Page 66 - MaterialsTrial-JapaneseArmy-1950

Answer: As far as I remember, the chief and most effective methods of employing
bacteriological weapons were: dropping bacteria from aircraft, and using bacteria on land.
Bacteria were dropped from aircraft either in special bombs containing microbes, or were
sprayed with the aid of special appliances fitted into the aircraft. The land method consisted
in infecting water sources, pastures and cattle with bacteria.

... I must admit that in June 1945, I did, indeed, send Colonel Tamura to Detachment 731
to inspect the'detachment's work on the spot and to ascertain whether it was necessary to
increase the number of specialists. I sent Colonel Tamura to Detachment 731 because the
Kwantung Army Headquarters had received orders from the Ministry for War to increase the
output of bacteriological weapons. This order was conveyed for execution to the Chief of
Detachment 731, Lieutenant General Ishii, who, in the execution of this order, wrote me a
letter, in May 1945, requesting that the number of specialists assigned to him be increased.
Incidentally, I have just recalled that I did indeed then have Ishii's report on bacteria bombs. I
request that the testimony I gave before be accordingly amended on this point.

I had kept Ishii's report in my safe and later I handed it to the Chief of the Operations
Division Major General Matsumura Tomokatsu. I well remember that this report was written
on red-lined paper. I also remember that the report was headed: "The Ishii Bacteria Bomb,"
and I recall that during my visit to Ishii's detachment I myself saw specimens of these bombs
that were intended for the purpose of using plague-infected fleas as bacteriological weapons.

... I remember that I saw such bombs in Detachment 731 during my inspection. Those
bombs had been made by Detachment 731. I do not remember how many, but the number
was determined by the necessary requirements. I have seen the illustration of the bomb given
in the diagram presented to me in Ishii's report which I have mentioned. . . .

To study methods of employing bacteriological weapons, special commissions were set up,
consisting of the Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army, the Chief of the Operations Division,
the Chief of Bacteriological Detachment 100 or 731, according to the one concerned, and of
individual staff officers. The chairman of these commissions was the Chief of Staff. The
Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army took no part in the proceedings of these
commissions. The decisions of the commissions concerning the employment of means of
bacteriological warfare were submitted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Kwantung Army,
and after he had endorsed them they were communicated to the Japanese General Staff. The
General Staff informed the Kwantung Army Headquarters what method had been put in
commission, and the Kwantung Army Headquarters accordingly issued orders to detachments
731 and 100 to proceed with the mass production of the necessary epidemic bacteria.
Detachments 731 and 100 were supplied with the necessary equipment, raw materials and
auxiliary materials by the Japanese Ministry for War in conformity with the General Staff's
requirements in the production of any given type of bacteriological weapon.

The employment of bacteriological weapons, and the formation of the necessary units that
were to employ bacteriological weapons in practice, were planned by the Japanese General
Staff on the basis of information received from the Kwantung Army Headquarters.

Question: What methods of employing bacteriological weapons were put in commission in
the Kwantung Army during the period you occupied the post of Commander-inChief?

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