GERMANS HIT BACK AT MR. PUNCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1509, 12 February 1916, Page 4

GERMANS HIT BACK AT MR. PUNCH.

It is well-known that the virile attitude of Mr Punch on the war has given particular offence in Germany. The leading German newspapers have already solemnly warned the conductors of Punch as to what will befall them when the Germans come to London. Mr Punch, however, goes on his way undismayed, and continues to deal faithfully and fearlessly with Germany and with the Kaiser.

Some two or three months ago a fine volume of Punch Cartoons was published in New York, comprising some 150 illustrations, the object of which was to bring clearly before the citizens of the United States the arrogant attitude of Germany towards the European Powers from iB6O to 1915. This collection of cartoons showed the methods of the Teuton in such unflattering colours that Germany became nervous as to the stability of her influence in the United States of America. A counterblast must be issued at once, and a blow struck at Mr Punch, and, through him, at the hated English.

It was decided to provide a rival Punch, one that should not only supplant the famous periodical in the favour of the American public but should be full of the spirit of hostility to Great Britain.

A RIVAL “PUNCH” ON U.S BOOKSTALLS.

In pursuance of this plan, two or three weeks ago the bookstalls of the United States were adorned with a plentiful supply of copies of a periodical which resembled Punch very closely, but was not Punch. The front cover was embellished with Doyle’s famous design, which has been known in all parts of the world from time immemorial as the cover design ot Punch. In size and shape the periodical was identical with Punch, but purchasers who bought copies for the modest price of 10 cents (sd.) were surprised to read above the cover design the legend : “As England sees U.S. shown in Punch,” and beneath the design the words: “Some Famous and Forgotten Cartoons that the present generation ot Americans should see.”

“Reproduced by The American Truth Society, 1133, Broadway, New York.”

The contents of the periodical were fifteen full-page cartoons taken from the issues of Punch from 1842 to 1870. These cartoons, which were mainly of the American Civil War period, when England was not in sympathy with Amerira, had been carefully chosen as being those most likely to make Americans offended with Great Britain. Comments in red ink appeared beneath each cartoon, some of which ran : —“John Bull felt like thrashing us during our Civil War,” “The Wish of Bankruptcy was father to the thought during our Civil War,” “John Bull’s new ‘Confidence Trick’ calls for a billion dollars” ; and on the last page, by way of explaining why Punch had been selected for this attack on Britain was printed : “The English mind is always shown in London Punch.” That the cartoons had been deliberately selected in such a way as to misrepresent both the attitude of Punch and of Great Britain in relation to the Civil War, and also to represent the feelings of fifty years ago as those of to-day, is only further evidence, if such were needed, of the Germanic origin of the publication.

A“PUNCH” PRODUCED BY THE GERMANS.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on the point of view, a day or two after this precious publication was placed on the Bookstalls, the Secretary of Punch arrived in New York. A visit to the publishers, The American Truth Society, proved, as was anticipated, that, despite its name, the society was a German organisation run by Germans, and having direct connection with the organisers of the numerous bomb and other outrages in the States. ITS WITHDRAWAL.

Upon threat of legal procedure these valiant protagonists of Germany promptly undertook to withdraw all copies of the publication from circulation, to hand these copies over to the true Punch authorities, and to enter into a formal undertaking not to re-issue Punch cartoons, at all events, in the misleading form in which they had been issued.

The publication was scathingly reviewed by the New York press, which has since noted with pleasure its disappearance from the bookstalls and with caustic comment on the reason for its withdrawal. The net result of the adventure is still further discrediting of the German propagandists in America.