LIBYA
. Rommel's force, advancing rapidly through JEDABYA, 
      scored a tactical victory over the
 
      armoured troops which we had available in the forward area. His 
      tank units showed as markedly
 
      as ever their high training in mechanised open warfare, and on 
      this occasion particularly the
 
      accuracy of their shooting. He inflicted on us heavy tank casualties, 
      so that he has not only
 
      seized the initiative but has placed himself at a considerable 
      advantage and can hope for the
 
      moment to retain it. This does not necessarily imply a further 
      continued eastwards advance by
 
      the enemy but that with our temporarily reduced tank strength 
      we cannot now hope to resume the
 
      offensive as early as we had intended. The enemy also will have 
      his transport and supply
 
      problems to solve as he thus extends his line of communication, 
      he is likely to renew his
 
      efforts to transport supplies from ITALY, and an unconfirmed 
      report indicates the possible
 
      future despatch to TRIPOLI of another Italian armoured division.
 
      
 
 
FAR EAST
. In the PHILIPPINES, the enemy seems to be 
      preparing to attempt a final assault on
 
      the positions of the UNITED STATES troops in the BATAAN PENINSULA. 
      In MALAYA though he has
 
      reached the JOHORE STRAIT, it is not certain that he will proceed 
      to storm SINGAPORE. Both
 
      here and at MANILA there is a possibility of his resorting to 
      siege tactics, rather than
 
      aiming at the immediate capture of these two points which would 
      be costly for him, towards
 
      BURMA, the enemy seems likely to intensify his attack (already 
      another Japanese division is
 
      probably on the way towards MOUMEIN from SOUTH INDO CHINA) in 
      the hope of capturing RANGOON
 
      and blocking the BURMA ROAD.
 
      
 
 
RUSSIA
. The Russian advance on a wide front from the 
      DONETS BASIN is progressing well and may 
 
      prove at least as important as the twin thrusts in the north 
      (west of ROHEV and. west of 
 
      KALUGA) betwe %en the MOOHAISK salient is diminishing as the Germans 
      withdraw towards VYASMA, 
 
      for on the KHARKOV - STALINO front, the enemy was entrenched 
      on a strong line, which he had 
 
      evidently intended to hold throughout the winter. His dislodgement 
      from this linew which is now 
 
      taking place, threatens his whole position in the triangle DNIEPROPETROVSK-TAGANROG-MELITOPOL. 
 
      The Russian advance in this sector is the more creditable inasmuch 
      as it has to be made for 
 
      the most part through industrial country. As the enemy retires 
      towards the DNIEPER, his 
 
      lateral supply difficulties in the centre, between SMOLENSK and 
      DNIEPROPETROVSK, must increase 
 
      with the cutting of the relatively few north-south railways. 
      In general the Russian offensive 
 
      continues, and there are as yet no indications as to where and 
      when the Germans will be able 
 
      to stabilise the line.
 
      
 
 
BALKANS
. Reports of severe weather conditions arrive 
      from all parts of south-east EUROPE. The 
 
      DANUBE is closed to all shipping, and ice-floes have formed on 
      the BLACK SEA for the first 
 
      time since 1929. Serious dislocation of railway traffic in RUMANIA.