Life, 1918-05-16 · page 26 of 40
Life — May 16, 1918 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes WWI soldiers' moral outrage at German surrender. The poem, attributed to Geo. B. Eager Jr., depicts a British soldier confronting a surrendering German soldier who calls out "Kamerad!" (German for "comrade"—the traditional surrender cry). The satire's point: The British fighter is enraged that a German soldier—whom he accuses of atrocities ("rapes an' murders women," crucifying his comrade)—would dare claim brotherhood or equal treatment through the surrender convention. The soldier refuses this false camaraderie, declaring himself unwilling to play hypocrite. The top cartoon labeled "BAIT" shows American soldiers (Sammy) luring German soldiers with what appears to be seductive figures—satirizing the "safe way of capturing" enemies through temptation rather than combat. The bottom joke about New York's mayor (beginning with 'H'—either Hearst or Hylan) is unrelated political humor about municipal politics. Context: The page reflects wartime anti-German sentiment and questions about honor between combatants.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“Kamerad! Kamerad!” I OUGHT to shoot 'im where 'e stands— A whinin’ ’Un, with lifted ’ands— For 'e called me “ Kamerad"! Me, wot's fought im clean an’ fair, Played the game, an’ played it square; "E crucified my pal out there! An’ 'e calls me “ Kamerad”! You low-down, stinkin’ ‘ound o° ‘ell, I've seen the work you do so wel Don’t you call me “ Kamerad”! You, wot shells a ‘elpless crew, Wot rapes an’ murders women too; A blasted blackguard through an’ through! An’ you calls me “ Kamerad "! You bloody, bleedin’, blinkin’ "Un, After wot you've been an’ done, Don’t call me “ Kamerad 1 ain't no bloomin’ ‘ypocrite. There ain't no ‘alo in my kit, But when you comes to this, T quit! Don't call me “ Kamerad Geo. B. Eager, Jr. “WYJHO'S mayor of New York now?” “Tt hegins with an ‘H! but I never can remember whether it's Hearst or Hylan.” SAMMY DISCOVERS A SAFE WAY OF CAPTURING CFRMAN SOLDIPRS OF THE LAST Kaiser: CONSCRIPTION NOW bE CAKEFUL O& THAT JAP WILL KOE YOU