OPTEL No. 57
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M., 17th February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      An enemy force of 4 cruisers with destroyers was attacked by 
      5 Naval aircraft 85 miles east of CAPE
 
      PASSARO, SICILY, on the morning of the 16th. Hits were claimed 
      on two cruisers and a destroyer and 
 
      one of the cruisers hit was on fire aft and losing speed. Subsequently 
      one of H.M. submarines attacked two
 
      8" cruisers entering the STRAITS OF MESSINA and obtained 
      two torpedo hits on one of them.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA.
 During 15th February there was no very great ground 
      activity. The three enemy columns continued
 
      their advance towards our forward positions between GAOALA and 
      BIR HAKEIM, our armoured car
 
      patrols remained in contact with them. During the night 15th/16th 
      there was little enemy activity and 
 
      reports up to 11 A.M. 16th showed that the three enemy collmms 
      appeared to have withdrawn.
 
      
BURMA.
 15th/16th. Our troops were withdrawn from the THATON 
      area to new positions behind the 
 
      BILIN RIVER.
 
      
RUSSIA.
 Russian attacks continue in the ROHEV area but 
      the town remains in German hands. In the 
 
      DONETS sector the Germans continue to hold up the Russian advance 
      and have succeeded in making slight
 
      progress in counter attacks.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS.
 
      WESTERN FRONT.
 16th. 3 Beauforts attacked 4 small ships off 
      the West coast of FRANCE, two were 
 
      sunk and a third was damaged. A German bomber was destroyed by 
      fighters off WALES. 16th/l7th. 
 
      96 aircraft were sent out roving commission over north-west GERMANY 
      - 20 to Dutch aerodromes, 
 
      5 leaflets, Belgium and Northern France 22, Sea-mining 49. Two 
      aircraft are missing.
 
      
LIBYA.
 14th/15th. Wellingtons dropped 25 tons of bombs 
      on BENGHAOI. Two squadrons of Blenheims 
 
      successfully bombed enemy tanks and M.T. south-west of GAOALA. 
      Enemy bombers hit a reservoir at 
 
      TOBRUK  %causing the loss of 500 tons of water.
 
      
MALTA.
 15th/16th and 16th. A total of 45 aircraft bombed 
      LUQA and TAKALI aeredromes, at the former
 
      two aircraft and the runway were damaged.
 
      
BURMA.
 On the 15th and 16th our aircraft made good attacks 
      on troop concentrations, the railway station
 
      and shipping at MOUILMEIN and the railway station at THATON.