OPTEL NO.11 Information received up to 7 A.M. 10th January, 1942. 1. Naval One of H.M. Destroyers minded and sunk off Sheerness on the afternoon of the ninth. There are about 55 and missing. Same afternoon a naval minesweeper was damaged by an acoustic mine. She is able to steam and no casualties were reported. H.M. Ships bombarded HALFAYA. Pass on the eighth. 4th. One of H.M. Submarines torpedoed an Italian 5,200 ton vessel. East of PALERO off which she was later seen in tow. 5th. 2.30 P.M. One of H.M. Submarines attacked an enemy battleship escorted by a cruiser and five destroyers approaching TARANTO. Four torpedoes were fired at long range and a very heavy explosion indicated a possible hit on the battleship. 2. Military Libya 8th. Our advance from JEDABYA continues. On the road to EL AGHEILA the Cold stream Guards were held up in the evening fifteen miles from JEDABYA and twenty miles further south our columns were in contact with enemy armoured cars stud artillery. Other columns are following the general line of the WADI EL FAREGH forty miles South of JEDABYA but they have been delayed by bad going and have been attacked by dive bombers. Malaya 8th. Our forces were heavily engaged during the day. No detailed reports yet available. British orth BORNEO - QESSELTON must now be considered under enemy c 3. AIR OPERATIONS Western Front 8th/9th. BREST 176 tons, CHERBOURG 16 tons. Visibility was poor but bursts were seen in the target areas followed by fires. Two bombers missing 9th. Two Spitfires attacked a factory near ETAPLES and shot down two out of four enemy fighters which attacked them. |