The Wasp — 1914 — page 350: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains narrative fiction rather than a political cartoon. It's an excerpt from a story titled "The Wasp," depicting a naval scene where Admiral Benbow summons ship captains aboard the flagship *Breda* for consultation. The text describes Captain Walton of the *Ruby* arriving first, characterized as an unprepossessing sailor with an ugly face and broken nose—yet Admiral Benbow regards him "almost kindly." Other captains arrive reluctantly, and Captain Kirkby of the *Defiance* arrives suspiciously late despite his ship being only two miles away. The passage appears to be establishing character dynamics and tension within a military hierarchy, though without additional context, the specific historical event or satirical target remains unclear.