Page 35 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950
P. 35

To increase the output of bacteriological weapons, in December 1943, by agreement with
               the 2nd Intelligence Division of Headquarters of the Kwantung Army, and on my orders, a
               sixth section was formed in the 2nd Division of Detachment 100, the function of which was
               to produce bacteriological weapons on a mass scale. . . .


                  For the purpose of devising bacteriological weapons and producing them on a mass scale,
               Detachment 100, on my orders, performed all sorts of experiments on animals.


                  In the summer of 1942, on my orders, a group of men from Detachment 100, headed by
               researcher Ida Kiyoshi, experimented in the region of the river Derbul, in the Tryokhrechye
               area, in infecting animals to test the effectiveness of bacteriological weapons under climatic
               conditions most closely approximating those prevailing on Soviet Union territory.


                  In March 1945, in conformity with my orders, an experiment in infecting animals with
               severe  infectious  diseases  was  made  on  the  proving  ground  of  Detachment  731  at  Anta
               Station. I know from the report of Chief of Detachment 100, Wakamatsu, that this experiment
               was successful—all the ten cows that were experimented on died. In March 1944, on my
               orders  and  with  the  knowledge  of  the  2nd  Intelligence  Division  of  Headquarters  of  the
               Kwantung  Army,  a  special  expedition  of  members  of  Detachment  100—later  headed  by
               Lieutenant  Hirazakura—was  organized  to  the  districts  of  North  Khingan  Province  to
               reconnoitre the roads, summer and winter cattle pastures, the state of water sources and the
               number of cattle belonging to the local population, with the object of preparing to conduct
               bacteriological sabotage against the Soviet Union. This group was formed in conformity with
               an operations order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army.


                  While carrying out this order, Hirazakura reported to me twice on the work that he had
               performed.  He  made  the  first  report  in  September  1944  in  the  office  of  the  Chief  of
               Detachment 100, Wakamatsu. In his report he gave the information he had collected about
               the  number  of  cattle,  pastures,  water  sources,  the  state  of  the  roads  and  the  nomad
               encampments of the population of North Khingan Province.


                  I received Hirazakura's second report in my office in March 1945. In his report Hirazakura
               indicated to me on the map the summer and winter pastures and water sources, the state of the
               roads and the number of cattle belonging to the local population.


                  Hirazakura's  group  was  commissioned  to  conduct  reconnoitring  and  also  to  purchase
               livestock: 500 sheep, 100 head of cattle and 90 horses, which were to be infected with severe
               infectious diseases and then left in the rear of the Soviet troops.


                  At  the  time  Hirazakura  made  his  second  report  I  discussed  with  the  researchers  of
               Detachment  100,  Osaka  and  Ida,  and  the  Chief  of  Detachment  100,  Wakamatsu,  what
               bacteria should be used to infect the cattle belonging to the inhabitants in North Khingan
               Province. The following methods of infecting the cattle were agreed to: the cattle were to be
               infected with anthrax and cattle plague with the aid of aircraft belonging to Detachment 731.
               Only the cattle of the local population in the pastures was to be infected. The horses were to
               be infected with anthrax.




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