Japanese allegations that the enlarged American fleet contemplated in the Vinson Naval Expansion Bill was aimed at Japan were denied here to-day by high Navy officials. The Japanese accusation was voiced in Japan by Rear-Admiral Kiyoshi Noda of the Japanese Naval General Staff.
Navy officials called attention to the recent House Naval Affairs Committee testimony of Admiral W. D. Leahy. U. S. Chief of Naval Operations, who said it would be necessary for the United States to expand its fleet to three times its present size if it were to attack Japan. Further, a substantial volume of evidence was produced showing that naval expansion was necessary for the United States to maintain a balanced defence of its two coast lines against increased' armament and unrest in Europe and Asia.
Authoritative quarters pointed out that Japan is 5,000 miles beyond Pearl Tarbour, Hawaii, the utmost base of America's naval defences. They recalled the axiom that fleets do not venture to fight an offensive war more than 2,500 miles from their bases.
The sam¢ quarters Zevealed that United States naval policy at present put greater stress on problems of the Atlantic coast than at any time since the Great War because of alleged ambitions of dictatorial nations to the sea."
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