Judge — September 9, 1916 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Oh, U Flirt!" This Judge magazine cover from September 9, 1916 depicts a mythological or allegorical scene featuring a partially nude female figure (likely representing a nation or abstract concept) surrounded by male figures in military dress. The title "Oh, U Flirt!" appears to reference the German submarine campaign ("U-boat" warfare) that was a major controversy in 1916. The satire likely mocks Germany's submarine warfare tactics—presented as aggressive "flirtation" or seduction rather than straightforward military action. The partially clothed female figure may represent America or neutral nations being threatened or tempted by German military power. The composition suggests the unsettling nature of submarine warfare, which killed civilians and challenged American neutrality before the U.S. entered World War I in 1917.