Kobe, Feb. 21.
The British Eastern and Australian Steamship Conir pany, which hitherto had maintained a Japan-Australia service will suspend the Hong-
Kong-Japan run, it was learned. The liner Tanda which was at Hongkong en route to Japan turned back to Australia.
The suspension originally was scheduled to take place with the liner Nankin which fs due to sail to Australia soon.
Sole direct route between Yokohama and Sydney now will consist of the combined services of the Kawasaki Kokusai, and Yamashita Lines, —Domei, Britain and the Netherlands in the Far East and creating a diversion, which is ell Germany cares about."
Mr. Purcell discussed the civil defence measures and said alr raids Precautions pamphlets were being issued in English, Malay. Chinese and Tumil, describing how to deal with incendiary bombs. He urged the people to get the necessary precautions equipment now.
"We have been warned that if the crisis comes, we must keep cool Regarding defence, he said, "if the worst comes to the' worst, whet do we have to worry about, with Singapore a very strong fortress and protected by guns, troops, planes and mine fields and Malays. by' thousands of British, Indian and Australian troops?
"To my mind the position is as satisfactory es we have any right to expoet."—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.