Life, 1913-04-03 · page 15 of 52
Life — April 3, 1913 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes American military spending and interventionist foreign policy. The text mockingly questions where the "foreign ogres" are that supposedly justify massive expenditures on the navy, fortifications, and military defenses. The satire's point: these threats don't exist, yet America maintains expensive military infrastructure anyway. The author then sarcastically suggests that if warmongers truly want action, Mexico—depicted as vulnerable ("ripe for plucking")—is available, without needing to attack the stronger United States. The bottom illustration, a "cubist fantasy," appears to be abstract military imagery with the caption "In unbending line, firm, resolute, militant, we go"—likely mocking militaristic rhetoric and propagandistic language. The overall message critiques both unnecessary military spending and American imperial ambitions, suggesting resources should address the nation's "much-not-needed debt" instead.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Where are They? HERE are all those foreign ogres who constantly lie in ambush for defenseless nations? Where are those national banditti who, but for our most efficient and extravagant army and navy and coast defenses and harbor mines and fortifications and retired admirals and torpedo boats and tsrpedo-boat destroyers and torpedo-boat-de- stroyer destroyers and cetera, would pounce down upon the United States and, i few swift, strategic strokes, put us forever on the world-power toboggan? Where are they? If such there be, let them take notice that Mexico is now ripe for plucking. It can be entirely consumed with about three bites and a gulp of a modern fleet of dreadnaughts. Go right in, fellows, and enjoy yourselves. It is the easiest thing in sight. Why worry to attack the United States when there is so much more in- viting prey encumbering the map? Please be sensible and give us a chance to save a little much-needed money to apply to our much-not-needed debt. A CUBIST FANTASY “IN UNBENDING LINE, FIRM, RESOLUTE, MILITANT, WE GO” comicbooks.com