This apparent division of authority is provided in the Tydings-MeDume Acts which leaves the: United States Army. and Navy responsible for the defence of the Philippines but Teaves all forms of civilian protection to the Commonwealth, Manila is completely tacking tu air raid shelters and the same situa-ion reigns in the realm of the! Accumulation of food and fuel sup~ plies, Such measures had not, beer publicly considered because Philippine oMelals had assumed that the defence of the Philippines would be under U.S," Jurisdiction unfit 1946, the. year of! complete independence.
The Philippine Islands are. parti cularly vulnerable to a blockade Decause small stocks of fuel are maintained, although the islands" transport. system ig almost entirely dependent on imported fuel islands "also annually import rice and other basic foodstuffs to meet the domestic requirements.
Japanese Control thing is almost completely under Japanese control. Thirty per cent. of Philippine imports" are also carried by Japanese vessels. Most of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet is at present concentrated in Manila.
The United States Army forces] here at present are estimated to total "8.000 men. The Philippines recently heavily increased its num. ber of war planes until lack of jar "space has caused many of new planes to remain unassand still packed in. crates.
while, the Phitippine National' Defence programme. designed for completion in 1946, isnot Intended for intermediate use and therefore the Filipinos lack fighting equipment united Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.