Mr. Edwards' family history, as far' as the Far East goes, actually dates back to the late Fifties, when his father came te Shanghai from India. "His mother arrived in 1865, the trip from London to Shanghai taking six months, Mrs. Edwards who was born in Shanghai, is the eldest! daughter of the late Alfred Silverthorne, who spent many years in the Far Bast, Like her husband she hay spent practically all her life in. 'Shanghai and Hongkong. 'Their only daughter is the very popular wife of Claude W. Glover of the P.W.D. a well-known bowler and member' of the Shanghai Lawn Bowls Club, Recently Mr. Edwards re-visited Kiukiang and took part in the most successful celebrations held there on Coronation Day, after a short stay at "Journeys End" in Lien-wa-tung, he made a trip to Hankow before reluming to Shanghai.
Mr. Edwards hag seen five different bridges erected over the Soochow Creek from the Gardens to the Astor House corner, also three Hongkong, and Shanghai 'Bank buildings erected, both here and in Hongkong. When asked what was his impression of the greatest change out East, he gave a reply that' one can easily understand from a sea-faring man.
consider that the greatest change that has taken place in my life time, has been the decline of the Chinese Navy and the unprecedented rise of the Japanese fleet. T have watched the Chinese Navy, as fine a fleet as you could wish for, when Admiral MeLure was its chief, decline to nothing, and the Japanese Navy. which then consisted of a few small vessels, rise from nothing to a world power." It is interesting to note that 'Admiral MeLure was at one time a Captain in the tude China Steam Navigation Co's fleet. He succeded fu command of the Chinese Navy another old Hongkong resident, Admiral "Chinese" Long, whose son, It. Commander Long, retired from' the Colony a little over a year ago. The decline of the Chinese Navy started from the date of Admiral Long's retirement, said Mr. Edwards.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.