Why Don?t they get a move on? Ralph Cleaver, The Bystander front cover. "It'll be over by Christmas" was the phrase used by many in 1914. Most people's idea of war was a series of swift and valiant battles between mobile armies with decisive conclusion. There seemed to be no reason to believe that this war should be any different. This illustration take the opportunity to criticise the critics, those blustering armchair strategists who expounded their outdated views on tactics from the comfort of club land, while brave soldiers at the Front were learning to cope with the trials and hardships of new, industrialised warfare.