Life, 1916-04-27 · page 4 of 44
Life — April 27, 1916 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This editorial cartoon commemorates the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which occurred on May 7th (the text references an upcoming anniversary issue on May 9th). The image depicts a demonic or skeletal figure—likely representing Germany or the perpetrator of the attack—impaled on a sword or spike, standing amid battlefield debris labeled "Belgium." The cartoon conflates two major German atrocities from World War I: the invasion of Belgium and the 1915 Lusitania sinking, which killed nearly 1,200 civilians including 128 Americans. The title "Lest We Forget" urges remembrance of these war crimes. The grotesque imagery serves to demonize Germany and rally American sentiment, particularly relevant as the U.S. was debating entry into the war.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ET RICHARDS, ) “Lest We Forget” Life’s Lusitania Number is coming week after next, or, on Tuesday, May 9th, the anniversary of the destruction of the Lusitania being May 7th. Among other features it will contain a cover by j 113, o Charles Dana Gibson and a center page 0 Bee Fanus'e cartoon by Wm. H. Walker. Don’t Get the next number. It is the Don't Num- ber, and should be avoided by all intelligent and interesting people. Handsome premium picture,“ Sunset,” Open only to new subscribers; no > given with each yearly su jon. Re- i / scriptions renewed at this rate. i : production in full color, showing glowing LIFE, 17 West 31st Street, New York. 2 sunset tints, size 23% by 16 inches. (/ One Year, $5.00. (Canadian, $5.52; Foreign, $6.04) comicbooks.com