OPTEL No. 70
 
      
Information received up to 7 A.M., 28th February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
 
      (?Several) Japanese warships and transports approaching BATAVIA 
      and SOURABAYA on 27th were engaged by Allied warships. No details 
      have yet been received except that one H.M. Cruiser was damaged 
      and 2 Dutch Cruisers were disabled. An 8,000 ton British tanker 
      in outward convoy was torpedoed 400 miles S.S.E. of NEWFOUNDLAND 
      on the 24th and broke in two. Salvage is thought possible.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA.
 26th. Sand storms continued and prevented observation 
      by our patrols.
 
      
BURMA.
 On 25th, it was reported that owing to heavy casualties 
      inflicted during our withdrawal across the SITTANG the enemy 
      had been unable to make any attempt to cross. On 27th, however, 
      some enemy were reported to have crossed and to be astride the 
      road and railway at PYNBON sixteen miles north of PEGU. RANGOON 
      is now practically deserted.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      WESTERN FRONTIER.
 26th/27th. Sixteen R.C.A.F. bombers took 
      part in the raid on KIEL, one of them did not return. Three R.A.A.F. 
      aircraft carried out sea-mining without casualties.
 
      27th/28th. 116 aircraft sent out. KIEL - 68, WILHELMSHAVEN - 
      33, Sea-mining - 15. Three are missing.
 
      
LIBYA.
 25th/26th. Our aircraft bombed BERCA and MARTUBA 
      aerodromes and laid mines in BENGHAOI Harbour.
 
      26th/27th. TRIPOLI Harbour was bombed and a ship set on fire.
 
      
BURMA.
 26th. During a Japanese raid on RANGOON our fighters 
      shot down 22 enemy aircraft and possibly destroyed others.
 
      
SUMATRA.
 26th. Eleven enemy fighters were destroyed by 
      our aircraft which were attacking shipping off BANKA ISLAND. 
      One of our aircraft is missing.