OPTEL No. 30                        
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
Information received up 
                  to 7 a.m., 25th January, 1942.            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                            1.                              
                           NAVAL                            
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
One of H.M. submarines 
     torpedoed and sank an Italian salvage vessel off TUNISI
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
22nd. Two naval auxiliaries 
      which were attacked by enemy aircraft off NORTH SUMATRA shot 
                   down a four-engine aircraft.             
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
Between 19th and 24th following 
       ships reported sunk or damaged by enemy submarines:  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
A. Off U.S. Atlantic Coast 
 and in NEWFOUNDLAND area, five ships totaling about 28,000 
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
B. Off BURMA, A small Panamanian 
                 ship and another unknown vessel.           
 
      C. 340 miles S.S.E. of HALIFAX, one medium sized British ship. 
                                                            
 
      D. 300 miles West of CAPE ST. VINCENT one medium sized Spanish 
                              ship.                         
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                        2. MILITARY                         
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                           LIBYA                            
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. 22nd and 23rd. The enemy seized 
      the opportunity to push along the AGHEILA to JEDABYA Road, which 
      was lightly held and reached JEDABYA on the afternoon of the 
      22nd, and then moved a column of about 30 tanks and 400 M. T. 
      through ANTELAT towards SAUNNU.A second column of about 150 M. 
      T. including armoured vehicles and guns followed up as far as 
      ANTELAT where it seems to have remained. Air reported several 
      hundred M. T. moving North-East on track JEDABYA to ANTETAT on 
      morning 23rd. Our armoured and other forces were in touch with 
      the enemy throughout the 23rd and at least three engagements 
      took place in the ANTELAT-SAUNNU. Area where enemy tanks and 
      artillery were brought to battle by our columns. The situation 
      is still confused and no decisive % results have been reported. 
      Large number of fires seen amongst enemy N. T. on track JEDABYA 
                            - ANTELAT.                      
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                         FAR EAST.                          
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> No further news of operations 
        in BURMA or IVLALAYA, NEW BRITAIN and NEW IRELAND.  
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
24th. No communication 
      with Australian military forces at RABAUL and KAVIENG. Three 
  enemy aircraft claimed brought down at each place between 
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                          RUSSIA.                           
                                                            
                                                            
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> North-west of ROHEV the Russians 
              are making further progress westwards,