Copy No. 11 Information received up to 7 a.m., 22nd December, 1941. An Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier escorting a homeward Gibraltar convoy was sunk by U-boat yesterday 500 miles West of CAPE FINISTERRE, some ships of the convoy have also been torpedoed. Aircraft from the Auxiliary Aircraft Carrier yesterday morning sighted a U-boat with a hole in her side transferring men to another U-boat. The aircraft shot 3 men. One of H.M. submarines torpedoed a large tanker entering SUDA BAY on the 11th and another of H.M. submarines in an attack on 2 North bound merchant ships in the Gulf of TARANTO on the 13th obtained 3 hits on one and 1 on the other. HONG KONG. 20th. Motor Torpedo Boats sank 4 enemy landing craft between KOWLOON and the Island, our losses were two Motor Torpedo Boats sunk and 1 damaged. An Oiler, two boom defence vessels and an auxiliary patrol vessel were scuttled as they were unable to steam. On the 21st, a medium sized Greek cargo vessel was damaged by mine off the East Coast and beached and a Norwegian vessel of about 5,000 tons was torpedoed. (II) MILITARY LIBYA. The pursuit of the enemy continues, but our columns have been hindered by sand storms and heavy rain in the coastal area our patrols have reached CYRENE and APOLLONIA. In the centre our columns are attacking 5 miles West of EL KARRUBA, where much abandoned material was found. Further South, by the morning of the 21st we had reached MSUS and are working forward to regain contact with the enemy. There are indications that the enemy is making a stand to cover the evacuation of equipment from BENGHAOI. MALAYA. The withdrawal of our forces decided upon owing to loss of aerodromes, from the Northern part of KELANTAN has been completed. Bulk of stores and equipment has been withdrawn. 0n the 21st, enemy pressure on GRIK road increased, one Battalion cut off during the night 19th to 20th fought its way out with about 30 casualties. Japanese suffered heavily. % (III) AIR OPERATIONS 20th to 21st. A Hudson attacked the oil depot ST. NAOAIRE and started fires. Bad weather prevented bombing operations. About 20 enemy aircraft were suspected sea mining off the East Coast. |