may increase its Programme it Japan places into effect her reported plan to match tne British and Aamerican "fleets ship for ship, Admiral William Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations, "told" the press lay, think the $-5:3 ratio, although badly shaken, is a very satisfactory ratio from our viewpoint," he said.
Admiral Leahy favoured an United States Navy of sufficient strength 10 "repel aggression by any single Power."
AS"a corollary," he added, "it would seem necessary for the United States to increase its naval strength if that aggression is threatened."
'The Navy chief said he assumed the Philippines would be independ. ent in 1046 and that' the Unitea States after that would have' no Obligation to defend. them.
Commenting orally on naval prob-Jems, Admiral Leahy appeared emphasize continually "the word "necessity." Asked whether he was referring to possible aggression against United States territories west Hawaii, he said he would define jeression against the United States 'a5 an al lack on any essential part of the world under American sover= elgnty—United Press,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.