Life, 1898-12-29 · page 9 of 21
Life — December 29, 1898 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Life Magazine Page 549 The page contains satirical illustrations about the Spanish-American War and General Shafter's Cuban campaign. The top cartoon depicts "the shades of Hannibal, Oscar and Napoleon grew nervous and uneasy"—historical military figures anxious about Shafter's competence. The middle illustration shows Shafter before an interviewer, captioned "The great man before him fanned himself excitedly." The bottom illustration shows someone purchasing "a complete outfit of medicines," satirizing the army's poor preparation and disease problems during the Cuban campaign. The accompanying text criticizes General Shafter's leadership, poor planning, and the resulting illness that disabled troops. It references a Congressional investigation and compares Shafter unfavorably to Secretary Alger, suggesting both failed the war effort. The satire targets military incompetence and inadequate logistics.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
549 publics are never ungrateful to politicians with a at?” . Cuapter XV. GENERAL SHAFTER now prepared his little army for the Cuban campaign. Going to the nearest drug- store, he purchased a complete outfit of medicines, Tho troops wero then ordered aboard the transports and tho course laid for Santiago. Arriving at tho nearest beach, the Genoral’s fore- sight manifested itself, Ho hud provided no less than two Gowanus canal boats to land the soldiers, Several war correspondents who do not like Gen- eral Shatter, because he shocked them with the naughty storles he told in their presence, have tried to malign him by making it appear that his landing facilities wero Inadequate. Mark Hanna bas referred in a historical despatch to the existing partnership between God and tho Republican party. In an accldent of this kind it would bo manifestly unfair to blame the G, 0. P. Ithas also been stated that General Shafter’s troops, in spite of the ample time for preparation, were obliged todrink bad waterand do other things in defiance of the repeated warnings of science; and that, in consequence, in a short timo nearly the entire army was unfit for duty “ The shades of Hannibal, Cesar and Napoleon grew nerrous and uneasy.” “T'll do the best I can,” ho muttered ; “' but it's no easy job.” “Nonsense,” replied his the Board of Strategy was at length enabled to rest from its arduous labors, Secretary Long now began to prepare his first magazine article, Cuarrer XIII. Ir was during th ts perlod of waiting that Richmond Pearson Hobson filled a long-felt want. ‘The war bad as yet proved unsatisfactory in its crop of horoes, and the American people had few to gush over, Admiral Dewey would have fulfilled every require- ment, but ho was not near enough to get at. Fitzhugh Leo had left Cuba too soon for good dramatic effect. Roosevelt. was only just buckling on his armor, and the great Shafter was toth- ered to Tampa. It was necessary that a popular hero should arise at once to fill the gap. Young Hobson, therefore, having sunk the Merrimac and been hospitably enter- tained ina Spanish prison, came home to be kissed. : Cuapren XIV, Genenat W. R, SHAPTER was now to act. Tho shades of Hannibal, Cwsar and Napoleon grew nervous and uneasy, Eu- rope trembled. Only one man amid the goneral suspense remained serene and confident, ‘The Secretary of War alone was unmoved. ‘Tho heroic Shafter was hot so culm, Ho hurried on to Washington, “My dear friend,” sald the Secretary, “you will proceed with your army to Cuba and take Santiago.” Tho great man before him fanned himself excitedly, “The great man before him Janned himself excitedly.” backer. “ Any time you got into a tight place I'll send Miles to straighten you out. Ho can do it, but don't say that I told you,” “And give him the credit!” whined tho other, The Secretary smiled sig- nificantly, “Trust mo,” he replied; “Till fix that all right.” “But suppose the pres- sure on you becomes 80 great that you'll haye to resign?” The Secretary indicated the White House with his thumb, as he sald, suavely: “T have a pull.” And he added, sententiously: ‘* Re- and wasted by disease, Absurd! Should anyone desiro an answer to these criticisms (which is not probable, —consider- ing that General Shafter has already denied them), let him read the testimony beforo the Investigating Committee appointed by the President to overlook tho matter before the election. Here is shown conclusively that Gouoral Shafter did as much as ovon’ Socretary Alger would have done bim- self. What more could bo desired? Tom Masson, (To be continued.) “ He purchased a complete outht of medicines.” comicbooks.com