OPTEL No. 49
 
      Following is supplementary resume of operational events covering 
      the period 29th January-5th February, 1942
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      Axis shipping casualties in the MEDITERRANEAN during January 
      inflicted by our naval forces totalled 
 
      50,490 tons sunk, 7,216 probably sunk and 38,728 damaged. In 
      demolitions carried out in SINGAPORE
 
      dockyard, the large floating dock has been sunk and the power 
      station, graving dock, pumping machinery and
 
      caissons put out of action.
 
      
 
 
The battle cruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU and the cruisers 
      PRINCE EUGEN appear to be ready 
 
      for sea. Seven mine-sweepers and five torpedo boats arrived at 
      BREST between 26th and 29th January. In the
 
      BALTIC, the pocket battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER and cruisers are 
      also ready for sea. TIRPITO was still at
 
      TRONDHEIM on 4th. Little change in number and disposition of 
      U-boats operating inthe North Atlantic. A 
 
      Japanese submarine flotilla is probably now based at PENANG. 
      Submarines have been operating off 
 
      MADRAS and west of CEYLON. Shipping losses were again considerable 
      mainly owing to U-boat attacks off
 
      the east coast of NORTH AMERICA where 11 ships were reported 
      torpedoed, four were attacked by 
 
      submarines in the INDIAN OCEAN. Shipping and transports were 
      heavily attacked by aircraft in the 
 
      approaches to SINGAPORE.
 
      
 
 
Imports in convoy into the UNITED KINGDOM during week ending 
      31st January were 570,000 tons and
 
      included 153,O00 tons of oil. An Italian 2,000 ton tanker arrived 
      at ISTANBUL on 31st January and sailed for
 
      ITALY the following day fully laden.
 
      
 
 
4. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. The enemy managed to place himself astride the line 
      of retirement of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade
 
      covering BENGHAOI which was thus cut off from the remainder of 
      its division in the BARCE area. A quantity
 
      of equipment and much transport had to be abandoned and destroyed 
      but isolated columns amoun %ting to the 
 
      greater part of the Brigade and of its attached artillery succeeded 
      in fighting their way out to the East. The 
 
      personnel and moveable equipment at Benghazi which had been assembled 
      in connection with the development
 
      of the port as a base were evacuated over a period of several 
      days before the enemy entered. The enemy is 
 
      probably now suffering from the same maintenance difficulties 
      as affected us when we were operating in 
 
      Western CYRENAICA. We have been compelled to withdraw about 200 
      miles.