WHAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE HAS DONE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 143, 15 June 1909, Page 4

WHAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE HAS DONE.

opinions of the naval ■ ■.;■.;-' review. ■; lessons for (Received June' 14; 11:30 p.m.) ' LONDON, June 14i Re-echoino; Mr Asquith'sT v to|nark that the utility'of vieytfs at ilte Conference regarding the -serjoussand

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Urgent topic of our •common Imperial defence is a happy prelude and an auspicious omen- for the Defence Conference, Tile Times emphasises the fact that the Conference has done one thing alone worth all the effort involved—it has elicited from the leaders of all parties recognition of the vital truth of the absence of finality, and has awakened interest in Imperial questions which must prove of great assistance to the Defence Conference. Mr Ward, of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, interviewed, said \\ c have seen a real British fleet, and the idea of building up a little ocean-go-ing Navy of our own must shrink to nothing." . .. Mr Kyffin Thomas remarked: "We are able to note improvements in the Navy since, the Coronation review. We were particularly struck with the river class of boat proposed as 'a nucleus for an Australian Navy. The destroyers were also a theme of admiration.'.'.

Mr Cunningham (Melbourne) was most impressed with the fact that not one of the ships he saw in the front line at the Jubilee review in 1897 was seen on Saturday. This constitutes the Motherland's sacrifices 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 Empire, seeing that even one division of the fleet would bring the more distant parts into closer touch.