Telegram from London dated February 4th.
Naval
Mediterranean. A British mine sweeper was bombed and sunk by
two Heinkel 3 aircraft near Mersa Matruh on the evening of January
31st. Casualties were 14 killed, 25 wounded and 4 missing.
2. Aircraft from H.M.S. "Formidable" bombed Mogadishu
and laid mines in the harbour on February 2nd. Little enemy opposition.
All aircraft returned.
3. Attacks on shipping. British ship (3600 tons) reported
in paragraph 1 of the summary of January 29th damaged by air
attack was boarded on February 3rd and taken in tow. Damage is
slight but there is an unexploded bomb on board.
4.Roumania. It now seems probable that there are at least
13 German divisions in Roumania including 3 or 4 armoured and
2 or 3 motorised.
5. Prospects of attempted invasion. There has been a marked
increase in the number of reports regarding the likelihood of
early invasion. Although many of them give the impression of
being spread deliberately there does appear to be fresh evidence
that preparations for invasion are steadily progressing. There
is no reliable indication of the dates.
6. Royal Air Force. Night of February 3rd/4th. 24 bombers
were despatched as follows. German cruiser at Brest 7 heavy,
6 coastal. Minelaying- ll heavy. Reports not yet received.
7. Libya. On February 1st and February 2nd heavy casualties
were inflicted on troop transport withdrawing from Derna by Blenheims
and Hurricanes. The latter shot down one enemy fighter and destroyed
4 aircraft on the