This French postcard by Mille showing the attack of the “Japanese tiger” on the leaders of Europe is actually part of a five-piece collection that put together makes up a little pictorial narrative of the war. The historical context for the cards was the late February (starting around the 20th) and early March engagement between Japan and Russia that ended in the latter’s retreat further north from Mukden, a decisive land victory for their opponents.
Attacking Nicholas II first, in this postcard, the tiger then goes on maul the French (Emile Loubet) before treating the Germans (Wilhelm II) and British (Edward VII) in a similar fashion. Russia’s closeness to the French leader is a reference to their political alliance, which had been strong since the late 19th century; however, the French were actually less enthusiastic about Russia’s movements in Asia than Germany’s Wilhelm II (note Wilhelm’s wholly militarized dress – even his moustache is prepared for engagement). The British, (Edward VII is thus portrayed more phlegmatically than the others) on the other hand, were supporting the Japanese – a detail indicated in the third postcard, in which Edward VII playfully gestures to Wilhelm II at the spectacle of Emile Loubet’s mauling. In light of the fact that this is a French product, it seems somewhat interesting that the series should include an image of that country’s attack, yet it may also be an indicator of generally negative popular sentiments in France toward French involvement. In the very first postcard, none of the leaders anticipate the attack, and their surprise, as a contrast to the gruesome mauling that follows, is overtly comical. Despite their foolishness in being so unprepared, there is no sympathy shown in the depiction of the Japanese either, for the use of a tiger to represent the “yellow peril” can be seen as a clear comment on the superiority of the Europeans, who if they are not dignified are at least more human and, by extension, humane. Shown a good bit taller in the previous postcards, Nicholas II is represented here as having been literally and visually cut down to size by his Japanese opponent. The fourth postcard of the series – the last one doesn’t seem to be available – depicts the complete destruction of all four world leaders, and a tiger – a purely animal force – that seems to have become more and more out of control.
In contrast to newspapers offering reports of the war, these postcards emphasize the military engagement’s commercial and popular aspects, a symptom of the increasingly modern media of the 20th century. The fact that these postcards come together in a series suggests that they might have been collectible pieces of memorabilia, as though they were looked forward to in a state of excitement somewhat analogous to how one might have once hoped for journalistic reports of military developments.