-4-
 
      
 
 
casualties; enemy reached the road before being forced back 
      by our counter-attack. Subsequently the enemy in heavy infantry 
      attack supported by tanks compelled our evacuation of Mill Hill 
      with loss of two 3.7 inch howitzers after removal of breach blocks. 
      Anticipated slight infiltration of enemy would be cleared by 
      the morning of August 13th, but no general counter attack contemplated 
      owing to Importance of maintaining reserves. Enemy casualties 
      believed heavy, ours slight except at Mill Hill. Enemy column 
      of 400 strong reported moving along the coast road west of Berbera. 
      Enemy heavy artillery ineffective, many duds. Our troops resisted 
      stubbornly but are tired after two days of fighting.
 
      
 
 
Our Blenheims while heavily attacking enemy artillery positions 
      were intercepted by fighters. Two Blenheims forced-landed at 
      Berbera (one crashed),another returned to Aden but is probably 
      a "write-off". On August 13th three of our medium bombers 
      dropped 1¼ tons of bombs on Italian aerodromes, reconnaissance 
      aeroplane called for fire from destroyer on enemy troops and 
      3 more attacked targets in battle area.
 
      
 
 
Libya.
 
      
 
 
On August 12th 9 Blenheims with fighter escort attacked floating 
      crane in Torbruk harbour, two small vessels hit. Total of 13 
      escort-fighters and 29 fighters have arrived from Sicily and 
      are being sent to Benghazi.