IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7822, 15 June 1909, Page 2

IMPERIAL PRESS CONFERENCE.

THE LESSONS OF THE REVIEW.

Per Press Association—Copyright LONDON, June 14. Re-echoing Mr Asquith's -remark that the unity of views at the Press Conference regarding the serious urgent topic of common Imperial defence is a happy prelude and auspicious onion- for the Defence Confcronco, the Times declares that the Conference has done -one thing alone worth all the effort involved. Ifc has elicited from the leaders, of all parties recognition of the vital truth of the absence of finality and awakened interest in , Imperial questions which must prove of great assistance %to the Defence Conference, , - ' Mr F. W. Ward, Sydney Daily.Telegraph, when interviewed, said: "We have seen the .real British TTleet, and the idea of building up a/ little,oceangoing navy of our own must shrink to nothing." i . J Mr Kyffin Thomas remarked:'"We are able to note the improvements in the navy since the Coronation review. We were particularly struck with- tie river class boat', proposed as a' nucleus of an Australian navy of destroyers."" Mr Cunningham (Melbourne) waa most impressed with the'fact that not one of the ships he saw in tKe front line at the Jubilee review of 1897 was seen on Saturday. ''This, 5' he said, ''constitutes the Motherland's /sacrifice to maintain the safety of the "Empire. There is a strong feeling of regret that the advantage of such a sight could not be shared by all the peoples of the EmEire. Seeing even one division of the eet would bring the more -distant parts into closer touch." Received June 15, 11.50 a.m. LONDON, June 14, A party numbering a hundred visited Coventry. The city was decorated and the thoroughfares were crowded. The - delegates inspected the Daimler works, and thence they motored to Warwick, where they had luncheon at >the-Castle. Thence they motored 'in brilliant weather to Straitford and Banbury, and on to Oxford on new Deimer cars, j with Knight's silent engines.