HSM                             
 
      This telegram must be closely paraphrased before being communicated 
                         to anyone. (SC)                    
 
                              London                        
 
                     Dated November 24, 1941                
 
                        Recorded 7:07 a.m.                  
 
                                                            
 
 
                    Secretary of State,                     
 
                           Washington.                      
 
                         TRIPLE PRIORITY                    
 
                    5624, November 24, 11 a.m.              
 
                                                            
 
 
ERSONAL AND - FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM THE FORMER NAVAL PERSON
 
                                                            
 
 
I have received a message in following sense from General 
      Auchinleck dated 10:20 a. m. 23/ll at Cairo. He thinks that battle 
      is moving to a climax. It now appears that some at any rate of 
      the German tanks yesterday reported being attacked by our forces 
      north of Bir-el-Gubi succeeded in breaking out in a northeasterly 
      direction. At Sidi Rezegh our troops were being strongly pressed 
      on 22 November from west and east by reported forces of 100 enemy 
      tanks. Our resistance, as far as is known, is successful. Situation 
      appears to be that enemy having failed to break out towards Bir-el-Gubi 
      now attempts to go west through Sidi Rezegh through narrow ravine 
      which still exists between Tobruk troops