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to move against Fiji or to carry out a further penetration of the Gilbert Islands and possibly the Phoenix group, in order to interrupt communications between Australia, New Zealand and America.
Netherlands East Indies.
45.
It has been reported that an army under General Yamashita has been formed for operations against the N.E.I. There is no indication yet as to its location, but it is possible the enemy intends to concentrate it in Formosa and Hainan.
General Review.
AIR SITUATION.
46. Bad weather again considerably restricted bombing operations against targets in Germany and occupied territory. One daylight and two night attacks were made on enemy warships in Brest.
In Libya our bombers and fighters continued to harass retreating enemy columns, and made many successful attacks on enemy landing grounds.
In Malaya the enemy's main effort has been directed against the Kedah front.
Germany and Occupied Territory.
Day.
47. Bomber Command despatched 72 sorties. Fighter Command flew 247 sorties against shipping and over occupied territory. Attacks on shipping are reported under "Coastal Operations.'
48. On the 18th December, heavy bombers, escorted by long-range fighters, dropped 135 tons of H.E. bombs, including five of 4,000 lb. and 18 of 2,000 lb., on naval targets at Brest. The weather was good and visibility excellent. The attack was pressed home in spite of opposition from enemy fighters and very heavy A.A. fire. Photographs taken during the attack show that at least four sticks of bombs straddled the dry docks in which the battle cruisers were lying. It is thought that altogether 13 bombs burst in the vicinity of the dry docks, but no direct hits were observed. During this operation our aircraft destroyed in combat ten enemy aircraft, probably destroyed three and damaged six. We lost five bombers and one fighter.
49. On three days of the week a total of 21 Hampdens were despatched to attack targets in North-West Germany and aerodromes in Holland, but they were obliged to abandon their tasks owing to insufficient cloud cover.
Night.
50. Owing to bad weather, bombing operations were carried out on four nights only. One hundred and eighty-five sorties were flown as compared with 548 in the previous week. Nearly 200 tons of H.E. bombs and 15,000 incendiaries were released. The principal objectives were the enemy warships at Brest, the naval base at Wilhelmshaven, the industrial area of Cologne, and the docks at Ostend and Dunkirk.
51. Following the daylight attack referred to in paragraph 48, the warships at Brest were attacked on two nights by a total of 58 aircraft, which released 90 tons of H.E. bombs and nearly 5,000 incendiaries. Results were generally unobserved owing to cloud on the first night and a smoke screen on the second, but bursts were seen in the dock area and some fires were started.
52. Cologne was attacked by 60 aircraft, which dropped 60 tons of H.E. bombs and over 6,000 incendiaries. Thick cloud was encountered, but some bursts were seen in the town.
53. Over 20 tons were dropped on Wilhelmshaven. Drifting cloud made pin-pointing difficult, but bomb flashes and the glow of fires were seen in the target area.
54. Attacks on a lighter scale were made on the docks at Ostend and Dunkirk, and on the Donges oil refinery, near St. Nazaire.
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