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Post by The Phantom on Dec 25, 2008 22:56:27 GMT 8
FROM "MAC ARTHUR'S UNDERCOVER WAR" BY WILLIAM B. BREUER
WILLIAM "WILD BILL' DONOVAN CLOAK-AND-DAGGER AGENCY,THE OSS, TRIED TO GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION IN THE PACIFIC. APPEALING TO MACARTHUR'S WELL KNOWN BENT FOR UNDERCOVER AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE, THE O.S.S. REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED THAT JUST BEFORE THE AMERICAN TROOPS HIT THE BEACHES OF JAPAN, SEVERAL HUNDRED FOXES DAUBED WITH PHOSPHORESCENT PAINT WOULD FIRST BE LET LOOSE OFF SHORE AND SWIM TO LAND AT NIGHT. THIS WOULD HELP SPREAD CONSTERNATION AND PANIC AMONG THE SUPERSTITIOUS JAPANESE WHO BELIEVED
"A GHOSTLY FOX SEEN AT NIGHT CARRIES AN EVIL SPIRIT,"
THE VISITOR DECLARED ENTHUSIASTICALLY! MAC ARTHUR WAS FAR FROM IMPRESSED, POINTING OUT THAT THE SHORT SWIM TO SHORE WOULD WASH OFF THE PHOSPHORUS. UNDAUNTED, THE O.S.S. MAN RETURNED TO WASHINGTON WHERE AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO PROVE THE SUPREME COMMANDER WRONG.
AT ROCK CREEK PARK, IN NEARBY MARYLAND, 8 OR 10 FOXES GLOWING IN PHOSPHOROUS WERE DROPPED OVER THE SIDE OF A BOAT A SHORT DISTANCE FROM SHORE AT NIGHT. WHEN THE ANIMALS REACHED SHORE MOST OF THE PAINT WAS MISSING JUST AS MAC ARTHUR HAD PREDICTED.
WHAT THE FOXES SUCCEEDED IN DOING WAS FRIGHTENING SEVERAL COUPLES ENGAGED IN AMOROUS ENDEAVORS IN THE BACKSEATS OF PARKED CARS.
NO SURRENDERS WERE REPORTED FROM ROCK CREEK PARK.
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