PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
Volume 148, January 20th, 1915.
edited by Owen Seamen
WILLIAM THE GALLANT.
The Kaiser, by gifts of roses, has been tryingto ingratiate himself with the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, whosecountry he has invaded in defiance of treaty obligations.
CHARIVARIA.
"At every point," we read, "the Allies have made sensibleprogress." So different from the stupid progress made veryoccasionally by the enemy!
We have been asked to recommend suitable Fiction for reading duringthe War. We have no hesitation in calling attention to the claims ofthe war news from Amsterdam and Rome.
The Prussian Government has ordered that there shall be no publicfestivities on the occasion of the birthday of theKaiser. This confirms the rumour thatHis Majesty now wishes that he had not beenborn.
By the way, to show how far-reaching is the influence of a Prussiancommand even to-day, no public festivities will take place on theoccasion referred to either in Belgium, France, Russia, Japan, Serbia,Montenegro, or Great Britain.
Dr. Dernburg—and the expression isreally not a bit too strong for him—has been telling an Americanaudience that his countrymen really "love the French and theBelgians." At the risk of appearing ungrateful, however, our alliesare saying that the Germans have such a subtle way of showing theirlove that they would rather be hated, please.
"Germany," says the Cologne Gazette in an article on thefood question, "has still at hand a very large supply of pigs." Evenafter the enormous number they have exported to Belgium.
Meanwhile we are constantly assured that the food question causesno anxiety whatever in Germany. It certainly does seem, judging by thelies with which the Germans are fed, that these wonderful people willbe able to swallow anything.
Lord Rosebery's appointment asCaptain-General of the Royal Company of Scottish Archers has notescaped the notice of the alert German Press, and it is being pointedout in Berlin that we are so hard up in the matter of equipment forour army that bows and arrows are now being served out.
The new corps which has just been formed with the title of the"Ju-Jitsu Corps" has, we are informed, no connection with the artisteswho went to the Front to give entertainments for the troops.
Both officers and men in certain towns are beginning to complain ofthe irksomeness of the constant salutes that have to be given whenthey walk abroad. Surely it should be possible to invent some simplelittle contrivance whereby a button is pressed and a mechanical handdoes the rest?
Suggested name for a regiment of Bantams—The Miniature Rifles.
A peculiarly touching instance of patriotism has been brought toour notice. A London barber whose measurements are too puny to allowof his being accepted as a recruit has written to the War Officeoffering to barb some wire for them in his spare time.
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