Page 216 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

Question: Was it in connection with the instructions of the Ministry for War that you
ordered Matsumura, Chief of the Operations Division, to take measures for the production of
bacteria and for the replenishment of Detachment 731 with the required number of officer-
specialists?

Answer: Yes. But as regards increasing the personnel, I gave the order to Colonel Tamura,
Chief of the Personnel Division.

Question: At the preliminary investigation, on December 6, 1949, you stated that the
bacteriological weapon was to be employed against the Soviet Union with the help of aircraft
for infecting highly important Soviet areas, and by sabotage measures. Do you confirm this
statement?

Answer: I do.

State Prosecutor: I request the permission of the Court to have read out from the record the
testimony given by witness Matsumura, former Chief of the Operations Division of the
Headquarters of the Kwantung Army and former Major General of the Japanese Army. The
testimony will be found in Vol. 3, p. 98.

President of the Court: After conferring here, the Military Tribunal has ruled that the
testimony given by Matsumura at the preliminary investigation on December 7 (Vol. 3, p.
98)* shall be read out.

State Prosecutor: Do you confirm the testimony given by Matsumura to the effect that, at
the time you were Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, two basic means to be used
in future bacteriological warfare were considered and approved: the Ishii bacteria bomb
charged with plague fleas, and the spraying of plague-infected fleas from aircraft?

Accused Yamada: I do.

Question: Of the methods of bacteriological warfare approved by you, which did you
consider the most effective?

Answer: I considered that the most effective method of employing the bacteriological
weapon was the method of bombing from aircraft, also the method of spraying plague fleas
from aircraft.

Question: Do you remember the report made by Lieutenant General Takahashi, Chief of
the Veterinary Administration of the Kwantung Army, regarding a bacteriological
reconnaissance carried out by Detachment 100 in the North Khingan Province?

Answer: I do.

Question: Do you confirm Matsumura's testimony to the effect that in this report Takahashi
expounded his views on the practical employment of bacteria, in particular the opinion that,

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