Copy No. 11
 
      OPTEL (Unnumbered) 
 
      Information received up to 7 a.m., 15 December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I) NAVAL
 
      A British submarine attacked two Italian battleships screened 
      by destroyers eight miles south of MESSINA on the morning of 
      the fourteenth and obtained two hits on one Cavour class battleship.
 
      
 
 
A British light cruiser was sunk by U-boat last night thirty 
      miles west of ALEXANDRIA. No further details yet.
 
      A medium sized British merchant vessel was sunk by U-boat on 
      fourteenth to fifteenth about fifty miles South-West of GIBRALTAR. 
      Another British ship of similar tonnage in an outward convoy 
      sank six hundred miles North-East of NEWFOUNDLAND on the eleventh 
      after a fire. Sabotage is suspected. All crew were saved.
 
      
 
 
(II) MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. 13th. It now appears that practically all the enemy forces 
      in CYRENAICA which remain fit for battle are facing the eighth 
      army between GAOALA and the EL GOBI - MEKILI road. Fourth Indian 
      Division, advancing North-Westwards South of GAOALA, was twice 
      counter attacked by about forty tanks. Both attacks were repulsed 
      with loss to the enemy of sixteen tanks destroyed and twenty-one 
      officers and three hundred and fifty men captured, this division 
      also shot down four dive-bombers.
 
      
 
 
The pressure of our armoured formation on the enemy's Southern 
      point, some twenty-five miles South of GAOALA continues. Twenty-five 
      guns, four hundred prisoners and 70,000 gallons of petrol and 
      oil have been captured in this area.
 
      BURMA. A Japanese force landed at CHUMPORN has penetrated into 
      BURMA North of VICTORIA POINT. The demolition plan for VICTORIA 
      POINT aerodrome and wireless station has been put into effect 
      and the garrison are being withdrawn.
 
      
 
 
Reported that the Japanese have advanced beyond CHIENGRAI, 
      about four hundred miles north of BANKOK, towards the Burmese 
      border.
 
      
 
 
CHINA. Withdrawals of Japanese forces from ICHANG on the YANGTOE 
      River are reported, this would relieve about another two divisions 
 %      for operations elsewhere.
 
      
 
 
RUSSIA. LENINGRAD Sector. The recapture of TIKHVIN has eliminated 
      the danger of the German forces in that sector linking up with 
      those on the River SVIR.