OPTEL No. 59
 
      
Information received up to 7 A.M., 18th February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      
One of H.M. submarines torpedoed, on the third off TUNISIA, 
      an anchored 6,600 ton merchant ship was
 
      later seen beached.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA
. It is now confirmed that the three enemy columns which 
      moved eastwards towards our positions
 
      have withdrawn.
 
      SUMATRA. 17th. Our troops are evacuating southern SUMATRA. The 
      enemy occupied JAMBI on the 
 
      16th. The demolition scheme was completed.
 
      
BURMA.
 Our position behind the BILIN River remains unchanged. 
 
      
BORNEO.
 The enemy occupied BANJERMASIN on the 16th.
 
      
 
 
3. 
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      WESTERN FRONT. 
17th. Enemy activity was on a slightly increased 
      scale chiefly against shipping off
 
      the east coast. A Hurricane bomber destroyed an ME 109 and another 
      ME 199 was probably destroyed
 
      by a Blenheim off the Norwegian coast. A Hudson scored two hits 
      on a merchant vessel off NORWAY
 
      but no explosions were seen. Two vessels were attacked with unobserved 
      results off the Dtuch coast.
 
      17th/18th. Seventeen aircraft sent out, roving commission over 
      northwest GERMANY - thirteen, leaflets,
 
      OSLO, CHERBOURG, PARIS - four. All returned safely.
 
      
LIBYA.
 16th. Two ME 109's dive bombed EL ADEM landing 
      ground damaging four Hurricanes on the 
 
      ground. An attack by dive bombers with fighter escort on TOBRUK 
      caused little damage. No
 
      interception.
 
      16th/17th. One Wellington bombed TRIPOLI (L) as a diversion to 
      mine-laying operation. The garrison of
 
      SICILY is believed to have been increased from three divisions 
      to four by the move of one Italian
 
      Division from the mainland.