Life — September 16, 1909 — page 8: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "A Change of Military Front" This cartoon satirizes shifting political positions, likely during World War I era. The five uniformed figures appear to represent military or political leaders changing their stance or allegiance—literally turning around to face the opposite direction. The labels beneath are partially illegible in this reproduction, but the visual joke is clear: these officials are "about-facing" (reversing course), suggesting they've abandoned previous commitments or adopted contradictory positions. The accompanying article "Kipling and Wells" discusses how writers Rudyard Kipling and H.G. Wells hold opposing political views—one appearing conservative, the other progressive—yet both influence public opinion. The cartoon likely comments on similar inconsistency or opportunism among political/military figures of the period.