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. The enemy forces now much disorganized and consisting 
      of the remnants of the 3 armoured divisions, 2 Italian motorised 
      divisions, and not much more than 2 Italian Infantry Divisions, 
      have retreated Westwards from the DERNA-MEKILI line towards BENGHAOI, 
      where defensive works are reported to be in course of construction. 
      The task of the British Forces is to create confusion among the 
      enemy's troops and prevent him rallying, though the extension 
      of our lines of communication is presenting administrative difficulties 
      in pressing home our advantage. For the enemy also the supply 
      question is acute, and even if fresh convoys succeed in reaching 
      him through BENGHAOI h %e is likely to have difficulty in stabilising 
      fresh defensive positions East of that town.
 
      
 
 
JAPAN.
 The gravity of the situation in MALALA is mainly 
      due to the fact that the enemy, already some 4 divisions in strength 
      with at least 150 tanks, is able to disembark reinforcements 
      in Southern SIAM (chiefly at SINGORA and PATANI) unhindered from 
      the air. In the whole Far Eastern theatre the enemy has at present 
      the great advantage of being able to move his forces in comparative