Singapore, Mar. 24. The Straits Settlements Govern ment is in touch with Chinese rice dealers regarding measures to in: crease Malaya's ice stocks in pre-Paration for any possible emergency; "This action follows an appeal made in the Straits Settlements Legislative Council last month by "Sir John Bagnall, the Senior Unoficial Mfember of the Council, to the Government to take immediate measures 10 safeguard Malaya's food supplies in an_emergency.
'Only comparatively small stocks of Tice are carried at present s0. that working capital may' be kept 10 9 minimum. The Government aims to raise permanently the ordinary. level lof stocks of rice and of other essen-{tial commodities, particularly preserved mili, which is considered the second most important commodity.
It is hoped that the level of stocks lof these commodities can be raised appreciably and that the difficulty of increased working capital can be overcome without increasing the price to the consumer. However, if 2 price increase did eventuate, it is considered that the extra cost would be a cheap "insurance premium" to tonsure adequate food supplies in Chisiese Stubbornly Resisting Chungking, Mar. 26.
'The Chinese forces are. fighting desperately in an effort 10 check the "relentless Japanese drive" towards 'Nanchang, the capital of Kiangs, ai cording to reports reaching' here. These reports, which are of Chinese origin, admit that the Japanese column advancing along the Kiuklang-Nanchang highway has reached Wanchiapu, where a group of smati hills form the Chinese find defence line north of Nanchang. This point considera' in Chinese circles here to be the "Key To Nanchang."
Despite vigorous Japanese assaults, it is learned that the Chinese troops defending Nanchang have been ordered by the Chinese High Command fo hold Wanehispu at. all. costs, Chinese reports state that Wanchiapt was still in Chinese hands up til noon yesterday. The Japanese forces" are stated to have reached Fengan station, on the Kiukiang-Nanchang, Railway. Fighting Is said to be pro-Bressing at this. point,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.