Page 217 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

in-case of necessity, the water sources in the Tryokhrechye area and in the area southeast of
Lake DalaiNor should be contaminated?

Answer: I do.

Question: With what purpose was a bacteriological

reconnaissance made of areas contiguous with the Soviet Union?

Answer: By way of preparation in the event of war.

Question: Is it true that from October 1939 to July 1944 you were Inspector-General of
Military Training of the Japanese Army?

Answer: It is.

State Prosecutor: In this connection, I request the permission of the Court to have read out
an excerpt from a sabotage detachment field manual issued by the Office of the Inspector-
General of Military Training in Japan in January 1944. The document is to be found in Vol.
22, p.21.

President of the Court: An excerpt from the sabotage detachment field manual issued by
the General Staff and Office of the Inspector-General of Military Training in January 1944
(Vol. 22, p. 21) will be read out.

State Prosecutor: Accused Yamada, this document was compiled by the Office of the
Inspector-General of Military Training, which was under your direction, isn't that so?

Accused Yamada: Yes, this manual was drawn up by the Office of the Inspector-General
of Military Training together with the General Staff.

Question: Does not this document testify that in January 1944, i.e., prior to your
appointment to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army, you were aware that
the bacteriological weapon was being employed for sabotage purposes?

Answer: Yes, such was the case.

Question: When did you sign the order to destroy detachments 731 and 100?

Answer: About the 9th or 10th of August 1945.

Question: In other words, the swift advance of the Soviet Army made it impossible for
either Detachment 100 or Detachment 731 to continue its activities?

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