OPTEL No. 15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information received up
                    to 7 a.m. 13 January 1942
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            1.
                           NAVAL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A small British merchant
      vessel was sunk by mine off HARWICH yesterday while in convoy.
      A Dutch 7,000 tons vessel was torpedoed and sunk near JAVA on
      2nd. Two British ships one of small and the other of medium tonnage
      were sunk by bombs off MALAYA on 11th and at MANILA on 29th December
                          respectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            2.
                          MILITARY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           LIBYA
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. Our forward troops in the Frontier
      area are in contact with an enemy position about 35 miles East
                           of AGHEILA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          MALAYA.
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> 11th. The withdrawal of our forces
      to an area 30 miles South-South East of KUALA LUMPUR continued.
      Those on the right were unmolested and those on the left were
      followed up on the ground and subjected to continuous air attacks
      in the NEGRI SEMBILAN Area. Enemy air raids have continued and
      include leaflet raids aimed at causing disaffection amongst Indian
                             troops.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           BURMA.
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> 11th. Our forces encountered a
      mixed Japanese-Siamese patrol about 100 strong on the frontier
                          east of TAVOY.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                          RUSSIA.
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> South Best of MOSCOW the Russians
      have made further progress and may even have reached the VYASMA-BRYANSK
      railway. German counter at-tacks in the area South of KURSK have
                      made slight progress.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            3.
                       AIR OPERATIONS
 
                          WESTERN FRONT
.11th/12th. BREST 42 tons %. The smoke screen
      made observation difficult. Some bombs fell in the target area
      and in the town, other wise results unobserved. 12th and 12th/13th.
                        Nothing to report.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           LIBYA
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. 11th. Bad weather restricted
      operations, Blenheims successfully attacked about 250 mechanical
      transports West of AGHEILA and started a large oil fire. HALFAYA
      defenses were bombed at intervals 1Oth and 11th. 11th/12th. Wellington
      bombed shipping in TRIPOLI (L) Harbor and probably hit a merchant
      vessel. On the 11th enemy dive bombers escorted by fighters attacked
                   our troops near MARSA BREGA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         FAR EAST.
 
                              BURMA.
 
 
 Three enemy
      aircraft attacked MOULMEIN but caused no service damage. TAVOY
      and MINGALADON aerodromes were also bombed. Slight damage was
                             caused.