-2-
 
      
 
 
divisions recently mobilized in JAPAN could be made available 
      at short notice.
 
      
RUSSIA. 
Information has been mainly negative. No change 
      in FINLAND or on LENINGRAD front. In the
 
      Central Sector, the Russians have not extended their advance 
      towards the LENINGRAD-ORSHA railway
 
      and are still about 50 miles north-east of VITEBSK. ROHEV still 
      remains in German hands. Due west of
 
      MOSC0W there is no change, and in the YUKHNOV area German resistance 
      is preventing Russian
 
      progress. From this area southwards, apart from German counter-attacks 
      in the DONETS area, which 
 
      have not lessened the extent of the Russian break-through, there 
      has been no substantial change. Weather conditions render movement 
      off the roads difficult for tanks and impossible for other forms 
      of mechanical transport. To sum up, there has been a general 
      slowing down of the Russian advance, due, no doubt, to winter 
      conditions as much as to German resistance. Russian morale remains 
      high, and the Russians are confident of being able further to 
      exploit their advance.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      Western Front.
 Weather conditions again restricted operations. 
      Bomber Command operated on three 
 
      nights, the main objectives being BREST, BREMEN, EMDEN, HAVRE 
      and MANNHEIM. 274 tons of bombs were dropped. It is estimated 
      that aircraft of Coastal Command damaged about 7,500 tons of 
      enemy shipping. Only 13 enemy aircraft crossed our coasts by 
      day and seven by night.
 
      
LIBYA.
 Successful attacks on Axis mechanical transport 
      were made by fighters and Blenheims, more than 150 vehicles were 
      reported destroyed or damaged over a period of two days. The 
      enemy has been using decoy mechanical transport convoys heavily 
      defended by anti-aircraft guns as a counter to our low-flying 
      fighter attacks.
 
      BENGHAOI and TRIPOLI (L) were bombed, the latter from MALTA and 
      also by Liberators operating 
 
      from south of PORT SAID, one of which completed the fli %ght of 
      2,390 miles without refuelling. Enemy activity was not great, 
      due probably to water-logged aerodromes in Eastern CYRENAICA 
      at the beginning of the week, although fighter activity increased 
      considerably as soon as aerodromes in the DERNA. MARTUBA area 
      were brought into use.
 
      
MALTA.
 Attacks on aerodromes and the Grand Harbour continued.
 
      
MEDITERRANEAN.
 Our aircraft hit and damaged two ships 
      totalling about 6,600 tons.