Life, 1918-09-12 · page 21 of 34
Life — September 12, 1918 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two political cartoons mocking WWI leadership and American industrialists. **"The All-Highest Is Comforted"** ridicules German Emperor Wilhelm II ("the All-Highest") and the Crown Prince. The satire depicts them strategizing about defeating British and French armies—but realizing they must wait for American intervention to succeed. The Crown Prince foolishly suggests destroying all three armies simultaneously, prompting Wilhelm's delight at this "strategic conception." The joke: German leadership is so incompetent they require American entry to win, and they're openly discussing it. The lower cartoon mocks American soldiers who don't understand Ford automobiles—suggesting industrial ignorance among the ranks. **"The Colonel on the War Path"** targets Theodore Roosevelt's public criticism of Henry Ford's son obtaining a military exemption. Roosevelt (the "Colonel") believes Ford should be on the "mourners' bench" rather than on corporate boards. The final exchange satirizes wealthy elites claiming patriotism while their children avoid service and they profit from war. Both cartoons critique wartime hypocrisy: German delusion, American industrial incompetence, and privileged exemptions from sacrifice.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The All-Highest Is Comforted HE All-Highest mood. The Crown Prince, shifting his cigarette uneasily, was inclined resentful, But in the y he had to be was in a peevish to be presence of De’ more or less re "Look here id the All-Hii your great tory at Verdun in 101s was all very well, but it didn’t win the war and make the world safe for permanent and glorious And now your second ureat victory at this last’ battle of the me, my boy, still leaves much to be red. You should have ed the ish and French armies while you had 1 those vie- Lee Rapine, destr e chance, instead of encouragi ans.” derstan af ntly. “Of course, I ved the British and French armies, but ory there will be to wait until the Amer- e morning, bright and rse-proud Amer You rederich, don't replied noneha uld have dest ow much more § ins come in force, and then, s rly, to destroy all three together \ll-Highest flushed with honest pride at his heir’s ic conception, he exclaimed. “TI never thought of that genius T salute you, Don’t let Luden- cat strate Himmel!” military indenburg know this, or they will surely claim Officer: ANYBODY HERE UNDERSTAND A FORD CK? All of them, together: 1 po, sir! 1 po! “ALL RIGHT! YOU CAN GO TO THE COOK-HOUSE THE ICE-CREAM FREEZERS.” AND TAKE TURNS CRANKING THE IMMOKTELLE the credit. Tell m nd moment arrive?” The Crown Prince plunged himself in deep ( at the same time rearranging he had taken from a va,” he said at last, “the Americans will dred or five hundred 1 wipe out all three when will the g nan thought and lighted another cigarette in his buttonhole the grave, “Well, 5 probably have an army of four hu men over here April, Say April 13th next. rose “rench hy next armies by FN pur it down in my note- book.” “Ach, my Pride! We v until then, Wonderful I Always F. W., “that those blunderers, Lude: dorff and Hindenburg, be not allow to interfere with my grand strate; Tob Al. The Colonel on the War Path | HEODORE ROOSEVI out for the esteemed scalp of Mr. rememberin; Henry rly doe think t it absolutely obligate articu d's son should feel to go to the war. Theannouncement in the press that Mr. Ford’s son has obtained exemption from military service makes Colonel Roosevelt feel that the proper place for Mr. Ford is ot at the council board of the “on the mourners’ bench, and nation.” “YO you think the laboring classes will eventually rule this coun- try ae “TL hope so. The most intelligent and cultivated people in my community are laboring in their gardens, sending their boys to the front and doing their own housework.” comicbooks.com