OPTEL No. 36
 
      
 
 
Information received up to 7 A.M., 30th January, 1942.
 
      An important convoy arrived at SINGAPORE at 5 A.M., on the 29th.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. Strong enemy columns converging on BENGHAOI from the 
      South and East have taken
 
      REGIMA. Axis claims to have captured BENGHAOI on the morning 
      of the 29th have not been
 
      confirmed but our troops have probably withdrawn to avoid being 
      cut off. On the 28th
 
      there were two engagements in the area North of MEUS but results 
      are unknown and our
 
      forces have taken up new dispositions. There are several small 
      enemy columns of all arms
 
      in the area Northeast of MSUS.
 
      
MALAYA
. By 4:30 P.M. on the 28th the enemy were approximately 
      40 miles from JOHORE BAHRU
 
      on all three points. In the central sector, on this day, a Company 
      of the 27th Australian
 
      Brigade, in a bayonet counter attack, caused enemy casualties 
      estimated at 200 without
 
      loss. On 29th afternoon an enemy attack, strongly supported by 
      aircraft, was beaten off by 
 
      the same brigade. Mild tear gas was used by the retreating enemy 
      on both of these 
 
      occasions.
 
      
NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES
 
      BORNEO
. Enemy forces have landed in DUTCH WEST BORNEO near 
      the SARAWAK frontier and our
 
      troops have been forced to withdraw.
 
      CELBRES. Dutch forces are still resisting at KENDARI in the South 
      East.
 
      
NEW GUINEA AREA
. Japanese from a destroyer have landed 
      on ROSSEL ISLAND off south East
 
      NEW GUINEA. 
 
      
RUSSIA
. The Russian advance north west of ROHEV has turned 
      in the general direction of
 
      VITESSK. In the DONETS area Russian pressure is maintained and 
      some progress has been made.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
.
 
      
WESTERN FRONT
. 29th. 4 Spitfires attacked an alcohol distillery 
      in NORTHERN FRANCE 
 
      starting fires and destroying one of the cisterns. 29th/30th. 
      16 heavy bombers were sent to
 
      attack the TIRPITO at TRONDHEIM but failed to locate her.
 
      
LIBYA. 
27th./28th. Wellingtons dropped 25 tons of bombs 
      on traffic between AGHEILA and 
 
      ANTELAT and damaged a number of vehicles.
 
      28th. Blenheims bombed M.T. west of MSUS and fighters destroyed 
      more than 50 vehicles,
 
      including an ammunition lorry a %nd 5 petrol lorries. About 40 
      more were damaged and several
 
      troops killed.