Life, 1913-11-27 · page 11 of 40
Life — November 27, 1913 — page 11: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical piece presents a Japanese correspondent's critical observations of the U.S. Navy. The cartoon shows Japanese sailors discussing American naval affairs, with the accompanying letter mocking American naval practices and personnel. The satire targets: - **American naval efficiency and discipline** - critiquing sailors' behavior, living conditions, and lack of formality - **U.S. military leadership** - particularly figures like Hon. Daniels (likely Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels), questioning their command decisions - **Naval morale and management** - describing crews as undisciplined, noting officers' excessive socializing The piece uses the device of a "Japanese observer" to present pointed criticism of American military readiness and naval culture from an outsider's perspective, implying that even foreign observers notice America's military shortcomings. This reflects pre-WWI concerns about naval preparedness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ IBRSEE Letters of a Japanese School-boy Are Jo-Unile Daniels Very Great Admiral ? To Editor “ Life” who are a supper- dreadnought of considerable gunfire, EAR SIR:— Hon. Harry Karimoto, Japanese spy employed on U. S. Battleship Peoria, meet up to me yesterday in enlarged pants resembling sailors. He were immersing out of salocn when I ob- served him and he told me the emo- tional behavior of his rear knees was due to continual walking on oceans. He asked me io take slight whiskey drunk with him, as he were obliged to take considerable of this drug so his eyes would be sharper for spying purposes “What you learn about U. S. Navy: I ask out, while helping to straighten his walk. “Plenty,” he report with eyewink, American salute. “I have learned all informations about coal, officers, ma- chinery and other fuel on these star-stripe floaters. And this I tell you. Japan shall never be able to beat it.” “What ammunition have America got that will make her defeat Japan?” I requesh with patriotic peev. “Jo-Uncle Daniels,” report Harry navalistically. “Hon, Daniels are not a navy—he are an editor,” I smb. “ All great men are editors somewhat,” report Karimoto. “Tf not, why should Wm Jenny Bryan, Hon. Roosevelt and Hon. Wilson do so continually?” “What paper do Hon. Wilson edit?” I ask to know. “Congressional Record,” notate him, I stand gast for this information. “Hon, Josphus must be very cruel admiral to make sail- ors so brave & reckless!” I snagger. “Ah not is!” depose Harry. “This Uncle Josphus are tender like boiled turnup. For when Hon. Pres Wilson appoint him for be Secretary of Torpedoes he say him like this, ‘Josphus,’ say Pres, ‘your duty to Navy is to make cannon-ball pugilists from them. How you do this?’ ‘I shall go at it scientifically like an editorial,’ say Jo-Uncie Daniels, ‘ Firstly I ask, what make men fight most peevly? Answer is, love!) When blue-Loys is found dying in midst of smokes & shoots they are not doing so for Tariff, ‘race suicide or other dishagreeable subjects: they are doing so for either sweethearts or wives. Sometimes both. There- fore we know that sailors fights for what they love. Therefore, by creating more love in Navy [ shall make them more talented with dynamight.’ ‘What shall they love so recklessly?’ require Hon. Pres for question. ‘Mel’ explan Hon. Daniels with submarine expression.” “They are doing so for cither sweethearts or wives” Hon. Harry Karimoto tell me this while attempting to walk circular. “Did Hon. Daniels go to Navy and create some affections pretty quick?” is next question for me. “He never approached to our ship, snignify Harry, “but I hear consider- able roomers about what he done on another dreadnoughts.” “Tell me the entire rotation,” I snuggest. “Firstly, from what I hearsay,” ex- plan Harry, “he go to all sailors and speak it, ‘Sailors,’ he say it, ‘I wish you feel you are now working for 2 uncles, Sam & Jo. We own a Treas- ury and can afford to make your bat- tleship as stylish as any other apart- ment house. Betweeu battles you must lack no luxury and when dissatisfied, please seport carelessness to Manage- ment.’ So they do so amidst consider- able 3-cheers.” “Does U. S. sailors live pretty stylish because of?” I negotiate. “T have not noticed it on my ship,” Harry acknowledge. “But I hear considerable report of high-livliness enjoyed by crews on more fashionable battleboats. On those iron floaters sailing are not much different from Waldorf, ex- cept there is no head waiter. Sailors is permitted to break- fast in bed so their nerve will not become dislocated be- fore target practice. Gentlemanicures massage their thumb- nails every morning so they will look most beautiful while shaking hands with officers. At 10.00 a. m. they appear on deck unless fatigued by dance-party of night before. Slight goluf game is enjoyed until noon when shooting costumes are put on and some targets destroyed by cannons. Cham- pagne are never permitted for lunch except on Wednesdays and Fridays. After lunching slight nap are enjoyed till §.00 p. m. when tea are served in moving-picture salon while Admiral show emotion pictures of Manila Bay and other cross battles where sailors can learn how be heroes. Simple dinner of chicken & claret are dished to crew in officers’ dining rovm, except on Satday night when officers come to crew-room and wait on table resembling Jefferson democrats. And so onwards till bedtime arrive amidst shake-hands and silk pajamas.” “What sort of navy battles must result from this?” I ask gastly. “Awful cruel ones,” say Harry Karimoto. “ Already U. S. crews are demanding fight Germany or else Mexico so they can holla, ‘For love, for home, for Jo-Uncle Dan- icls!’ while blowing enemies to smathereens. When I think