Secret

Friday 6th February 1942

(Continued)

WAKEFIELD, WESTPOINT, and EMPRESS OF JAPAN arrived COLOMBO with personnel from Singapore. Escorted in by NIZAM.

Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet ordered NORMAN to COLOMBO to be employed on anti-submarine patrols with NIZAM till required for duty with fleet.

Dutch SUMATRA left Sunda Straits for Colombo.

Athene, escorted by ELECTRA and TENEDOS, arrived BATAVIA with Hurricanes for Java.

Convoy EMU consisting of DEVONSHIRE and FELIX ROUSSEL, with 2400 refugees for BOMBAY, CITY OF CANTERBURY, with 1700 R.A.F. personnel for Batavia, escorted by SUTLEJ, DANAE, and YARRA, left Singapore at 1630Z.

Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet congratulated Commodore Commanding China Force on successful and ardeous work of ships of China Force (0959Z/6).

ROYAL SOVEREIGN reported BATHURST reduced to 7 knots by engine trouble. ROYAL SOVEREIGN going on at 17 knots unescorted. GUARDIAN and LISMORE proceeding independently.

Commander-in-Chief Eastern Fleet asked Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean if he could spare a submarine minelayer for operations in Eastern theatre.

Singapore

Increased shelling of Seletar- Sembawang- Tengah aerodrome areas. Enemy observed to be using observation balloons. Dive bombing and machine gun attacks on positions in North of Island. Casualties light. EMPRESS OF ASIA reported practically burnt out, but holds may be salved. Twenty heavy bombers bombed Singapore. Our fighters shot down one enemy fighter and damaged four. We lost two hurricanes.

Burma

30 enemy fighters raided Mingaladon. 10 destroyed, 10 probably. Night 6/7th 24 enemy aircraft raided Rangoon. Our fighters shot down 4; 2 probable.

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