OPTEL NO. 3.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information received up
                   to 7 A.M. 3rd January 1942.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            (1)
                         MILITARY.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           Libya.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After a bayonet attack
      by moonlight on the night lst-2nd, South African troops, supported
      by tanks, captured Bardia. The enemy surrendered unconditionally
      and are believed to number over 3,000, including General Schmidt.
      1,000 of our own troops have been rescued. Our casualties only
      75 during night attack and believed total very slight. R.N. and
      R.A.F. support successful. In the forward area, our troops are
      maintaining their pressure on the enemy's position and are continuing
      to harass his left flank. South of Cyrene, our mopping up troops
             found ten enemy tanks in good condition.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          Malaya.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Encounters with the enemy
      are taking place at Kuantan. In West Malaya, our forces were
      engaged with the enemy throughout the 1st in the area 20 miles
      South of Ipoh. Considerable numbers of small enemy troop carrying
      craft have entered the Perak and Bernam Rivers from the sea,
          steps are being taken to meet this new threat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          Borneo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A detaclument of an Indian
      Army Punjabi Regiment from Kuching has now reached Sanggau, 70
      miles to the Southwest, where they have been placed temporarily
      under Dutch command. The Japanese have occupied the undefended
                island of Labuan off North Borneo.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        Indo China.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reference yesterday's summary,
      Paragraph 4, this force is estimated at one division.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          Russia.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the Moscow sector, the
      Russians are maintaining their pressure and are forcing back
      the Germans towards Mojaisk. In the Crimea, the Russians are
    continuing their attacks against strong German oppositio
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            (2)
                       AIR OPERATIONS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                       Western Front
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd. Fighters,sent to attack
      barges and to reconnoitre the French coast, destroyed two enemy
floatplanes and a fighter. A Spitfire and a Hurricane are mi
 
 
 
 
 
 
2nd/3rd. 102 aircraft were
      sent out: Brest - 30, St. Nazaire - 27, Sea mining - 36, and
      leaflets (Northern France) - 9. One Hampden crashed on return.
      Preliminary reports indicate that little could be seen owing
                         to thick cloud.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                       MEDITERRANEAN.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           Libya.
 
 
                   SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">
 
      31st December. Beau fighters attacked motor transport West of
      El Agheila, destroying a petrol lorry arid two other lorries,
maging about 60 others and inflicting heavy casualties on pe
 
   31st December/1st January. Size Wellington bombed Ras El