Life, 1914-11-05 · page 16 of 48
Life — November 5, 1914 — page 16: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **German military occupation practices** during World War I. The "General Orders from Berlin" mockingly present supposed German regulations as absurdly brutal and contradictory—threatening to burn towns and execute civilians for minor infractions (failing to salute, showing displeasure at bayonet attacks, or praying for town safety). The final order ironically claims Germans harbor "no ill-will" despite the preceding threats. The satire exposes German conduct in invaded territories as tyrannical and terroristic, while the contradictions highlight the hypocrisy of claiming cultural regard while committing atrocities. **"The Newcomer"** personifies the **naval periscope** as a smug new weapon that has made older military technology obsolete. The illustration shows it as a proud figure in a ship's cabin. **The bottom cartoon** uses domestic humor (complaining about insufficient Thanksgiving food) as light relief, unrelated to the war content above. This reflects American WWI-era propaganda demonizing German military behavior.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
800 “LIFE: General Orders From Berlin 1. When a town is invaded by Germans, either with or without its consent, a reception committee shall meet them with choice viands and fervent wel- coming oratory. If this is neglected, all the school- children will be shot, the town burned and a tax levied. 2. In the event that a German soldier, cither while under the influence of alcohol or not, shall playfully stab a citizen with a bayonet, such citizen shall show no sign of displeasure. Otherwise he will be shot, all his goods confiscated and the town burned. 3. All citizens shall not fail to show due respect for German officers by removing the hat and saluting | in approved style. In case of doubt whether it is an officer or not, all common soldiers shall be saluted. To be on the safe side, it is best for all citizens to hold themselves in a constant attitude of salute in anticipation of the possible arrival of a German sol- dier. Failure to observe this rule will cause every- body in the immediate vi ty to be shot, the town | burned and a tax levied. 4. All ladies of invaded towns shall have a high regard for the personal beauty, high character and general attractiveness of German officers in particular and of German soldiers in general. If any lady | demurs at the attentions of a German soldier, her family will be shot, the town burned and a tax levied. 5. All prayers in all cathedrals shall be for the unvarying success of the German forces. If any inhabitant is suspected of praying for the safety of the town from assault, the cathedral will be destroyed, the town burned and a tax levied. 6. The inhabitants of invaded towns shall be held strictly responsible for all suspicions of German officers. Such suspicions will be promptly acted upon by ‘shooting an appropriate number of inhabitants, burning the town and levying a tax. 7. The German officers and soldiers, having a high regard for culture, will aim to be uniformly kind and considerate, provided it is not possible to be other- wise, and in no case will the German soldiery harbor any ill-will against any innocent person who escapes suspicion. (Signed) Genera Von Scutaucutur. The Newcomer ERMIT me to introduce myself to the public gener- ally. Modest and retiring, both by nature and occu- pation, I have hitherto refrained irom obtruding myself upon the attention of the multitude. My name is Periscope. My principal object in life is to rise to every necessary occasion. When this demands my more or less immediate presence, I occupy myself by hold- ing up the mirror, not to nature, but to the enemy. Like an occasional idea which renders superfluous old systems of philosophy, I have come to render superfluous an entire cycle of inventions. I am the last triumph of mind over matter. I reflect, and a thousand men go down to their fate. Within the blue zone of my horizon, subject to my orders, flits the angel of death. Tam the naval cye that put the naught in dreadnaught. SAS “WHY DIDN'T YOU ENJOY THE THANKSGIVING PARTY, HARRY? DIDN'T YOU HA’ 1?" “OH, YES; BUT THERE'S NO FUN IN HAVING JUST ENOUGH.”