Telegram from the Air Ministry to Commander-in-Chief Middle East [General Sir Harold Alexander], marked "Most Immediate", passing on a message from "Boniface" [codename for Enigma decrypts] on subjects including: the numbers of serviceable tanks possessed by the German and Italian forces; Italian infantry and artillery losses and reinforcements since the beginning of July; the German belief in an operation to convey supplies to Malta, and various supporting operations; a search by the German Air Force for an aircraft carrier formation; German High Command's desire to allot shipping space equally with Italy; the shortage of anti-tank guns in the 164th infantry division, and their inevitable losses in the face of superior British forces; German requests for further protection for coastal shipping; support for an Italian operation; insistence on the continued use of Mersa Matruh [Egypt] as a supply harbour.