THE SACRIFICE
For humanity’s sake.
“Lusitania” Amok
The unerring insight to motive which characterises Raemaekers’ work is well displayed in this cartoon, in which is shown not only the German fury against England, but the senselessness of that fury. The raging, soulless hate depicted here is the hate that takes no count of the lives of women and children, but would sacrifice these and all else to its own ends. The crime is one that will live in men’s memories while recollection of this war endures, and will be placed at the head of that long list of acts which can have no possible effect on the result of the war, and, in fact, can have no result at all beyond showing the guiding spirit of Germany as Raemaekers shows it—ugly, mad, and a thing worthy only of destruction at the hands of sane civilisation.
In the rush of events we are in danger, not of forgetfulness, but of neglect of comprehension of the spirit prompting acts like the sinking of the Lusitania, for the stern purpose of these times is all-absorbing, and material urgencies must, for the time, stand before the reckoning out of a rate of payment for such deeds as this. But in the day of the great reckoning it would be well if this cartoon could be kept full in sight of the reckoners; not for mere vengeance, for that would not bring back those who went down with the Lusitania, or fell under bombs dropped aimlessly or with intent to terrorise—and, in any case, humanity could never exact full vengeance for such acts as these, nor is such a figure as this true presentation of Germany of to-day capable of feeling human vengeance. For the sake of future generations, for the safety of humanity and that civilisation as we know it may endure, the reckoning must include the extinction of this spirit which Raemaekers shows as that of a raging and senseless slaughterer.
E. CHARLES VIVIAN
“LUSITANIA” AMOK
“Gott strafe England, or I will do it myself.”