CAB80-32 — Page 50

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Operations.

Libya and Egypt.

20. At dawn on the 18th November the Army in the Western Desert, under the command of General Sir Alan Cunningham, began its advance into Cyrenaica.

21. Air armoured force crossed the frontier South of Sidi Omar, and by the evening had penetrated some 50 miles into enemy territory. At the same time, pressure was exerted against the Axis defences in the Sollum-Sidi Omar-- Bardia triangle. The preliminary concentrations and moves were carried out without interference from the enemy.

22. Strict wireless silence has been maintained and no further information of the progress of the operations is at present available.

Abyssinia.

23. North of Gondar active patrolling has been carried out by our troops. opposite the enemy's position in the Ambazzo area. The column advancing on Gondar, from the south-east has located enemy positions in the area of Cucualbert (Kulkaber) (29 miles S.E. of Gondar) and Peroaber (7 miles S.W. of Cucualbert). Leading troops of the column advancing from the south-west have made contact with the enemy 8 miles west of Celga. South of Gondar the enemy forces at Gianda (14 miles S.E. of Celga) surrendered on the 11th November to an Ethiopian Bn., after an engagement lasting four hours. Air bombing and machine-gunning of the enemy's positions in all sectors have been intensified and good results have been obtained. Patriot forces are co-operating with our forward troops and are continually harassing the enemy, with the result that many deserters are coming in.

24. A band of Wogera tribesmen, estimated 6,000 strong, raided a village 12 miles south-east of Batie (30 miles East of Dessie) causing casualties and stealing cattle. They are reported to have moved northwards.

25. In the French Somaliland frontier area a Vichy post is reported to have fired on one of our patrols on the 6th November.

Hong Kong.

26. Two Canadian Infantry Battalions, the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles (Canada), with ancillary troops, arrived on the 16th November.

Intelligence.

France.

27. A review of evidence from Occupied France indicates that recent troop movements eastwards have resulted in a reduction in the total of German divisions there from 27 to 24. Of those which left, two are believed to have gone from between the River Gironde and the Spanish frontier, leaving only two divisions in that area.

It is probable that many of the divisions remaining in France are considerably below strength owing to the frequent transfer of drafts of trained. men, and in some cases of complete units, to the Russian front.

Italy.

28. 1st Division from Turin has been identified at Aversa and Battipaglia, in the Naples area. While this move may be connected with possible Italian apprehensions of civil disturbance as a result of our heavy bombing of Naples, the main motive is more probably nervousness about the defence of southern Italy. Though no other fresh formations have been identified in this area, it is believed that the depots of southern Italian divisions at present overseas are considerably over strength, and there is evidence that heavy artillery from the northern frontiers is being transferred to the south for coast defence. Batteries have been identified at the mouth of the Sele River south of Naples, and in Sicily.

Libya.

29. Although there are still no indications of elements of any fresh German formation arriving in Libya, the transport of drafts to North Africa continues.

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