London, Jan. 15.
Australia is anxious to know, as [soon as possible, whether the Davis Cup, which she won last year, will be competed for this year.
As the holding nation, Australia now becomes manager of the Davis Cup competition and would have to appoint representatives to manage the European and American Zones. Davis Cup challenges have to be in the hands of the champion nation not later than January 31. The draw is usually made on February 3.
_The question whether the competition should be suspended for the duration of the war was discussed at a meeting of the Australian Lawn Tennis Association, and it was decided that its representative in London should ascertain immediately from the International Lawn Tennis Federation what action is to be taken.
Although the war makes Australia's position difficult in regard to the Davis Cup, it is not reasonable to assume that she has the right to claim "no contest" this year.
Many Competitors Not at War The stronghold of bowling in the British Empire is undoubtedly the scenic town of Réginá in the province of Saskat¢hewan in Canáda, Bowling in Regina, according to the "American Bowling Congress Bulletin," dates back to 1903 with newspaper reports of organized leagues appearing in 1909, At that time a bowler with an average of 180 was considered an expert but it is a different story today. Bowling on alleys which, like those in Shanghai, have been certified by the American Bowling Congress the Canadians are smacking the pins with the best bowlers in the United States. An example of this is seen in the doubles score of 1,523 which Messrs. Pete Gottselig and Sandy Kidd ran up in a recent tournament. This is what their score sheet looked like:
Gottselig 25 26 23 Kido 2] xo 252 00 Totals Ar 56 45 1523 Although these scores are certainly unusual they are by no means freakish. Last season Gottselig averaged almost 213 while there were several bowlers in the town who had averages of 210. These marks certainly give Shanghai's bowlers to shoot at.
A large number of the competing nations, including the United States, are not at war and they would have grounds for complaint. Of the 27 nations who entered last year, eighteen are not involved in the war.
The position is different from that in 1914, when all the contenders except America were fighting.
The question the Australian Association has to answer, ould the competition be held, is whether she should forfeit the trophy.
In any case, Australia would be in la dimeult position since John Bromwich and Adrian Quist, the two players responsible for her success last year, would probably be on military service.
Bromwich comes under the Compulsory Military Training Act and Quist is in the Militia. As they would only be required for the Challenge Round, however, this obstacle could probably be removed.
H. C. Hopman, the manager of this year's Davis Cup team, is also in the Victorian Militia. He and Quist may shortly have to go into camp—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.