OPTEL No. 64
 
      Information received up to 7 A.M., 23rd February, 1942.
 
      
 
 
1. 
NAVAL
 
      Air reconnaissance yesterday showed GNEISENAU (in floating dock) 
      and NURNBURG (6-inch Cruiser) 
 
      at KIEL, SCHARNHORST at WILHELMSHAVEN, one Pocket Battleship 
      and one Hipper Class Cruiser at 
 
      BERGEN, and the TIRPITO in her usual berth at TRONDHJEM. An enemy 
      force of one VITTORIO class
 
      battleship, two cruisers, and four destroyers, with three merchant 
      ships, was sighted at noon yesterday on a
 
      Southerly course about 180 miles north-north-west of BENGHAOI. 
      Nothing further has been reported of
 
      this force, but a convoy was reported at 5.30 a.m, today about 
      170 miles east of TRIPOLI. A small
 
      Norwegian ship was sunk by submarine East of CAPE HATTERAS on 
      the 11th. A British and Norwegian
 
      ship, both dispersed from outward Uhited Kingdom convoy, have 
      been sunk 500 miles east of 
 
      NEWFOUNDLAND. A small United States cargo vessel is reported 
      a total loss after having been bombed
 
      north of DARWIN on the 19th.
 
      
 
 
2. 
MILITARY
 
      LIBYA.
 20th. Some activity by patrols.
 
      
BURMA.
 21st. Our forces withdrew to the SITTANG RIVER, 
      the withdrawal was not heavily pressed.
 
      
 
 
3.
AIR OPERATIONS
 
      WESTERN FRONT.
 32 tons of high explosive were dropped on 
      objectives in the RUHR and 22 tons on 
 
      aerodromes in NORWAY. Eighty R.A.A.F. bombers took part in the 
      night's operations and lost one 
 
      aircraft. 22nd. Reconnaissances were carried out of KIEL, WILHELMSHAVEN 
      and Norwegian Harbours. 
 
      22nd/23rd. 66 bombers were sent out. WILHELMSHAVEN 50, EMDEN 
      7, 0STEND 5, Sea-mining 2, 
 
      Leaflets PARIS 2. All returned safely. Cloud prevented observation.
 
      
LIBYA.
 21st. Enemy aircraft showed increased activity 
      with better weather. They attacked TOBRUK,
 
      GAOALA, GAMBUT and ACR0MA, but caused only slight damage. One 
      was destroyed.
 
      
MALTA.
 21st/22nd and 22nd. A total of 109 airc %raft attacked 
      HAL FAR, where buildings were seriously
 
      damaged and numerous craters were made on the aerodrome, and 
      also TAKALI and LUQA. Three of our
 
      aircraft were destroyed on the ground and others were damaged. 
      Hurricanes destroyed one enemy aircraft,
 
      probably destroyed a second and nine others were hit. One of 
      our aircraft is missing.
 
      BURMA. During the 21st and 22nd our aircraft supporting our land 
      forces, bombed and machine-gunned
 
      enemy troops in the BILIN, KAYAIKTO and SITTANG areas. One of 
      these attacks involved every 
 
      available aircraft, which kept up a continuous attack for several 
      hours on a column of over 500 vehicles. 
 
      Two Blenheims were shot down during the attack on enemy positions. 
      Five of our fighters intercepted a 
 
      force of 63 enemy aircraft, destroying three and probably destroying 
      two more without loss.