Copy No. 11 OPTEL No. 24 Information received up to 7 a.m. 7th December, 1941. (I) NAVAL Air reconnaissance reported at 3.15 a.m. 6th two Japanese convoys of 25 and 10 ships respectively, escorted by Cruisers and Destroyers, off POINT CANBO (COCHIN CHINA) course 270 degs. West. Contact has since been lost and no further news is yet available. The armed boarding vessel mentioned in yesterday's summary was sunk by torpedo aircraft. She had on board 300 British wounded and 100 prisoners of war. 201 persons were rescued. A small British merchant vessel was sunk off CROMER last night, probably by mine. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. 6th. Pressure by our mobile columns was maintained on the whole front BARDIA - EL ADEM and also on the enemy lines of communication in rear. Appreciable losses were inflicted. Latest reports indicate that the enemy has concentrated his forces South of EL ADEM and is moving South East towards EL GOBI which is held by our troops. RUSSIA. German pressure on MOSCOW is continuing. (III) AIR OPERATIONS 6th. Spitfires seriously damaged storage cisterns and buildings at two Alcohol Distilleries in the CHERBOURG Peninsula. Similar targets in the DUNKIRK area were also attacked. In operations off the Norwegian Coast, a Hudson claimed hits on a 7,500 ton merchant vessel and Beauforts probable hits on a 4,000 ton merchant vessel and a 5,000 ton tanker. LIBYA. Nothing further to my 0PTEL No. 23. CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN . 5th/6th. 20 Wellingtons attacked NAPLES for five hours. Over 25-1/2 tons of bombs were dropped, two 4,000 pounders starting a large fire in the torpedo factory and other bombs falling on the arsenal, air frame works and the railway centre. One of our aircraft is missing. (IV) G.A.F. 6th. A German bomber was destroyed by our fighters South of PLYMOUTH. MALTA. 5th/6th. About 20 bombers approached the Island during a period of nine %hours. Only 8 crossed the coast causing some damage. |