E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Martin Mayer,
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
([http://www.pgdp.net])
from page images generously made available by
Internet Archive
([http://archive.org])

Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See [ https://archive.org/details/raemaekerscartoo03raemuoft]

RAEMAEKERS'
CARTOON
HISTORY OF THE WAR

Table of Contents

RAEMAEKERS'
CARTOON
HISTORY OF THE WAR

compiled by
J. MURRAY ALLISON

Editor of Raemaekers' Cartoons, Kultur in Cartoons, The
Century Edition de Luxe Raemaekers' Cartoons, etc.

VOLUME THREE

THE THIRD TWELVE MONTHS OF WAR

NEW YORK
THE CENTURY CO.
1919

Copyright, 1919, by
The Century Co.

VOLUME THREE

THE PEACE MOVE

BERLIN, AUGUST 6, 1914

(The Berlin papers declared that the population, mad with joy, drank champagne and danced in the streets.)

I draw the sword that with God's help I have kept all these years in the scabbard. I have drawn the sword which without victory and without honor I cannot sheath again. All of you will see to it that only in honor is it returned to the scabbard. You are my guaranty that I can dictate peace to my enemies.

The Kaiser to his Guards at Potsdam,
August, 1914.

"ARE YOU READY TO MAKE MUNITIONS FOR GERMANY?"

The first official charges on the subject were issued on November 9 at Havre by Baron Beyens, Belgian Foreign Minister, as follows:

"The German Government is rounding up in large numbers in the towns and villages of occupied Belgium, such as Alost, Ghent, Bruges, Courtrai, and Mons,—to name only the first to be victims of the measures,—all men fit to bear arms, rich and poor, irrespective of class, whether employed or unemployed, hunchbacks, cripples, and one-armed men alone are excepted. These men are torn in thousands from their families; fifteen thousand from Flanders alone are sent God knows where. Whole trainloads are seen going east and south."

CARDINAL MERCIER REPLIES

Cardinal Mercier, Primate of Belgium, in behalf of the Belgian bishops, issued a proclamation of protest on November 7, addressed to the neutral nations and appealing for their aid in opposing the proceeding. His protest is in these terms:

"The military authorities are daily deporting thousands of inoffensive citizens in order to set them to forced labor.

"As early as October 19 we sent a protest to the governor-general, a copy of which was also sent to the representatives of the Holy See in Brussels, Spain, the United States, and the Netherlands. The governor-general, in reply, refused to take any steps."

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF KULTUR

Fritz: "We must see if there is any money or jewelry in these coffins before we retire."

At Cartigny the Germans opened five vaults, each with a chapel above it, by tearing apart the stones. They did the same thing at Ronsoy, at Becquincourt, at Dompierre, at Bouvincourt, and at Herbecourt. At Nurly, Roisel, Bernes, they even broke into coffins. In the enclosed ground serving as a private cemetery for the Rohan family at Manancourt they buried a great number of their soldiers, and, an inconceivable thing, established a kitchen in the interior of the Rohan mausoleums and latrines among their family tombs. In the crypt, where indescribable disorder reigns, almost all the compartments are empty. A child's coffin, taken from one of them, was stripped of its lead. A heavy leaden casket, half drawn from another compartment, bears on its lid marks of a chisel. A block of marble, in which is seen a small excavation, has been thrown among the débris; it bears the inscription: "Here rests the heart of Mme. Amelie de Musnier de Folleville, Countess of Boissy, who died at Paris, July 16, 1830, at the age of thirty-two years and ten months."

French Official Report of German
Barbarities in France, June 1, 1916.

CANADA ON VIMY RIDGE

The capture of two thousand prisoners by the Canadians is not surprising, as the whole ridge was honeycombed with dugouts, in which the Germans sheltered themselves.

Up to the present moment the great offensive had been held up just at the point below the Canadian lines, which fact caused Vimy Ridge to be styled the "hinge" of the enemy's retreat from the Somme, and the Canadians have been very impatient for the "hinge" to move.

Toronto Mail, August 10, 1916.

William: I wonder how long my dear friend and Ally will be able to stand this.

The offensive began on June 4, and the total captures to August 12 were as follows:

Prisoners
Officers 7,757
Men 350,845
Guns 405
Machine-guns 1,326
Bomb-throwers 338
Caissons 292

Russian Official, August 12, 1916.

William: "Here's luck, Hindenburg."
Hindenburg: "Where?"

The kaiser has dismissed General von Falkenhayn, chief of the general staff, and has appointed Field-Marshal von Hindenburg chief of the general staff and General von Ludendorff first quartermaster-general.

Berlin Official Telegram, August 30, 1916.

The Old Frenchman: "Our guns come nearer."

12:30 a.m. In coöperation with the French on our immediate right we attacked the enemy at several points.

We have captured part of Ginchy and the whole of Guillemont. Our front now runs some five hundred yards east of Guillemont from Ginchy to near Falfemont Farm.

On the east side of Mouquet Farm we have also gained ground.

We have captured several hundred prisoners.

Between our right and the Somme the French have made substantial progress and captured a considerable number of prisoners.

Fighting continues.

Our aircraft did most useful work in coöperating with the artillery and infantry.

The enemy's aëroplanes, which made desperate attempts to interfere, were successfully engaged in many aërial fights and driven off with a loss of three machines destroyed and at least four others damaged, while we lost three.

12:10 p.m. Last night was generally quiet.

Fighting is in progress this morning near Mouquet Farm, south of Thiepval, and on the banks of the Ancre; also on our right about Falfemont Farm. We have gained ground.

Last night we carried out a successful raid on the enemy's trenches north of Monchy, capturing prisoners.

British Official, September 5, 1916.

TANKS

At 6:20 a.m. on September 15, 1916, the infantry assault commenced, and at the same moment the bombardment became intense. Our new heavily armored cars, known as "tanks," now brought into action for the first time, successfully coöperated with the infantry, and, coming as a surprise to the enemy rank and file, gave valuable help in breaking down their resistance.

The advance met with immediate success on almost the whole of the front attacked. At 8:40 a.m. "tanks" were seen to be entering Flers, followed by large numbers of troops. Fighting continued in Flers for some time, but by 10 a.m. our troops had reached the north side of the village, and by midday had occupied the enemy's trenches for some distance beyond.

British Official, September 15, 1916.

THE SLAYING OF THE FIERY DRAGONS

Two airships fell victims to the enemy's defensive of London.

German Official.

Twelve German airships took part in a raid on London and various Eastern and East Midland counties on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning, but on their return journey the raiders numbered only 10.

The other two had been left behind in Essex. One was brought down in flames not far from London, and its crew were all killed; the second came to earth near the coast, and its crew of twenty-two surrendered.

Both the lost airships are big vessels of a new pattern.

British Official, September 24, 1916.

King Tino at Athens to his brother-in-law William at Potsdam: "Please return me my runaway Army Corps. I want it to shoot my constitutional subjects."

The Hellenic Government entirely disavows the action of Colonel Hazzopoulos, commander at Kavala.

The Greek Government demands from Germany that these troops shall be brought to the Swiss frontier, that they may be conducted to a Mediterranean port, and there be embarked on ships to be sent by the Greek Government, so as to bring them back to Greece.

The Greek Government guarantees that they will not be stopped, or made to serve any enemy of Germany.

Note from the Hellenic Government
to Germany, September 26, 1916.

Mr. Lloyd George to Neutrals: "Don't stand in our way to victory."

The whole world, including neutrals of the highest purposes and humanitarians with the best motives, must know that there can be no outside interference at this stage. Britain asked no intervention when she was not prepared to fight. She will tolerate none now that she is prepared until Prussian military despotism is broken beyond repair.

D. Lloyd George, London, September 28, 1916.

THE CROWN PRINCE PREACHES TO AMERICA

We are all tired of bloodshed, we all want peace. England is the power responsible for the continuation of the hopeless effort to crush us. In the twentieth century of the Christian era mankind might have been expected to have arrived at some maturity of thought and behavior. No one can witness, as you during the last fortnight have witnessed, the spectacle presented by this appalling sacrifice, this inconceivable suffering preposterously out of proportion to any result obtained, without wondering whether reason has fled from the earth.

German Crown Prince to Correspondent
of New York American. October, 1916.

"I am 'operating' at, but not inside your gate; tomorrow I come inside with a letter from the Kaiser."

On Sunday, October 8, the world was startled by the news that the U-53 was sinking British and neutral vessels near Nantucket Shoals Lightship, a hundred miles from Newport, U. S. A., and leaving the crews and passengers in small boats on the open sea. The underseas craft had stationed itself in the steamer lane where nearly all incoming and outgoing vessels from New York must pass, and its day's work consisted in sending five ships to the bottom, as follows:

  • The Strathdene, a British freighter.
  • The West Point, a British freighter.
  • The Stephano, a British passenger liner.
  • The Bloomersdijk, a Dutch freighter.
  • The Christian Knudsen, Norwegian freighter.

New York Times, October 9, 1916.

THE SUPER ANARCHIST

In letting loose these things and in introducing them into war, Germany has been the great anarchist who has let loose on the world a greater and a more terrible anarchy than any individual anarchist ever dreamed of.

Unless there is some means of restraining these things, future war will, by the developments of science, be made even more terrible and horrible than this war, because Germany has thrown down all the barriers that civilisation had previously built up so as to keep the horrors of war within bounds.

Viscount Grey, Minister for Foreign Affairs,
London, October 23, 1916.

Fritz: "This is no longer civilized war—they are stronger than we."

Under the title "The Devil's Chariot" the "Düsseldorfer Generalanzeiger's" correspondent on the Western front describes the British "tanks" and their effect on the astonished German soldiers. As the German trench posts came out of their holes in the foggy dawn of September 16 and raised heads again after the heavy iron-blows of the night and looked toward the English, their blood froze in their veins as two mysterious monsters came creeping over the crater fields.

The monster approached slowly, hobbling, moving from side to side, rocking and pitching, but it came nearer. Nothing obstructed it; a supernatural force seemed to drive it onwards. Some one in the trenches cried "the devil comes," and that word ran down the line like lightning. Suddenly tongues of fire licked out of the armored shine of the iron caterpillar, shells whistled over our heads, and a terrible concert of machine-gun orchestra filled the air. The mysterious creature had surrendered its secret, and sense returned with it, and toughness and defiance, as the English waves of infantry surged up behind the devil's chariot.

Times Special Correspondent, October 24, 1916.

HOUP LA!!

On the Verdun front, after an intense artillery preparation, the projected attack on the right bank of the Meuse was launched at twenty minutes before twelve this morning.

The enemy line, attacked on a front of seven kilometers (nearly four and a half miles), was broken through everywhere to a depth which at the middle attained a distance of three kilometers (nearly two miles).

The village and fort of Douaumont are in our hands.

Prisoners are pouring in. Up to the present thirty-five hundred, including about one hundred officers, have been counted. The quantity of material captured cannot yet be estimated.

French Official, October 27, 1916.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

Soldiers of France,

I am very happy to have been able to realise a desire which I have had at heart for a long time, and to express to you my profound admiration for your heroic exploits, for your dash as well as your tenacity, and those magnificent military virtues which are the proud heritage of the French Army.

Under the brilliant leadership of your eminent general-in-chief and his distinguished collaborators you, officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, have deserved well of your dear country, which will forever be grateful to you for your brave efforts in safeguarding and defending it.

My armies are very proud to fight by your side and to have you as comrades. May the bonds which unite us hold firm and the two countries remain thus intimately united for ever.

Soldiers,—Accept my most cordial and sincere greetings. I have no doubt that you will bring this gigantic struggle to a victorious conclusion, and, in the name of my soldiers and my country, I beg to address to you my warmest congratulations and best wishes.

King George V,
Order of the Day, France, October 27, 1916.

"PERHAPS THIS ONE WILL KILL MY BOY ON THE YSER"

(Belgians have been forced to labor in Germany's munition works.)

Several of these Belgians who were put at work in Berlin managed to get away and come to see me. They gave me a harrowing account of how they had been seized in Belgium and made to work in Germany at making munitions to be used probably against their own friends. I said to the Chancellor, "There are Belgians employed in making shells contrary to all rules of war and the Hague conventions." He said, "I do not believe it." I said, "My automobile is at the door. I can take you in four minutes to where thirty Belgians are working on the manufacture of shells." But he did not find time to go.

Americans must understand that the Germans will stop at nothing to win this war, and that the only thing they respect is force.

James W. Gerard,
"My Four Years in Germany."

Tirpitz: "Because we have sunk 30 or 40 of your merchantmen you dare to refuse our U-Boats entrance to your harbours. That is an unneutral and unfriendly act against Germany."

The German note to Norway of October 20 is seriously written, but is in no respect an ultimatum. The Norwegian Government has returned no answer hitherto, but is in conference with prominent politicians of all parties. All is calm here, but business is somewhat depressed owing to the damage inflicted by submarines on shipping.

On October 13, Norway prohibited belligerent submarines from using her territorial waters, except for the purpose of saving life under stress of weather. A violent press campaign against Norway followed in Germany, but no indication has hitherto been given of the nature of the note presented by Germany to Norway on October 20.

London Times Correspondent,
Christiania, October 29, 1916.

SLAVE TRANSPORT FROM GHENT

(Two thousand French women have been deported from Ghent to work in German munition factories.)

The raids have taken place at Courtrai, Alost, Termonde, Bruges, Ghent, Mons, and in numerous rural and industrial communes. The men were assembled, examined like cattle, and those found strongest sent away to unknown destinations.

At Bruges, the burgomaster, an old man of eighty, who since the beginning of the occupation has given an example of noble patriotism, has been deposed for having refused to help the German military administration in its revolting task. The town was fined 100,000 marks ($25,000) for each day's delay in the enrolment of the victims.

Belgian Government Official
Protest against Deportation,
November, 1916.

THE NEW KINGDOM OF POLAND

The liberation of Poland is closely connected with the victory of Germany and her allies, who alone are interested in the existence of a free Poland, and for whose sake Poland must not go back to Russia. Germany's security demands that for all future times the Russian armies shall not be able to use a militarily consolidated Poland as an invasion gate to Silesia and West Prussia.

To Poland liberated from Russian rule we offer the possibility of seeking support in the Central Powers and in firm alliance with them of leading a free life in its own state, politically and economically. Especially for the near future, the Poles will have a strong claim on our assistance.

Proclamation by General von Beseler,
Governor of Warsaw, November 5, 1916.

Belgian civilians are deported by the army in occupation to the munition works in Germany to prevent their moral decay.

The situation which we denounce to the civilised world may be summed up as follows: Four hundred thousand workmen are reduced to unemployment through no fault of their own, and largely inconvenience the German occupation. Sons, husbands, fathers, respectful of public order, bow to their unhappy lot. With their most pressing needs provided for, they await with dignity the end of their period of trial.

Now, suddenly, parties of soldiers begin to enter by force these peaceful homes, tearing youth from parent, husband from wife, father from children. They bar with the bayonet the door through which wives and mothers wish to pass to say farewell to those departing. They herd their captives in groups of tens and twenties and push them into cars. As soon as the train is filled, the officer in charge brusquely waves the signal for departure. Thus thousands of Belgians are being reduced to slavery.

Cardinal Mercier in behalf of
Bishops of Belgium, November 7, 1916.

THE NEW KINGDOM OF POLAND

The rulers of the allied powers of Austria-Hungary and Germany have given notification of their resolution to form of the Polish territory delivered from Russian tyranny the new autonomous Kingdom of Poland. Your most ardent desire, entertained in vain for more than a century, is thus fulfilled.

The importance and danger of this war-time and regard for our armies standing before the enemy oblige us for the present to keep the administration of your new state still in our hands. Readily, however, we will give, with your aid, to the new Poland by degrees those public institutions which guarantee her consolidation, development, and safety. Of these the Polish Army is the most important.

Proclamation by Gov. General von Beseler,
Warsaw, Poland, November 10, 1916.

THE EYES OF THE ARMY

THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS

In this combination between infantry and artillery the Royal Flying Corps played a highly important part. The admirable work of this corps has been a very satisfactory feature of the battle. Under the conditions of modern war the duties of the Air Service are many and varied. They include the regulation and control of artillery fire by indicating targets and observing and reporting the results of rounds; the taking of photographs of enemy trenches, strong points, battery positions, and of the effect of bombardments; and the observation of the movements of the enemy behind his lines.

The greatest skill and daring has been shown in the performance of all these duties, as well as in bombing expeditions. Our Air Service has also coöoperated with our infantry in their assaults, signaling the position of our attacking troops and turning machine-guns upon the enemy infantry and even upon his batteries in action.

Sir Douglas Haig's Official Report on
the Somme Battle, December, 1916.

"DO NOT MISS HIM THIS TIME, TINO"

It is assumed here that the agreement on the part of the Greek Government to surrender six batteries terminates the Allied control of the Greek railways and the postal and telegraphic censorship.

Telegram from Athens, December 3, 1916.

SCENE IN THE GREAT PEACE PANTOMIME. THE ROBBER'S CAVE, GERMANIA GUARDING THE DOOR.

Robber Chief to his Gang: "Boys, it's time for us to get away with the swag."

In a deep moral and religious sense of duty toward his nation and, beyond it, toward humanity, the emperor now considers that the moment has come for official action toward peace. His majesty, therefore, in complete harmony and in common with our allies, decided to propose to the hostile powers to enter peace negotiations. This morning I transmitted a note to this effect to all the hostile powers through the representatives of those powers which are watching over our interests and rights in the hostile states.

Bethmann-Hollweg,
Reichstag, December 12, 1916.

AFTER THE FALL OF BUKHAREST

Chorus, "Long live the diplomacy of our enemies."

The Germans announce the occupation of Bukharest. The evacuation of the city was clearly imminent, and for some time past there has been little hope that it could be saved. As a recent semi-official statement from Bukharest intimated, the forts had been disarmed and the Rumanians never intended to defend it if the field defences before it could not be held.

Times Correspondent, December 15, 1916.

THE FRENCH VICTORY AT VERDUN

The Crown Prince leaves Pepper Hill to occupy a second line of defence prepared beforehand.

The French have achieved a splendid victory before Verdun.

The capture of the strongly fortified position of Poivre Ridge was decisive in its effect upon the fighting along the whole line. The ridge was turned, and when the Germans, abandoning everything in their flight, found their retreat cut off, they surrendered in hundreds.

Times Correspondent, December 17, 1916.

WHILE THEY TALK PEACE

U-Boat Officer: "We have done for their ship. Now fire quick into their life-boats!"

The degree of savagery which the Germans have attained in their submarine policy of sinking merchant-ships at sight would appear to have reached its climax in the sinking of the British steam-ship Westminster, proceeding in ballast from Torre dell' Annunziata to Port Said. On December 14 this vessel was attacked by a German submarine, without warning, when 180 miles from the nearest land, and struck by two torpedoes in quick succession, which killed four men. She sank in four minutes.

This ruthless disregard of the rules of international law was followed by a deliberate attempt to murder the survivors. The officers and crew, while effecting their escape from the sinking ship in boats, were shelled by the submarine at a range of three thousand yards. The master and chief engineer were killed outright and their boat sunk. The second and third engineers and three of the crew were not picked up, and are presumed to have been drowned.

Great Britain, in common with all other civilised nations, regards the sinking without warning of merchant-ships with detestation.

British Admiralty Report,
December 19, 1916.