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Press, Volume LI, Issue 15464, 17 December 1915, Page 5

One of tho men whom the war has made famous, or, at any rate, notorious, died iu New York last month. This was Mr Hermann Bidder, tho editor of the "Xew Yorker the chief German newspaper in the. United States. Riddcrs paper, from the beginning of tho war, has been tho central organ of the German propaganda in New York, and Ridder himself became a portion of as much consequence as Count von Bernstorff, and probably of more usefulness to Germany. Recently tho "Staats Zcilung" censured the murder of Miss OavcJl, but it had previously applauded even such infamies as tho sinking of the Lusitania. Ridder himself, it appears, has been ill for many months, and his paper has really been conducted by his son since tho outbreak of war. This fact has a bearing on the American claim that America turns her immigrants into Americans. Hermann Ridder was born in America; his son ought, therefore, to have exhibited the results of American influence. But he has remained a Hun of the Huns. ♦ "When the mail that arrived yesterday left New York, the sinking of tho Ancona —concerning which President Wilson is still composing new Notes — was one of tho principal topics of discussion. British people may be pardoned for noting with some amusement that even in America sensible people have readied tho stage of irritated contempt for the ridiculous "bluff" and windiness that the majority of the American newspapers revere and applaud as the stern, strong diplomacy of a grim, iron-jawed Uncle Sam in untearable starred-and-striped clothes. Most of the letters on tho editorial page of the "New York Post" of November 13th, for example, are angry and contemptuous in their reference to American policy. The writers ridicule the claim that Mr "Wilson's Notes have won any "victory." One correspondent, writing of tho Ancona incident, said : — ''Why all this pother about a shipload of people murdered by the Teutons? You know, and 1 know, and the world knows, that nothing will bo done about it, whatever the attendant circumstances." us not," he concluded, .'"descend tr> the arena of the commonplace and don tho lion's skin. Our bray might betray us." By a happy coincidence the "Post," which supports Mr Wilson through thick and thin, solemnly brayed in the most natural manner in the same issue. After declaring, in conformity with tho Wilson doctrine of national ! honour and national responsibility, that outraged humanity, wnen it is not American humanity, has nothing to do with America, tho "Post" added: The moment it is ascertained that there was ono American kiiied on the Ancona, and that the killing was in violation of the principle »v have asserted in the cases or the Lusitania and tho. Aral):.', it will be the duty of the Administration to assert the nation's rights with such vigour and determination as is so abundantly justified in the light of the long and distressing history of our negotiations with Germany. The President's Note, to be sure, is said to have rather upset Austria, but it Austria does nothing, there will l>o nothing for Mr Wilson to do but send another Note. « The heat in Christchurch during the last two days will enable the residents I here to realise in a very fair.t degree what our soldiers must have hod to!

put u n -with during their training in Egypt and their lighting on the GaiiipoTi Peninsula. The highest temperature here was 91 in the shade. In Cairo, a reading of 110 in the shade is quite common in the summer, and ihe glow of the sun reflected I'roni the sand of the desert is blinding in its intensity. Marching in such conditions must liave been a form of torture. The heat in the close mountain gullies of Gallipoli during' the summer must also have been most exhausting, and there the sufferings of our men were terribly intensified by the danger to health from the presence of putrefying corpses ami swarms of flies. It is well that we should think of these things occasionally, to help us to realise what sacriiices our soldier lads are making for the Empire, and the price at which they have l'-ought the glory which is theirs for all time. The exceedingly unpleasant weather —great heat and an extravagant wind make an unpleasant combination, if anything does —must have operated to the detriment of the River Bank Carnival yesterday. In the circumstances, the sum realised—about £3000— must bo considered very satisfactory, especially n> ther 0 were some counter-attrac-tions. Tndeed. it is a largo sum, and we expect that when the expenses are defrayed the Patriotic Fund will benefit very substantially. Quite an army oi workers—chiefly ladies —were engaged, prior to and during; the Carnival, and they are to be complimented upon their enthusiasm and industry. They gave much in time and material to make tho Carnival a success, and it required no little fortitudo to remain i brisk in the trying weather conditions. If regarded as u kind of reconnaissance j with the big Queen Carnival in view, j yesterday's, operations aro of hopeful import.