Punch/Volume 147/Issue 3818/A Brush with the Enemy
"I think we may advance to attack," said the Prussian Commander, folding up the Berliner Tageblatt War Map.
"One moment, Sir," interposed the Chief of Staff, "the supply of captured alien women and children is exhausted."
"Then," said the Commander, "we shall be forced to confront the enemy's fire without the usual screen."
"Why not advance under a flag of truce?" suggested the Chief of Staff.
"I am loth to violate the canons of civilized warfare," said the Commander, "but really there seems no other way, unless—unless——— Here! Hand me a telegram form. I have an idea."
The Commander wrote rapidly for a minue. "Send this at once," he said, "and pre-pay the reply."
In an hour the answer arrived. The Commander tore it open with eager haste. "We are saved!" he cried. "The advance commences at daybreak to-morrow." He tossed the telegram over to the Chief of Staff, who read:—"Am forwarding immediately per special train 1,000 foxes as requested.—Hagenbeck, Hambury."
And the Kaiser, reading the Commander's despatch later in the day, mailed his Super-strategist the insignia of the Order of the Double-faced Vulture.