---
title: Who Told You You Couldn't Enlist Now in the Navy? Just Try It!
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/who-told-you-you-couldnt-enlist-now-in-the-navy-1917/
description: Centered type asks 'Who told YOU you couldn't enlist now in the navy?' above a large red question mark, answered by 'Just try it!' and the imprint
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. Who Told You You Couldn't Enlist Now in the Navy? Just Try It!

[![Who Told You You Couldn't Enlist Now in the Navy? Just Try It!, 1917 US poster: Centered type asks 'Who told YOU you couldn't](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/who-told-you-you-couldnt-enlist-now-in-the-navy-1917.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/who-told-you-you-couldnt-enlist-now-in-the-navy-1917.jpg)

# Who Told You You Couldn't Enlist Now in the Navy? Just Try It!

Centered type asks 'Who told YOU you couldn't enlist now in the navy?' above a large red question mark, answered by 'Just try it!' and the imprint of the Recruiting Committee. There is no picture; the poster addresses the individual reader directly and treats the doubt about eligibility as something to be tested rather than accepted.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Identity fusion](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/identity-fusion/)

## Text on the object

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

```
WHO TOLD YOU
YOU COULDN'T ENLIST
NOW
IN THE NAVY
?
JUST TRY IT!

Recruiting Committee
MAYOR'S COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL DEFENSE

THE HEGEMAN PRINT N.Y.
```

[← Das ist der Weg zum Frieden, die Feinde wollen es so! Darum zeichne Kriegsanleihe! (That Is the Way to Peace, the Enemies Want It So! Therefore Subscribe to the War Loan!)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/weg-zum-frieden-1917/) [Why Is It Necessary To Eat Less Meat and Less Wheat Bread? →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/why-is-it-necessary-to-eat-less-meat-and-less-wheat-bread-1917-1919/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [A Little American's Promise](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/a-little-americans-promise-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Transfer)
- [All Together! Enlist in the Navy](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/all-together-enlist-in-the-navy-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [Members of U.S. Food Administration: America Has Promised to Feed the Hungry Millions of Europe, Waste Nothing](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/america-food-pledge-20-million-tons-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion)
- [Do Your Duty. Join the U.S. Marines. Help Them Defend America on Land and Sea](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/do-your-duty-join-the-us-marines-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Glittering generalities, Identity fusion)
- [50-50 (The Job of Beating Up the Hun)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fifty-fifty-service-series-11-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Name-calling, Identity fusion)
- [Food Will Win the War: Member of United States Food Administration (Pledge Card)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/food-will-win-the-war-member-pledge-card-1917-1919/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Bandwagon)
- [Hit the Bull's Eye! Are You on This List? Get Your Name in the Circle: It's the Ring of Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/hit-the-bulls-eye-ring-of-liberty-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Bandwagon, Identity fusion)
- [I Am a Soldier of the United States (Service Series No. 12)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/i-am-a-soldier-of-the-united-states-service-series-no-12-1917/) (United States · 1917 · Identity fusion, Glittering generalities)