Life, 1918-09-12 · page 3 of 34
Life — September 12, 1918 — page 3: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains Gabriel Samuelson's column about World War I military politics, dated September 17, 1918. The accompanying cartoon satirizes the German military situation on the Western Front. The cartoon depicts a damaged German military vehicle ("GERMAN MILITARY MACHINE") with anthropomorphized devils or demons as occupants, crashing near the "ALLIED WESTERN FRONT." The caption reads: "GERMANIA: IT SEEMS ABOUT TIME FOR ME TO GET A DIFFERENT CHAUFFEUR." The satire suggests Germany's military leadership—personified as incompetent drivers—is responsible for steering the nation toward catastrophic defeat. By late 1918, Germany faced imminent collapse, making this cartoon's mockery of failed German command particularly timely and pointed at the war's conclusion.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Washington Correspondence (At great expense Live has secured the celebrated writer, Gabriel Samuelson, who will hereafter conduct our Washington correspondence) By Gabriel Samuelson ASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 1918.—I went up to the military headquarters to-day and had a long conversation with Peyton March, chief of the staff. He is a fine chap, March. He gave his weekly talk to newspaper men this week without consulting me, but has agreed never to do it again. Of course, the war cannot be won if these generals are to depend upon their exclusive ideas. In the afternoon I was closeted with McAdoo, and Germania: 11 SEEMS ABOUT TIME FOR ME TO GET A DIFFERENT CHAUFFEUR we went over the whole situation. He was waiting to see me before he interviewed the President. I told McAdoo frankly that he was doing too much, and offered to give up my vacation and relieve him of the railroads temporarily until he could get back to form. He promised to think this over and let me know. Later I visited Champ Clark, and made arrangements with him to have my stuff re- printed as a supplement to the Congressional Record, which certainly needs brightening up. The new Revenue bill is causing me great anxiety. Kitchin thinks there ought to be a tax on congressional toothpicks, but I think otherwise. I pointed out to him, I think with some effect, that our congressmen must not be deprived of one of their most important luxuries. Above all, the morale here in Wash- ington must be preserved. “ALLIED ‘ WESTER