Life, 1918-04-18 · page 24 of 40
Life — April 18, 1918 — page 24: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains WWI-era American satire. The top section, "Historic Boys," shows two caricatures mocking German and American figures. The left cartoon depicts a military figure (labeled "Blood-and-Iron Hindie," likely Kaiser Wilhelm II) in aggressive, militaristic pose—referencing Bismarck's "blood and iron" philosophy. The right shows "Willie McAdoo" (William McAdoo, U.S. Treasury Secretary) hoarding money for the Liberty Loan. Below, Charlotte Becker's poem "The Red Cross Dogs" praises rescue animals while condemning German treatment of them—a propaganda point about enemy brutality. The final cartoon, "Hoarding Sugar," satirizes domestic profiteering: civilians illegally stockpiling rationed sugar while soldiers fight. The caption's joke about "Kaiser's six sons at the back of the front" is unclear but appears to mock German military strategy or propaganda. The page conflates foreign enemy villainy with American civilian selfishness during wartime.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
HISTORIC BOYS BLOOD-AND-IRON HINDIE WILLIE M@ADOO The Red Cross Dogs THE Red Cross dogs serve night and | day. Fearless and strong and gentle, they Uncounted lives to safety bear, And carry hope and succor where No other feet may find the way. And soldiers whom they've rescued say They help as much as humans m And save as many from despair— The Red Cross dogs. What base ingratitude to slay In frightful torture those who lay Their lives down for our sakes, and share Hardship and risk and danger there! Shame on the men who would betray The Red Cross dogs! Charlotte Becker. TH A i i °F To HE Kaiser has six sons at the back of the front. HOARDING SUGAR comicbooksseqray