Information received up 
                  to 7 a.m., 1st January, 1942.             
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
Attacks on shipping. 28th 
      Dec. A British ship of small tonnage was sunk by enemy action 
                  in the Eastern MEDITERRANEAN.             
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
31st Dec. A British tanker 
  was torpedoed about 200 miles north west of the BUTT OF LE
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                           (II)                             
                          MILITARY                          
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                           LIBYA.                           
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> Enemy is now believed to have 
      the remnants of five Italian infantry divisions and one Italian 
      and two German armoured divisions in the JEDABYA area, round 
      which several strong points have been constructed. There is also 
      a line of defended posts stretching thirty miles south eastwards 
      towards EL HASEIAT. From which place the enemy had been forced 
            to withdraw by one of our mobile columns.       
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
30th Dec. During the morning 
      there was another tank battle between forty enemy tanks and fifty-eight 
      of our own some fifteen miles south east of JEDABYA. Tank casualties 
      are not yet known but are likely to be considerable on both sides. 
      In the afternoon, our armoured forces withdrew north-wards to 
      protect the left flank of the troops engaging the strong enemy 
                   post north east of JEDABYA.              
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
Frontier Area. 31st Dec. 
      The assault on BARDIA with tanks and infantry commenced early 
      in the morning after heavy air and artillery preparations. It 
          is believed that good progress has been made.     
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                          MALAYA.                           
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> In PERAK our position is unchanged. 
      During 3Oth Dec. the Japanese supported by artillery and mortar 
      fire, appeared to be feeling our defenses. There has been minor 
      enemy air activity against our communication so. On the Eas %t 
      Coast, a small party of Japanese have penetrated southwards from 
      TRENGGANO towards KUANTAN where they are being engaged
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                          RUSSIA.                           
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> Heavy fighting is continuing south 
      west of KALININ. The Germans have made a further withdrawal west 
                            of KALUGA.                      
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                           (III)                            
                       AIR OPERATIONS                       
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
WESTERN FRONT. 31st Dec. 
      and 31st Dec./1st Jan. No offensive operations undertaken by 
         our aircraft and enemy activity was negligible.