OPTEL No. 38
 
      Information received up to 7 a.m., 1st February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      Photographic reconnaissance on the 31st located the battleship 
      TIRPITO and a tanker at
 
      TRONDHJEM, and another photographic reconnaissance of BREST located 
      the SCHARNHORST and
 
      GNEISENAU at the torpedo-boat station and PRINO EUGEN at the 
      coaling wharf. A German ship,
 
      probably the SPREENWALD (5,000 tons), reported on 31st in English 
      and German that she had
 
      been torpedoed 400 miles North of AOORES and was on fire and 
      sinking and had British prisoners
 
      on board. Corvettes have been sent. An ex-United States coastguard 
      cutter has been torpedoed
 
      and sunk in the Atlantic while escorting a homeward-bound convoy. 
      An 8,000 ton tanker was
 
      torpedoed and abandoned on the 15th East of NEWFOUNDLAND, and 
      survivors from a small Greek
 
      ship have been landed at ST. JOHN'S. A medium sized British merchant 
      vessel was sunk by
 
      submarine gunfire on the 30th 50 miles East of MADRAS. An 8,000 
      ton British ship,
 
      independently routed from BUENOS AIRES to the UNITED KINGDOM, 
      was torpedoed this morning 300
 
      miles South-East of NEW YORK.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. On the 31st, there was no forward movement of enemy 
      main bodies, which were in the
 
      area BENINA-MSUS. Their patrols were, however, active as far 
      as MARAWA. Our forces were
 
      approximately on a line EL GARIB-CHARRUBA-TENGEDER with patrols 
      pushed well forward. Part of
 
      the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade, which had been cut off in the 
      BENGHAOI area, has broken
 
      through and is reorganizing.
 
      
MALAYA
. During the night 30th/31st. Our forces effected 
      their withdrawal to SINGAPORE ISLAND
 
      in spite of continued enemy pressure. The causeway has been breached. 
      Part of an Indian
 
      Brigade which was cut off two days previously has not yet rejoined 
      during five nights
 
      beginning 26th/27th, the Royal Navy evacuated nearly 2,O00 all % 
      ranks, British and Indian,
 
      who had been cut off on the West Coast of JOHORE.
 
      
BURMA
. On the 30th, MOULMEIN was heavily attacked, and 
      fighting continued throughout the
 
      night. During the 31st, our troops were withdrawn to the West 
      bank of the SALWEEN RIVER.
 
      
RUSSIA
. South-East of VYAOMA the Russians have made further 
      progress towards the town. In
 
      the DONETS Sector Russian attacks are continuing.