Author name: editor

Snipers and the Hague Convention (The Spectator, 1914)
1914, Snipers, The Spectator Magazine

Snipers and the Hague Convention
(The Spectator, 1914)

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Two and a half months into the war, a devoted reader of THE SPECTATOR (and we are among them) responded to an earlier article concerning partisan sniping activity in occupied France and Belgium, wrote to the editors to point out that the Hague Convention (precursor to the Geneva Convention) condemned the practice of summary sniper executions. Mention is made of the fact that the occupying German forces
disregarded the law.

Weird Combat Training at Fort Knox (Yank Magazine, 1943)
1943, Combat Training, Yank Magazine

Weird Combat Training at Fort Knox
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

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Erroneously believing that their new recruits were lacking in a sufficient amounts of anti-Teutonic zeal, the brass-hats in charge of the U.S. Army training gulag at Fort Knox, Kentucky decided to employ roving bands of faux-Nazis to frustrate and bedevil the men in training. The hard-charging editors of YANK belittled the scheme.


Which Hollywood actors received draft deferments?

The German Walther P-38 (Yank Magazine, 1943)
1943, Weapons and Inventions, Yank Magazine

The German Walther P-38
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

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Attached is black and white diagram of the Walther P-38 pistol, with all parts named.


This diagram, accompanied by a few paragraphs concerning it’s unique characteristics, appeared in the American Army weekly YANK MAGAZINE, and was intended to be read by all those who were most likely to stand before the business end of this German side arm.

We regret that the scan is not very clear and should be printed for better viewing.

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The German Luger (Yank Magazine, 1943)
1943, Recent Articles, Weapons and Inventions, Yank Magazine

The German Luger
(Yank Magazine, 1943)

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Two black and white diagrams illustrating the unique features of the German Luger pistol appear alongside a brief history of the weapon. Additional information included in the article are operating instructions and a table of characteristics which lists assorted fun facts about the weapon; it’s weight, length and range, as well as an explanation as to how the piece compares to the M1911 A1 Colt 45 (the standard issue side arm of the U.S. Army):

Since 1908 the Luger pistol has been the official German military side arm. George Luger of the DWM Arms Company in Germany developed this weapon, known officially as Pistole 08, from the American Borchart pistol invented in 1893

Clemenceau and the Treaty Violations (The Literary Digest, 1922)
1922, The Literary Digest, Versailles Treaty

Clemenceau and the Treaty Violations
(The Literary Digest, 1922)

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Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) served as one of France’s wartime Premieres (1917-1920). The following is an excerpt from his letter to the American people imploring them to share in his outrage concerning Germany’s open contempt for their obligations agreed to under the Versailles Treaty. Clemenceau would die seven years later, fully convinced that another devastating war with Germany was just around the corner.


Click here if you would like to read about the 1936 Versailles Treaty violations.

In Defense of Modern Architecture (Coronet Magazine, 1940)
1940, Coronet Magazine, Design, Recent Articles

In Defense of Modern Architecture
(Coronet Magazine, 1940)

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Living, as he did, at a time when the average American homeowner was more inclined to prefer a ranch house over a machine for living that those vulgar, snail-eating European modernists were capable of creating, American architect George Frederick Keck (1895 – 1980) saw fit to write this spirited defense on behalf of modern design. Playing the part of a modernist missionary seeking to convert the heathens, Keck argued that his tribe of architects – with their understanding of contemporary building materials and respect for simplicity – were suited to create a better standard of living for one and all.

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The Case for Leonard Wood (Vanity Fair, 1918)
1918, Vanity Fair Magazine, World War One

The Case for Leonard Wood
(Vanity Fair, 1918)

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Major General Leonard Wood (1860 – 1927) served as the U.S. Army Chief of Staff between the years 1910 through 1914 and was relieved of that office by President Wilson, who was unnerved by his wariness concerning America’s inability to wage a modern war. Having alienated the president and other prominent generals in Washington, he continued on this path by launching the Preparedness Movement a year later in which he established four volunteer army training camps across the country.
Wood’s admirer’s were legion, and this article opines that his finely tuned military mind was not being put to proper use:

General Wood has committed the sin of having been right from the very start. He has always been right. He has been right when Washington has been wrong. It is upon the heads of the entire pacifist crew who sold their shriveled souls and their country’s safety to the devil of German propaganda, that is falling the blame for the blood of those who are dying on the hills of Picardy and the plains of Flanders.

General Eisenhower Q & A (Yank Magazine, 1945)
1945, General Eisenhower, Yank Magazine

General Eisenhower Q & A
(Yank Magazine, 1945)

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In two full-dress interviews in Paris and Washington, General Dwight D. Eisenhower talked about some of the high spots of the campaign for Europe and about certain post-VE-Day questions. It’s been generally agreed that the interviews were pretty historic. Here are highlights of the general’s talks to the press in the two Allied capitals…


Clike here to read about General Eisenhower and the German surrender.

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The 1922 U.S. Elections: Some Wins But Mostly Defeats (The Literary Digest, 1922)
1922, Recent Articles, The Literary Digest, Women's Suffrage

The 1922 U.S. Elections: Some Wins But Mostly Defeats
(The Literary Digest, 1922)

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As 1922 came to a close, it seemed that some of the Suffragettes of the old-school had not lost their taste for violence, as the reader will discover in the opening paragraph of this one page article that primarily focused on the defeat of all but one of the women candidates who ran for Federal offices in the 1922 elections. Thirty-three women running for Congressional and legislative seats in New York State went down to defeat and there were no women elected or re-elected from any state for Congress that year. However, the state of Ohio elected it’s first woman to that state’s Supreme Court: Florence E. Allen (1884–1965).

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The First Folding Wing Monoplane (Popular Mechanics, 1912)
1912, Aviation History, Popular Mechanics Magazine, Recent Articles

The First Folding Wing Monoplane
(Popular Mechanics, 1912)

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A passing glance at aviation magazines from the early Twentieth Century reveals that that particular sub-culture was very concerned with the ability to allow for trouble-free ground transport of aircraft. There were many magazine articles picturing how biplanes could be deconstructed for this purpose and up until 1912, or so we are led to believe by the editors of Popular Mechanics, the de Marcay-Mooney monoplane was the first flying machine that was able to have it’s wings fold back (much like a bird or a beetle) and when re-set at 90 degrees for take-off, could fly successfully.

Technicolor (Film Daily, 1939)
1939, Film Daily Magazine, Hollywood History, Recent Articles

Technicolor
(Film Daily, 1939)

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Technicolor – conceived at Boston Tech and born in a rail way car in 1917, attained its majority, properly enough, 28 years later when Dr. Herbert Thomas Kalmus, president and founder, received the 1938 Progress Award from the Society of Motion Picture Engineers at its annual convention.

The story of Technicolor begins in 1915 when Dr. Kalmus and his associates became interested in a color process. Dr. Kalmus’ task was to find a suitable name, and, a Boston Tech man himself, he combined Technique, the engineering school’s class annual, and Color and so was born Technicolor.


Click here to read a about a particularly persuasive and

highly effective W.W. II training film…

1939, Hollywood History, Photoplay Magazine, Recent Articles

Emily Post on Manners in the Movies
(Photoplay Magazine, 1939)

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A 1939 magazine interview with America’s Mullah of manners, Emily Post (1872 – 1960) who was asked to give some criticism on the way etiquette is displayed on screen. She did not hold back; letting Hollywood have both barrels, La Post articulately opined about the poor choice of words the actors are required to spout, how humorously enormous so many of the living room sets always appear to be and how thoroughly inappropriate too many of the costumes are:

According to Miss Post, the worst offense committed against good manners is that of pretentiousness. She says, ‘Good manners are the outward expression of an inward grace. You can’t get them any other way. Probably that is why Shirley Temple, in that very first feature picture of hers, had charm that few can equal.’

Sometimes the mistakes Hollywood makes are not too serious, but usually they are ludicrous, and far too often they set bad examples for millions of ardent movie-goers.

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1919, Prisoners of War, The Stars and Stripes

World War One American Prisoners of War
(The Stars and Stripes, 1919)

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A brief notice reporting on the number of American Soldiers captured during the First World War. Also listed are the number of Americans who died in captivity as well as the number of prisoners taken categorized by branch of service. Interestingly, the notice states that 281 American Civilians were also taken prisoner.

Interestingly, the notice states that 116 American Civilians were also taken prisoner and we can assume that these Americans were with the Salvation Army, the Jewish Wellfare Board, the Knights of Columbus, etc.


Click here to learn what the Germans thought of American P.O.W.s…

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