OPTEL No. 45
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M., 7th February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
 
      On the afternoon of the 6th during an attack on an East Coast 
      convoy two enemy aircraft were 
 
      damaged by the escorting Naval units. The convoy was undamaged. 
      A small British merchant 
 
      vessel bombed on the 5th off the HUMBER is now presumed sunk. 
      All crew safe. A British tanker 
 
      torpedoed on the 3rd 30 miles West of COLOMBO has returned to 
      port safely. The EMPRESS OF ASIA 
 
      is practically burnt out but it is possible that contents of 
      holds may be salvaged.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. 6th morning. There was little enemy movement either 
      North-West of GAOALA or in the MSUS 
 
      area. Patrols were however reported at MEKILI and on the Coast 
      road ten miles West of GAOALA. 
 
      Our line runs Southward from GAOALA with fighting patrols and 
      mobile columns operating to the 
 
      West and North-West.
 
      
SINGAPORE
. There has been increased enemy shelling of 
      SELATAR naval base and aerodrome. Enemy 
 
      dive bombing and machine gun attacks on our forward areas on 
      the North shore of the Island 
 
      caused only slight casualties.
 
      
BURMA
. There has been increased enemy patrolling activity 
      at PAAN. Enemy (?cavalry) and our 
 
      carriers in action. Small enemy forces have crossed the River 
      SALWEEN 120 miles North of 
 
      MARTABAN and have engaged in the PAPUN area.
 
      
 
 
3.
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      WESTERN FRONT
. 6th. One of our aircraft is missing from a 
      mine-laying mission. 6th/7th. Sixty 
 
      bombers were sent to attack the German ships at BREST. One is 
      missing and two crashed on
 
      return. Three members of crews killed.
 
      
MALTA
. 6th. 63 enemy aircraft attacked and caused much 
      damage to property. Two were shot down 
 
      by A.A. fire.
 
      
LIBYA
. 5th. Our fighters attacked enemy motor transport 
      near TMIMI. They also intercepted and 
 
      dispersed three enemy formations which attacked EL ADEM aerodrome 
      during the day destroying 
 
      one, M.E. 110, probably destroying one JJ 88 and damaging two 
      others. One Tomahawk was 
 
      destroyed on the ground. 5th/6th. Wellingtons again bombed the 
      motor transport park south of 
 
      TRIPOLI (L).
 
      
BURMA.
 4th. Eleven Lysanders bombed an %d machine-gunned 
      an enemy aerodrome damaging hangars and 
 
      destroying one aircraft on the ground. 5th. PAAN was attacked 
      by Blenheims and a building, 
 
      thought to be Jajanein Headquarters was hit. 6th. RANGOON was 
      attacked by thirty enemy 
 
      fighters, ten were destroyed and ten others probably destroyed 
      without loss to ourselves.