Life — July 12, 1917 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a beach scene with women in 1920s bathing attire engaged in exuberant, joyful activity—jumping, dancing, and celebrating. The caption "Who said U-Boats?" is the key to understanding the satire. During World War I, German U-boats (submarines) posed a serious threat to American coastal shipping and represented public anxiety about enemy presence near U.S. shores. By the 1920s, with the war concluded, this threat had vanished. The cartoon satirizes the carefree post-war mood and the return to leisure activities. The women's uninhibited beach behavior suggests relief and liberation from wartime fears. The caption humorously dismisses lingering war anxieties—implying that public concerns about U-boats seem absurdly outdated given the current peaceful prosperity and freedom to enjoy life.