Copy No. 11 OPTEL No. 30 Information received up to 7 a.m., 10th December, 1941. (I) NAVAL A Russian submarine operating off Northern Norway torpedoed on the 3rd a Westbound merchant ship of 5,000 tons and sank a trawler and a motor boat escorting the ship. Another Russian submarine torpedoed a Westbound tanker north of VARANGER Fjord. H.M. armed boarding vessel ALOUETTE intercepted a small French merchant vessel off LISBON and is sending her into GIBRALTAR. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. On 8th December we made good progress. The enemy continued to fight a stubborn delaying action West of EL ADEM and North West of EL GOBI but the remains of his armoured divisions are being driven back and he appears to be retiring Westwards. EL ADEM is now in our hands and the siege of TOBRUK appears to have been finally raised. 9th - From the EL GOBI area our armoured formations were in progress of out-flanking the enemy and mixed mobile columns were working wide Westwards and Northwards in the direction of ACR0MA. To the East of TOBRUK and in the frontier area vigorous mopping up operations were in progress but BARDIA, HALFAYA and a strong point between SOLLUM and SIDI OMAR were still in enemy hands. MALAYA. Nothing further to my OPTEL No. 29. SIAM. There have been further enemy landings at PRACHUABKIRIK-HAN, 150 miles South West of BANKOK, but reports of fighting in this district with British forces from BURMA are not confirmed. Japanese forces entered BANKOK a.m. 9th. HONG KONG. Our troops are now established in their main positions which are being successfully maintained in the face of an enemy attack by a force estimated at about two divisions. Our patrols are active and one of them ambushed and practically annihilated a Japanese Platoon. 8th/9th. Two air raid alerts but no enemy aircraft located. Air attacks on the 9th were countered by A/A fire. Civilian air raid casualties now reported as 70 killed % and over 100 injured. RUSSIA. There are indications that the Germans are now trying to stabilise the MOSCOW Front. The Russians are continuing their heavy pressure on the Germans in the ROSTOV Sector. |