---
title: Japanese leaflet in English, "What's the use of thinking of those ugly-looking cripples" (Pacific, c. 1942)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/japanese-leaflet-wounded-soldiers-sweetheart-1942/
description: 'Colour leaflet: a couple in evening dress, with three bandaged, helmeted soldiers drawn as ghostly faces above them. Text: ''Aw! Heck!'
section: Collection
---

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3. Japanese leaflet in English, "What's the use of thinking of those

**Content note:** Japanese wartime leaflet for Allied troops using the wording 'ugly-looking cripples' and a suggestive scene, shown as issued. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Japanese leaflet in English, "What's the use, 1942 Japan leaflet: Colour leaflet](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/japanese-leaflet-wounded-soldiers-sweetheart-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/japanese-leaflet-wounded-soldiers-sweetheart-1942.jpg)

# Japanese leaflet in English, "What's the use of thinking of those ugly-looking cripples" (Pacific, c. 1942)

Colour leaflet: a couple in evening dress, with three bandaged, helmeted soldiers drawn as ghostly faces above them. Text: 'Aw! Heck! What's the use of thinking of those ugly-looking cripples, you're sound and I'm sound, so let's' (trailing off). The tell: it stages a woman at home being urged to forget wounded men, playing on a soldier's fear of being replaced; the soldiers' nationality is not stated and no issuer is named.

## Propaganda techniques used in this leaflet

[Appeal to emotion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/appeal-to-emotion/) [Loaded language](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/loaded-language/)

## Full record

Region, Country, Medium, Issuer type, Regime, Leader, Audience, Purpose, Theme, Event, Source, Rights

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
Aw! Heck! What's the use of thinking of those ugly-looking cripples, you're sound and I'm sound, so let's ...................
```

Read from the 960 px rendering; the hand-lettering is clear. The sentence is left unfinished on the leaflet; the dots are as printed.

[← Japanese leaflet in English, "What Are You Fighting For?" (Philippines, 1942)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/japanese-leaflet-philippines-battle-1942-2/) [Jim says: Thanks, Gang, for the swell job you're doin' →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jim-says-thanks-gang-1942/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- ["General Antonio Maceo, the Hero of Peralejo" (Sahm & Co., New York, 1898)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/general-antonio-maceo-hero-of-peralejo-sahm-1898/) (United States · 1898 · Appeal to emotion)
- [Uncle Sam looks at "Cuba" holding a "Cuban Revolutionist" baby (Bartholomew cartoon, April 1898)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/startled-uncle-sam-cuban-revolutionist-baby-bartholomew-1898/) (United States · Apr 1898 · Appeal to emotion)
- ["Handicapped!" (Artists' Suffrage League poster, London, 1909)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/handicapped-artists-suffrage-league-1909/) (United Kingdom · 1909 · Appeal to emotion)
- ["Justice Demands the Vote" (Brighton & Hove Women's Franchise Society, 1909)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/justice-demands-the-vote-brighton-hove-1909/) (United Kingdom · 1909 · Appeal to emotion, Transfer)
- ["Shall Women Vote?" (Puck centerfold, 31 March 1909)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/shall-women-vote-puck-1909/) (United States · Mar 31, 1909 · Appeal to emotion, Card stacking)
- ["In Belgium and yet when she wanted the vote they told her a woman's place was in the home" (cartoon, 1914)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/in-belgium-and-yet-woman-wanted-the-vote-1914/) (United States · 1914 · Appeal to emotion, Whataboutism)
- ["Votes for Mothers!" (The Suffragist, cover, 13 June 1914)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/votes-for-mothers-suffragist-1914/) (United States · Jun 13, 1914 · Appeal to emotion)
- [Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/daddy-what-did-you-do-1915/) (United Kingdom · 1915 · Fear appeal, Appeal to emotion)