-2- battle now depends largely on our ability to transport and maintain our supplies in sufficient volume. RUSSIA . The German retreat is continuing on the whole MOSCOW front from KALININ to OREL, and Russian pressure is preventing the enemy from executing a planned withdrawal. There is no immediate prospect of the Germans succeeding in stopping the Russian advance and in stabilising the front. JAPAN. In the CHANGSHA area, on the CANTON-HANKOU railway, a strong Japanese force is attacking the Chinese positions. In MALAYA, the Japanese advance has for the moment slackened, but reinforcements are reported to be arriving by sea and land in the Kra Isthmus. Present Japanese strength is estimated at Four Divisions and one Tank Regiment. SPAIN. No German troop movements have been reported to substantiate the numerous rumours of an imminent attack on SPAIN. BALKANS . The German rumour campaign is as active in TURKEY as it is in the Iberian Peninsula. There have been several reports of German preparations for future military action based on BULGARIA. (III) AIR OPERATIONS UNITED KINGDOM. The principal operation was the daylight raid upon the German warships at BREST. Night bombing was carried out on four occasions, during which a total of about 200 tons of high explosive and 15,000 incendiaries were dropped. Our aircraft damaged with bombs or torpedoes about 25,000 tons of enemy shipping. MEDITERRANEAN. CYRENAICA. Relentless attacks by bombers and fighters upon retreating enemy columns contributed to their disorganization. Enemy aerodromes and landing grounds were also heavily bombed, several aircraft being either destroyed or damaged on the ground. TRIPOLITANIA. OOUARA was attacked by day and TRIPOLI (L) was bombed on five nights of the week. Our aircraft sank or damaged about 16,000 tons of enemy shipping. Apart from one heavy but ineffective night raid on TOBRUK %little was seen of Axis bombers in LIBYA. MALTA. Enemy activity increased both by day and night. FAR EAST. Our fighters carried out one successful attack on an enemy aerodrome in SIAM, and Dutch light bombers were in action against Japanese Naval forces off N.W. BORNEO. Enemy bombers raided RANGOON, made several attacks on IPOH in MALAYA and twice visited KUALA LUMPUR aerodrome without causing much damage. In BORNEO they heavily bombed PONTIANAK and made sharp attacks on KULHING and SINGKAWANG aerodromes. |