OPTEL No. 54
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M. 14th February 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL.
 
      The German Battle Cruisers and Cruiser have not been located 
      since they were last reported off the Texel on 12th evening. 
      Reference Optel No. 48. The Free French Corvette has now sunk 
      east of Newfoundland. A 
 
      of Newfoundland. A convoy for Malta, which left Alexandria on 
      12th escorted by an Anti-aircraft Cruiser and seven destroyers, 
      was repeatedly bombed on 13th, one merchant vessel being damaged 
      and escorted into Tobruk.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY.
 
      LIBYA
. Except for normal patrolling, there was no ground 
      activity in the forward area.
 
      
SINGAPORE
. No further information has been received.
 
      
BURMA
. Enemy took Mataban mainly by sea landing well behind 
      the town, combined with land attack from the South. A company 
      of the K.O.Y.L.I. got to close quarters with enemy on East side 
      of Mataban and charged. Enemy fled and suffered considerable 
      losses. 12th. Heavy fighting has again broken out in the area 
      Yinnyein-Paan, where the situation is obscure. A Baluch Regiment 
      is engaged in heavy fighting at Paan.
 
      
PERSIA
. Fighting has started between Persian troops and 
      Kurdish rebels in Kurdistan. The Kurds have captured the Persian 
      garrison of Sakiz.
 
      
 
 
3.
AIR OPERATONS
.
 
      
Western Front
. 12th. Aircraft from two R.C.A.F., one R.A.A.F. 
      and one R.N.O.A.F. Squadrons took part in the operations over 
      the straits. One R.A.A.F. aircraft was lost. 13th. Our fighters 
      carried out six offensive sweeps, involving 199 aircraft, over 
      the straits of Dover area. One 200-ton vessel off 0stend was 
      damaged by machine gun fire and one Heinkel was shot down. Two 
      Spitfires were lost. 13/14th. 85 bombers were sent out: Cologne 
      30, Havre 28, Aachen 18. All returned safely.
 
      
LIBYA
. 12th. Hurricanes intercepted 30 German dive bombers 
      with fighter escort which were approaching Tobruk, forcing the 
      majority to Jettison their bo %mbs. Three dive bombers and one 
      fighter were destroyed and a further two aircraft were probably 
      destroyed. Two Hurricanes were lost but one pilot is safe. A 
      Heinkel was destroyed over Mersa Matruh. 12/13th. Six Malta Wellingtons 
      attacked Tripoli (L), causing an extensive fire in the Harbour 
      area.
 
      
MALTA
. 13th. A total of 68 fighters and bombers attacked 
      the island. Two hits on the Submarine base caused casualties 
      amongst service personnel and there were further casualties at 
      Takali Aerodrome.
 
      
MEDITERRANEAN.
 12th. A Maryland on reconnaissance, attacked 
      by two Messerschmidts, shot down 
 
      one of them.