TELEGRAM FROM LONDON - OCTOBER 10TH, 1941 63 ships totaling 207,000 tons out of 90 allied and neutral ships detained by Vichy reported taken over by the French. Twenty one of these totaling 96,000 tons already placed under direct Axis control. Majority will work for Axis under cover of French flag. Some reported sent to Italian ports manned by Germans. Forty-two of these ships at present in Mediterranean. 2. On October 9th. Ostend Cherbourg area fighter aircraft set on fire ships estimated at 1500 and 500 tons, damaged another 800 tons. 3. Night of October 9th/10th ten coastal aircraft attacked two enemy ships off Alessund; details not known but one direct hit estimated. 4. Night of October 7th/October 8th. Royal Airforce aircraft set on fire merchant ship in Tripoli (L) Harbor and destroyed lighter. Merchant ship estimated at 2000 tons west of Tripoli (L) was bombed probably sunk by Blenheim. Following night naval aircraft attacked convoy Sicilian Channel and sunk Merchant estimated at 6000 tons off Marittimo island Wellington scored direct hit merchant ship estimated at 6000 tons. 5. Large Russian forces near Vyasma and certain Russian forces near Bryansk probably surrended. Germans advancing towards Kharkow and reported reached Mariupol. 6. On October 8th fifty enemy aircraft in two waves attacked Tobruk; four were badly damaged. Our casualties two killedfew wounded. |