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The "Land & Water" edition of Raemaekers' cartoons, volume 1 cover

The "Land & Water" edition of Raemaekers' cartoons, volume 1

Chapter 33: Serbia
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About This Book

A collection of forceful wartime cartoons and accompanying editorial material that confronts militarism and records the brutal consequences of the Great War. The images pair stark, often religiously inflected symbolism with biting satire to portray atrocities, refugees, prisoners, naval and aerial warfare, propaganda, and political hypocrisy; captions and introductory essays present the artist as a moral witness. Arranged as topical plates, the drawings mix direct visual accusation and allegory to stir public sentiment, chronicle civilian suffering, and expose diplomatic and military tensions.

Serbia

Serbia has suffered the fate of Belgium. Germany and Austria, with Bulgaria’s aid, have plunged another little country “in blood and destruction.” Another “bleeding piece of earth” bears witness to the recrudescence of the ancient barbarism of the Huns. Serbia’s wounds,

“Like dumb mouths,
Do ope their ruby lips,”

to beg for vengeance on “these butchers.” Turkey, whom the artist portrays as a hound lapping up the victim’s blood, is fated to share the punishment for the crime. But the prime instigator is the German Emperor, whose Chancellor, with bitter irony, claims for his master the title of protector of the small nationalities of Europe. Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg can on occasion affect the mincing accents of the wolf when that beast seeks to lull the cries of the lamb in its clutches. The German method of waging war has rendered “dreadful objects so familiar” that the essential brutality of the enemy’s activities runs a risk of escaping at times the strenuous denunciation which Justice demands. But the searching pencil of Mr. Raemaekers brings home to every seeing eye the true and unvarying character of Teutonic “frightfulness.” All instincts of humanity are cynically defied on the specious ground of military necessity. Mr. Raemaekers is at one with Milton in repudiating the worthless plea:

“So spake the fiend, and with necessity,
The tyrant’s plea, excused his devilish deeds.”

SIR SIDNEY LEE

OCTOBER IN SERBIA

The Austro-German-Bulgarian attack on Serbia began in October, which in Holland is called the “butcher’s month,” as the cattle are then killed preparatory to the winter.