Copy No. 11 OPTEL No. 35 Information received up to 7 a.m., 14 December, 1941. (I) NAVAL A British destroyer was disabled by bombs west of MILFORD HAVEN and has been towed to port. 18 fatal casualties. A British submarine has sunk an enemy merchant vessel east of NORTH CAPE. Further information regarding the action off CAPE BON shows that two cruisers and one torpedo boat were sunk and torpedo boat badly damaged by 3 British destroyers and a Dutch destroyer. A British submarine reports having attacked two large unidentified ships and a destroyer South of TARANTO. Four hits were obtained. MALAYA. 12th. A Dutch submarine sank four laden Japanese troop ships off PATANI. A naval auxiliary minesweeper has failed to return from the East coast of MALAYA and is considered lost. A small British tanker was torpedoed yesterday west of ALEXANDRIA but is returning to port under her own power. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. 11th. The enemy strong-point between SOLLUM and SIDI OMAR was occupied without resistance and much equipment captured. 12th. The enemy endeavouring to cover his withdrawal was still holding GAOALA. He was being contained by our troops who engaged his tanks, apparently with good results, South-West and South of GAOALA, capturing prisoners and guns. The remains of the Italian Ariete Division are some thirty miles South of EL TMIMI and are being engaged by our troops. During the 11th and 12th four enemy aircraft were shot down by our ground defences. MALAYA . No further report received. A Japanese convoy large enough to be carrying two to three Divisions was reported on 12th December steaming South-South-West off CAMBODIA POINT. HONG KONG. 12th. Withdrawal from KOWLOON carefully prepared and begun at dusk 11th, has been carried out with some difficulty owing to constant pressure by superior numbers. Field and Medium Howitzers evacuated without loss. Much M.T., all Carriers and all armoure %d cars evacuated. Scale of enemy air raids has increased during last 24 hours. Continuous shelling of Island represents a nuisance value only counter battery and harassing fire by our coast defence guns landwards reported effective. |