Tokyo, Aug. 3.
The bringing of Philippine forces under the command of American generals io be designated by the Secretary of War should riot be view-Of|ed as very important Dr. Hitoshi Ashida, local commentator on international politics and former president of the "Japan Times" told the "Chugai Shogyo."
The placing of the Philippine army ud navy under direct control of the nited States Government has been contemplated for some time but President Roosevelt used the opportunity which the announcement of the Japan Indo-China Joint defence Agreement provided for the final merging in order to give it the appearance of a special defence measure, Mr. Ashida said. The Phillipine move is therefore an old plan rather than a gesture against Japan do not think there will be much change in the defending capacity of the Phillippine army," which although officially reported to be 150,000 trong, has probably only about 50.000 or.000 men in actual training, others being available upon mobilization in case of emergency.
The placing of this Army under direct control of the United States Government will affect Japanese policy very little Dr. Ashida coneluded.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.