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during the week ending the 4th January. Mineral imports were 140,208 tons, of which 97,223 tons were steel, scrap iron, pig iron and iron ore. The corresponding figures for the previous week were 143,658 tons and 100,550 tons. Timber imports were 47,706 tons and cereals 100,094 tons, ten ships being fully laden with grain. Other food imports were 57,201 tons, of which 21,600 tons were sugar and molasses, 8,438 tons tea, 4,781 tons refrigerated and tinned meats and 2,699 tons eggs. There were 216,549 cases (about 7,000 tons) of dates, and 663 tons of tinned and dried fruits. Imports of manufactured goods included 2,100 tons of machine tools.

British Minelaying.

18. H.M.S. Adventure laid 340 mines in the St. George's Channel on the 11th January and again on the 14th January. H.M.S. Teviot Bank laid 320 mines in the East Coast Barrier on the 13th January. Minelaying by aircraft has been continued by both Bomber and Coastal Commands in the Western Baltic off the North-West German Coast and the French Channel and Atlantic Coasts.

Enemy Minelaying and British Minesweeping.

European Waters.

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19. The main activities of enemy minelaying aircraft have been off the west and south-west coasts, particularly over Liverpool Bay, which was raided four nights running. Enemy aircraft were operating over the Thames Estuary and off the Humber on the night of the 9th/10th January.

There have been seven mining casualties in Home Waters during the week, three of the ships having been sunk. Four of the casualties have occurred in the Bristol Channel, probably by delayed-action mines laid during the previous week. On the 12th January S.A. Gear, type A, exploded 14 acoustic mines in just over four hours while sweeping the Thames and Medway approaches. The same Gear has detonated two other mines during the week. S.A. Gear, type C, has detonated 3 acoustic mines during the week. H.M.S. Valorous put up one acoustic mine in the Thames Estuary.

Twelve magnetic mines have been exploded by LL Sweep, including three by Baby LL. The LL total is now 624.

One mine and two obstructors were found in the Dover minefield on the 14th January.

The mine totals, including mines swept in Foreign Waters, are acoustic 139, contact 794, magnetic 856.

Foreign Waters.

20. Information has been received that minesweeping operations in the Bass Strait, Australia, accounted for 21 mines, ten of which have been reported previously. Other minesweeping operations have been carried out off the coast between Sydney and Newcastle, and in the approaches to Adelaide, where two mines were accounted for. This latter field is being left unswept for the present.

Enemy Merchant Shipping.

21. The Fortuna, 2,700 tons, arrived at Bilbao from Gijon on the 13th January loaded with iron ore, and was expected to sail for France the next day. The Spezia, 1,825 tons, and the Bellona, 1,297 tons, both left Valencia for Marseilles on the 10th January. The two last are said to have had their hulls painted grey, their funnels black, and their names obliterated.

Enemy Aircraft Casualties.

By Armed Merchantmen.

22. During the months July to December 1940 inclusive 14 aircraft were certainly and 6 probably destroyed, and 42 were damaged by 3-inch, 12-pdr. or Lewis guns carried by merchant vessels.

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