Copy No. 15 OPTEL No. 37 Information received up to 7 a.m., 16th December, 1941. (I) NAVAL MEDITERRANEAN. A 6,000 ton Italian merchant vessel is beached near CAPE METHONI (South West GREECE) after being torpedoed by a British submarine. There are about 150 survivors from the British cruiser sunk off ALEXANDRIA. CHINA. A Dutch submarine sank one enemy merchant ship on the 12th and one oiler on the 13th off KOTA BHARU. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. 14th. Our troops attacked all along the line and by 11 a.m. had forced a gap in enemy centre. By 2.30 p.m. enemy were still holding position to East of GAOALA BAY and astride main road, and also further to South astride TRIGH EL ABD. In afternoon, enemy counter attacked in latter area employing 21 tanks. Attack continued until the evening but enemy failed to press attack home. Three enemy tanks destroyed. MALAYA. 15th. In South KEDAH, enemy resumed his attack at dawn and succeeded in isolating our left brigade. Touch has not yet been restored in spite of counter attack. Our forces operating in the KROH area have been reinforced by a further two battalions and are at present holding their ground without difficulty. Enemy's main objective appears to be to penetrate between our two forces in this area. He is pressing home his attacks with fanatical courage in spite of very heavy losses. KELANTAN. No change. BURMA . A small reconnaissance patrol, operating in the area of MESOD (170 miles East of RANGOON), was fired on by Siamese Gendarmes. HONG KONG . The withdrawal from the mainland and to the island was completed by morning 13th December. The three 6" coast defence guns on ST0NECUTTERS Island have been destroyed by us and the garrison evacuated. Heavy and accurate Japanese artillery fire continues against our defences in the Northern part of the Island. The Japanese are concentrating ferry craft on the KOWLOON % side, and it is thought they may soon attempt a direct assault on the island. RUSSIA. The Russian forces are continuing their counter offensive. They have captured REFREMOV (North West of YELETS) and are advancing on OREL. (III) AIR OPERATIONS 15th/16th. 47 aircraft despatched to BREST 17, OSTEND 25, sea mining 5. One bomber is missing. |