Page 288 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

The interpreter: The accused have no questions.

President of the Court: In addition to the questions put, the Court puts a fourth question to
the experts: what degree of danger was there in the bacteriological attacks carried out by
Detachment 731 in districts of Central China in 1940, 1941 and 1942.

The Military Tribunal rules that the four questions read be submitted to the experts.

Interpreter, please translate the fourth question into Japanese.

(The interpreter translates the fourth question
into Japanese.)

Medicolegal experts, the Court submits for your consideration four questions. Please
prepare to give your findings on these questions.

EXAMINATION OF WITNESS TACHIBANA

President of the Court: Witness Tachibana, I warn you of your liability to prosecution for
giving false evidence. You must tell the Court nothing but the truth. When were you taken
prisoner by the Soviet Union?

Witness Tachibana: On August 15, 1945.

Question: What pest did you occupy at that time?
Answer: Adviser to the government of Manchukuo.
Question: What was your military rank?
Answer: Colonel of Gendarmerie.

(A stir in ccurtroom.)

State Prosecutor: Tell us in what period you served as Chief of the Kiamusze Gendarmerie
Administration.

Witness Tachibara: From 1939 to 1941.

Question: What do you know about the sending of prisoners to Detachment 731?

Answer: In 1940 I occupied the post of Chief of the Gendarmerie Administration in the
town of Kiamusze. It was then that I first learned of the existence and the character of the
work of Detachment 731. I learned that Detachment 731 was called the Prophylaxis and
Water Supply Administration of the Kwantung Army, but actually engaged in preparations
for conducting bacteriological warfare, in particular, by performing experiments on living
people. I learned that this detachment was preparing for the mass extermination of the
enemy's man power and was preparing to conduct bacteriological warfare.

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