The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-20
Fake Mustard Gas Seen as German Trick By Experts Studying How of Invasion
Might Be Used With Real Gas To Befudde British Defenders
BY THOMAS M. JOHNSON (NEA Service Military Writer)

Washington, Feb. 20.-Fake mus tard gas alternated with real mus tard gas-that's a dual secret weap- on" with which the Germans may, create 8 dread guessing game for the defenders of the British Isles this spring, it has been disclosed here.
 The Germans are known to have large stores of mustard and arsenic preparations that penetrate clothing and masks, and they could drench British ports with enough genuine gas to cause heavy losses if garrisons and civilians should stay. But the Germans could not follow such att tack with immediate invasion, be- cause real gas clings to the surface for as much as several days.
 That's where the fake gas comes into the picture. When the real gas has made the British jittery. the Germans later may spray the fake. which smells like the real thing but does not burn. Even if the British expect fake gas, they won't know for sure whether it's real, because mustard burns don't appear for hours.
 In such a situation the British wouldn't know whether to stay in town and let real gas do its deadly work, or leave-and let the Ger mans in. Or the Germans might use the fake gas to start with, counting on panic.
 HOW. WHEN AND WHERE
 OF EXPECTED INVASION
 Army and Navy experts empha- sized that it will not be long before this seemingly authentic report is proved right or wrong. They said government officials are not laying it on too thick" when they warn the country that the war is ap- preaching it's greatest crisis.
 They likened today'S situation to the tense spring of 1913, when the Germans nearly won by methods then new. And they declared that Germany now has weapons far more numerous and far more deadly. Here's how a majority of military experts here described their visual- ization of the expected invasion:
 WHEN: Any time after March.
 WHERE: Everywhere - feinting for an opening. Perhaps diversions against Iceland and Ireland first; then invasion of east coast beaches leading towards the vital industrial Midlands, followed by attempts to scale the Channel cliffs. This, Army officers pointed out, would complete the classic pincers attack beloved especially by Hitler's personal mili- tary advisers.
 HOW: First, by winning air com mand with the Luftwaffe, which in Chief of Staff General George Mar shalrs estimate possesses twice to four times the number of British planes.
 There will be new types of planes that can fly into the stratosphere, higher than any British fighters, to protect any ground thrust anywhere, while across the narrow Channel shuttle back and forth.
 One day last fall the Nazis had two thousand planes over England; this spring 18,O00 of the estimated 40 ,O00 will be in action at once. They will drop millions of bombs-explo- sive and incendiary-and carry Ger man tanks to British soil.
 Military circles declare that Sko- da, the enormous Czech munitions works, is making special armored two-man vehicles light enough for 8 plane to carry. With them would go many times the force of para chutists and air infantry that tac- ticians credit with Hollands fall. Gliders might be lowed.
 AFTER AIR AND GAS
 ATTACKS COME TROOPS
 Second in the U. s. Officers "how' of invasion will come attack with gas.
 Then, when parachutists, air in- fantry and gas attacks have done their work, they will be backed up by 8 'real" invasion-by troops car- ried to British shores in ships.
 These will be able to land only after a naval battle remarkable in character.
 Covered by the fire of long-range guns including some lately in the Maginot Line, this invading fleet .----.----
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