The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1935. A TRAGIC CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 6

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1935. A TRAGIC CASE.

Glovceatar Street and Cathedral Square CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND. Loadea Representatives : R. B. BRETT & SON NEW BRIDGE HOUSE, 30/34 NEW BRIDGE STREET. LONDON. E GA

T»RUNO HAUPTMANN, 35 years of age, a German, lias been found guilty on the most sensational charge in American criminal history—that of kidnapping and murdering Colonel Lindbergh’s firstborn sou. Now he will go to death in the electric chair. The end of this dramatic trial marks the culmination not only of Colonel Lindbergh’s unremitting efforts to solve the grim mystery of his son’s fate but of a nation-wide sweep to bring public enemies to justice. Behind that campaign has been the determination and directing force of President Roosevelt, who ordered his Federal law enforcement officers to disregard all State boundaries, lay their hands on gang leaders and break the criminal’s strangle-l;old on the nation. At the same time he uttered the significant warning that politicians must not protect criminals. No evidence was offered at the recent trial that Hauptmann had associates, but whether he had or not the previous immunity of kidnappers from justice and the comparative ease with which they secured huge ransoms must have played a large part in influencing him to commit such a dastardly crime.

FOR MUTUAL PROFIT. TT WOULD BE very disappointing indeed if the coal and cattle agreement between England and Ireland were not the prelude to future pacts cementing the trade of the two countries. And the present expectations of further reciprocal agreements from which the British machinery industry will benefit seem to be justified, particularly in view of the King’s expressed wish that his Jubilee year should see the end of the dispute between the British and Irish Governments. The trade war between the two countries, so linked by geography and by natural ties, has been damaging to both, and it is gratifying to see in the lessening of the tension an implicit promise of the restoration of normal friendly relations.

BRITAIN’S AIR STRENGTH. TT IS PARTLY REASSURING to learn from a statement in the House of Commons that a substantial increase is to be made in the Royal Air Force and that the necessary equipment will be available in 1935 to keep pace with the formation of new squadrons. The present position, however, is that Britain is seventh on the list of air Powers and that other nations are still pushing rapidly ahead with construction programmes. Even the French Air Minister, General Denain, felt constrained to say the other day that the British Empire had only 2800 aeroplanes, which was totally inadequate for such a widespread Empire.

CARRYING ON IN PEACE. 'T'HE PEACE-TIME WORK of the Red Cross Society, for the support of which an appeal is being made to-day, has not the spectacular quality of war-time effort, but the society still carries on quietly and efficiently. For all the wounds of the war are not yet healed, nor all the promises to the soldiers fulfilled. The wives and families of many returned men endure in poverty today because the wage-earner of the family suffers from mental and physical debility engendered by the war. The women’s executive of the Red Cross carefully investigates these cases and gives help where needed. And this work, which is in the nature of a trust, should not be hampered by lack of funds.