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East Africa.

7

In the Northern Sector our irregular companies have reached the frontier between the Huri Hills (110 miles S.S.W. of Lake Stefanie) and Dukana (60 miles further north). One of our patrols from Garissa returned with three Caproni engines which they had salvaged from a plane shot down on the 22nd November.

A byssinia.

31. The Italians, holding the territories of certain friendly chiefs, are managing to maintain their communications, though uncertain of their own. native troops.

32. Abyssinian patriots control most of the country away from the roads and garrisons; they are threatening the smaller garrisons and forcing the Italians to use very large convoys on the roads. They are continually winning over fresh adherents to their cause, and chiefs friendly to the Italians are now in a state of considerable fear.

33. Morale is low but not yet at breaking point. Given good rations, strong defensive positions to hold and little air opposition, Italian troops may maintain some morale indefinitely, but if repulsed when attacking they are likely to become demoralised.

Turkey.

34. The "state of siege " proclaimed in Istanbul and Thrace still continues, Public opinion though black-out regulations have been temporarily relaxed. continues to strengthen in favour of the Allies, and Libyan successes have aroused considerable enthusiasm.

The Far East.

China

35. There has been no major change in the situation during the last three weeks. Japanese formations are believed to be located as follows:-

Indo-China One mixed brigade.

:

Hainan Two divisions (maximum).

Canton Area: Three divisions and one mixed brigade.

:ཡ—

There are indications that one of the divisions now in Hainan may be returning to Formosa.

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General Review.

AIR SITUATION.

36. Operations were again considerably reduced by unfavourable weather conditions. Two attacks on Bremen were made on successive nights with highly satisfactory results. Our bombers also concentrated on a "Hipper" class cruiser at Brest and on the shipbuilding yards at Wilhelmshaven. A number of success- ful attacks were made on enemy merchant vessels.

Enemy attacks on this country were again on a low scale, although they were heavier than in the previous week.

Units of the Royal Air Force and of the Royal Australian Air Force took a prominent part in the capture of Bardia, their attacks on this and other targets in Libya being intensive and accurate.

Operational aircraft casualties, extracts from recent Raid Assessment Reports, and a graph showing Enemy Air Operations over Great Britain are given in Appendices VI, VII and VIII.

Germany and Occupied Territory.

37. Bomber Command flew 20 day and 288 night sorties during the period. Wintry weather conditions were responsible for this further drop in the total of night sorties.

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