1918.08.06 “The Map”
by Clark De Ball
11 x 13 in., crayon and ink on board
Coppola Collection
De Ball’s cartoons are associated with the Chicago Evening Post. Biographical information on him is sparse. He was active as a newspaper artist by 1911, producing original war-related work in 1918, creating educational art in the 1920s, and syndicating comic strips in the 1930s.
The key event depicted in the cartoon is the German advance toward Paris during the Second Battle of the Marne in the summer of 1918, and the equally critical Allied counter-offensive that halted and pushed back the German thrust.
The furthest German advance (shown as the western profile in the cartoon) occurred around July 15–17. The new battle line (eastern profile), which becomes permanent, was largely established by the end of July. By August 6, 1918, the Germans were fully pushed back across the Marne and the Second Battle of the Marne was declared over.
A look at the actual maps reveals that the shape of the front did indeed look like a mouth about to eat Paris.
The Second Battle of the Marne was the last major German offensive on the Western Front during WW1. The German defeat marked the start of the relentless Allied advance which culminated in an armistice with Germany about 100 days later.
