Copy No. 11
 
      
OPTEL No. 42 
 
      Information received up to 7 a.m., 19th December, 1941.
 
      
 
 
(I) 
NAVAL
 
      ATLANTIC. 19th a.m. A British destroyer was sunk by a U-boat 
      west of GIBRALTAR.
 
      MEDITERRANEAN. 19th, 1.45 a.m. A British cruiser and destroyer 
      were mined 20 miles north of TRIPOLI and are unable to steam. 
      A British cruiser was also mined but is proceeding at 16 knots.
 
      
 
 
(II) 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA. 17th. Our forces further pursued the retreating enemy, 
      and by 4.30 p.m. our armoured forces and infantry had reached 
      the general line from TMIMI south-west to BIR HALEGH EL ALEBA, 
      an advance of 30 miles. Remnants of the Italian armoured and 
      motorised forces appear to be withdrawing via MEKILI and remnants 
      of their infantry to DERNA. Remnants of the German armoured forces 
      have withdrawn to DERNA possibly making for BENG HAOI by the 
      Coast Road. Our forces are continuing the advance north-west 
      of DERNA and west of MEKILI.
 
      
 
 
MALAYA.
 18th. In KELANTAN, minor enemy activity only.
 
      
 
 
KEDAH.
 The withdrawal from River MUDA to River KRIAN 
      has been carried out successfully. The evacuation of PANANG to 
      PORT SWETTENHAM and SINGAPORE has also been effected successfully. 
      The attack on our detachment at GRIK has not been pressed. The 
      enemy carried out a fairly heavy bombing attack on the Eastern 
      railway at MERAPOH (40 miles north of KUALA LIPISE. 11 large 
      transports are reported off PATANI, where there is continuous 
      launch activity.
 
      
 
 
PACIFIC ISLANDS.
 Japanese are reported to have vacated 
      TARAWA after destroying the wireless station.
 
      RUSSIA. Russian pressure continues in the MOSCOW and TULA areas. 
      The Russian claim to have taken ALEKSIN (30 miles north-west 
      of TULA) and SHCOEKINO (15 miles south-west of TULA) is believed. 
      Heavy Russian attacks are also reported from the DONETO BASIN. 
      The Germans are intensifying their pressure on SEVASTOPOL.
 
      
 
 
(III) 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      18th. 47 Heavy Bombers were despatched to attack SCHARNHORST 
      and GNEISENAU at BREST. Bursts causing explosions were seen on 
      the sterns of both battle-cruisers, two bursts just to the south-west 
      of the docks were also followed by flashes from each vessel amidships, 
      and thick black smoke was observed rising