OPTEL NO. 13.                        
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
Information received 
                 up to 7 A.M. 12th January 1942.            
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                             1.                             
                           NAVAL.                           
                                                            
 
      A 9,000 tons British merchant vessel, independently routed from 
      Canada to the United Kingdom, was torpedoed 170 miles south of 
      Halifax on 11th. One Norwegian and three British ships, totaling 
      nearly 30,000 tons, in an outward convoy to Canada, have been 
                    damaged in heavy weather.               
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                            2.                              
                          MILITARY                          
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                           Libya                            
                                                            
                                                            
                   SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">            
 
      10th. The enemy withdrew from his positions 12 miles southwest 
      of Jedabya and continued his retreat towards Agheila. A small 
      second line transport unit, moving up to a forward area, ran 
      into a minefield and was then surrounded by enemy armoured cars. 
      Seven vehicles lost. By morning 11th, further areas southwest 
      of Jedabya were reported clear of the enemy and our mobile columns 
                      were keeping contact.                 
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                          Malaya.                           
                                                            
                                                            
                   SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">            
 
      Our forces were engaged in fierce fighting with the enemy in 
   Western Malaya on the l0th and have withdrawn further sou
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                  Netherlands East Indies.                  
                                                            
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
A Batavia conun unique 
      announces that the Japanese have attacked Tarakan Island (Dutch 
      Borneo) and the Hinahassa District in North Celebes. No details 
                            received.                       
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
                                                            
                          Russia.                           
                                                            
                                                            
                   SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">            
 
      (1) Russian air staff who was extremely confident stated on 9th 
                           January that                     
 
      (a) Russians hoped to close pincers behind Mozhaisk: in next 
      few days and that Germans withdrawing from this sector are going 
                        heavily bombed. %                   
 
      (b) It was believed Germans would NOT stand on Smolensk line 
  but would continue withdraw to pre-War Polish-Russia front
 
      (c) It was regretted that German withdrawal prevented Russian 
              offensive from achieving full effect.         
                                                            
 
                                                            
 
 
                                                            
(2) Picture as seen by 
                         British M.A. is                    
 
      (a) Finland and Leningrad sector. No fresh information