Judge — August 21, 1915 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This romantic illustration by James Montgomery Flagg satirizes World War I submarine warfare through a coded double entendre. The kissing couple represents nations or combatants, labeled with submarine terminology: "She—U-1" and "He—U-2" (German U-boats were designated with "U-" numbers). The cartoon likely comments on neutral nations' anxious relationships with belligerents during the war, particularly America's tension with Germany over unrestricted submarine warfare. The romantic framing contrasts sharply with the deadly reality of submarine attacks on merchant vessels—including American ships and citizens—that were escalating in 1915. The satire suggests how dangerous or destructive relationships were being romanticized or rationalized during wartime.