Life — May 9, 1918 — page 15: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a WWI-era satirical cartoon titled "For Interned Enemies." It depicts an American official (left) relaxed at his desk, smoking and reading, while an "Enemy Alien" figure peers through the window, appearing distressed and holding what looks like a newspaper. The caption explains the enemy alien's predicament: he "blew up three munition plants, burned a few docks and managed to get a transport sunk"—describing sabotage activities—yet somehow ended up interned rather than executed. The "American Mother" asks sarcastically what placed him in this "terrible position," suggesting the official's treatment is inappropriately lenient given the sabotage described. This reflects WWI anxieties about enemy aliens and domestic security, satirizing whether internment was adequate punishment for wartime sabotage.