OPTEL No, 20
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information received up
                  to 7 a.m., 17th January, 1942.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            1.
                           NAVAL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16th. A 12,000 ton liner
      in outward-bound troop convoy was torpedoed about 600 miles west
      of BORDEAUX and subsequently bombed by Focke Gulf aircraft. Her
      steering gear was disabled but she is proceeding at reduced speed.
      A naval trawler was bombed and sunk off YARMOUTH, and a small
      naval auxiliary vessel sank off south-west SCOTLAND after colliding
         with one of H.M. submarines which was undamaged.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Icebreaker STALIN reported
                      not seriously damaged.
 
 
 
 
 
 
16th. A British 8,600 ton
      tanker, bound for HALIFAX, was torpedoed off ST. JOHNIS, NEWFOUNDLAND,
                       but is still afloat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                             2.
                          MILITARY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           LIBYA
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. A Free French Force has-Joined
                 our troops in the HALFAYA area.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                        MALAYA. EAST
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. An enemy patrol was encountered
              on the 15th north of the river ENDAU.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            WEST
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. Early on the 15th an advanced
      Australian battalion am-bushed an enemy column, including some
      tanks west of GEMAAS destroying six tanks and inflicting heavy
      casualties with small losses. Later, the enemy at-tacked in force
      and heavy fighting took place, our troops being subjected to
            constant dive-bombing throughout the day.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enemy strength reported
      one brigade with medium and light tanks. Our forward elements
             have now been withdrawn east of GEMAS. %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           BORNEO
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. The Japanese have attacked some
f Indian troops at SILOES in DUTCH BORNEO near the SARAWAK f
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           RUSSIA
 
 
       SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New">. In the central sector the Russians
      are maintaining their pressure. In the CRIMEA, the Germans (are)
                       attacking FEODOSIA.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                            3.
                       AIR OPERATIONS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                       WESTERN FRONT.
 
 
             SIOE="-1" FACE="Courier New"> 15th/16th.
                          HAMBURG.
 Thirty
       tons high explosive and nearly 23,000 incendiaries.
 
 
 
 
 
 
EMDEN. 51 tons high explosive
      and 4,400 incendiaries. Large fires were left burning at both
      ports. Fourteen R.C.A.F., six R.A.A.F. and two R.N.O.A.F. aircraft
             took part. One Canadian Hampden crashed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
16th and 16th/17th. No
       offensive operations by us and no by enemy reported.