OPTEL No. 55
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M., 15th February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      One of H.M. corvettes was torpedoed off HALIFAX on the 14th.
 
      
MEDITERRANEAN.
 One of H.M. submarines reports sinking 
      a 5,O00 ton ship in a southeast bound 
 
      convoy north of CEPHALONIA on the 1st and damaging a trawler 
      by gunfire south of CORFU on the 3rd
 
      Another submarine has reported that she sank a merchant vessel 
      of about 4,000 tons and a third submarine
 
      hit and considers she sank a 2,500 ton ship in ballast on the 
      8th. The convoy to MALTA was again
 
      attacked by aircraft yesterday. One 7,0OO ton merchant vessel 
      was sunk and another if similiar tonnage
 
      was damaged and had to be sunk by our forces, the crew being 
      rescued.
 
      On the 14th, an 8,000 ton British merchant vessel was torpedoed 
      southwest of NEWFOUNDLAND and a 
 
      small British ship was shelled by submarine and set on fire off 
      TRINCOMALEE. A 5,000 ton British
 
      ship and an 8,000 ton Dutch tanker and four other ships were 
      hit by bombs in an attack on a convoy from
 
      PALEMBA to BATAVIA. The first two ships are probably total losses.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. During the past week the enemy has concentrated his 
      forces in the forward area in two main
 
      groups, a northern group in the MARTUBA-TMIMI area and a southern 
      group about MEKILI.
 
      
SINGAPORE
. No further information has been received.
 
      
BURMA
. Severe fighting has been taking place in the PAAN 
      area where a Baluch regiment was attacked 
 
      by superior forces and surrounded after three days' hard fighting. 
      Three British officers and 100 Indian
 
      other ranks have so far returned, The position is now quieter. 
      No further enemy advance on THATON 
 
      from the south.
 
      
RUSSIA
. Russian attacks are continuing against stiff enemy 
      resistance in the DONETS sector.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      WESTERN FRONT
. 13th/14th. Sixty three tons of bombs were 
       %dropped on COLOGNE and eighteen on 
 
      HAVRE. Ten aircraft bombed AACHEN. Few results were seen owing 
      to cloud.
 
      14th/15th. 114 aircraft were sent out, MANNHEIM 98, HAVRE 16. 
      Two are missing.