OPTEL NO. 53.
 
      
Information received up to 7 A.M. 13th February 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      A British 7,000 ton tanker from Texas to Halifax was torpedoed 
      and sunk on the 31st January 400 miles
 
      south of Halifax.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY.
 
      SINGAPORE. 
During the 12th enemy pressure with infantry and 
      tanks was heavy and there was some 
 
      infiltration in the race course area north of the main Singapore-Johore 
      Bharu road. Enemy also attacked
 
      astride the Maidai Road towards Nee soon but situation is in 
      hand. By the evening the situation was
 
      reported to be stabilised, our forward areas and communications 
      were repeatedly dive-bombed and
 
      machine-gunned. Enemy air raids were mainly confined to troop 
      and transport in the forward area. 
 
      During the night 12/13 further Japsnese landings of unknown strength 
      were reported at Loyang just west
 
      of Changi.
 
      
BURMA.
 During the evening of the 11th Japanese troops 
      west of Martaban, from which our troops have
 
      withdrawn, were reinforced by landings from the sea. Japanese 
      force estimated at 2,000 is advancing
 
      North and has suffered heavy casualties from a unit of the Gurkha 
      Rifles.
 
      
 
 
3.
AIR OPERATIONS.
 
      Western Front. 11th/12th. Brest, over 20 tons. Havre, 31 tons. 
      At the former results were unobserved but
 
      at the latter bursts were seen in the docks area. Mannheim, nearly 
      70 tons were dropped. Two R.C.A.F.
 
      and three R.A.A.F. aircraft took part without casualties. 12/13th. 
      20 aircrat were sent to lay mines off
 
      the Frisian Islands. One crashed on return.
 
      
LIBYA.
 10/11th. Our aircraft bombed Martuba and Derna. 
      llth. Air reconnaissance disclosed a 
 
      considerable movement of enemy M.T. southwards from Giovanni 
      Berta towards Mekili. The enemy 
 
      dive-bombed our troops in the El Gazala area causing some casualties.
 
      
MALTA.
 11/12th and 12th. A total of 86 enemy aircraft 
      attacked the island and damaged runways at 
 
      Luqa and buildings at Hal Far.
 
      
MEDITERRANEAN.
 Wellingtons attacked a submarine base at 
      Leros Island and Heraklion Aerodrome 
 
      in Crete.
 
      
BURMA.
 11th. Lysanders bombed Chieng Rai and on the 12th 
      Blenheims attacked Yaan and Moulmain.