Judge, 1918-01-12 · page 15 of 28
Judge — January 12, 1918 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page collects European editorial cartoons about Italy during World War I, satirizing Italian political divisions and military performance. **Key themes:** The cartoons mock Italy's internal disunity despite military involvement. One depicts a German soldier expressing disillusionment that Europe (Italy) could be "so stupid"—suggesting Italy's unreliability as an ally or inability to present unified strength. French cartoons ("La Victoire," "La Baionnette") show confidence in defeating Italy, treating Italian soldiers ("boches") as indistinguishable from German enemies. The Italian cartoon ("L'Asino") presents ironic optimism: despite appearing disunited, Italy claims greater unity than before—likely sarcastic commentary on actual factional tensions. A London cartoon ("The Only Way") depicts execution by hanging, though the specific referent is unclear from the image alone. **Overall:** These are Allied/neutral nations satirizing Italy's questionable military effectiveness and political cohesion during WWI.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
In Italy Je connais le pays: je les ai dé battus par ei “T know — this country. I’ve beat- en them here be- fore!"—La Vic- toire (Paris). abe SORE Sennen irene cee — German Disillusionment “L'Ttalia é disunita?” Chor—Europa, far so dumm hatten wir dich nicht gebalten! Chorus—Europe, we didn’t think you could be so stupid! —Nebelspalter (Zurich). Italy dis- united?” “Unfortunately she is more united than before.”— L’Asino (Rome). eS NY eked] “Vaches ou boches, c'est la méme chose." Steers or boches, it’s all the same to me.”—La Baionnette (Paris). | The Only Way —The People (London). XUM